A perennial is a type of plant that withers in the fall, but returns year after year, producing new growth and flowers. These plants survive the winter months by storing energy in their roots, rhizomes and tubers. Over the years, a variety of perennial flower beds have been established at Blindern.
The perennial flower beds are designed and composed to provide visual interest throughout the entire growing season. By using several different varieties of plants that bloom at different times, the bed has a continuous display of flowers. This creates a lush atmosphere, starting with early spring bulbs like tulips and crown imperials in April and May, and extending to late-blooming plants such as hemp-agrimony and bugbane in September and October.
As the years go by, the perennial flower beds develop. Some plants flourish and grow, perhaps at the expense of varieties that were not ideal for the area. With expert care, balance is maintained so that the expression in the flowed bed becomes harmonious and varied.
Perennials flower beds as a food source and shelter
This use of vegetation results in flower beds that are not only visually appealing but also enhance ecological values. An important ecological function of these beds is that they serve as a food source for pollinators such as butterflies, bees, bumblebees, and flower flies. Insects play a crucial role in the pollination of plants, which is essential for the survival of the plant species. Additionally, the larvae of these insects require a wide range of plants to meet their habitat and nutritional needs.
The perennial flower beds also provide shelter and refuge for small birds that thrive near vegetation and insects. This can help support the local bird population and promote biodiversity. Other small creatures can also use the vegetation in these beds as a source of food and protection throughout the year. By allowing seed heads and flower stems to remain throughout the winter, the beds maintain an aesthetic presence while also providing shelter for birds and small animals.
From roses to perennials
Most of the original flower beds at Blindern were filled with red roses. This was a very typical plant type when the campus was new in the 1960s, and for many years leading up to the turn of the millennium.
Hybrid tea roses require significant maintenance to keep them looking good, and have traditionally relied on the use of chemical pesticides. Since 2012, no chemical pesticides have been used at the University of Oslo. Gradually, the rose beds have been replaced with other plant species that can thrive without pesticides. Today, the flower beds feature greater variety and biodiversity.
The flower bed near Sophus Bugges hus was originally filled with hybrid tea roses. Many of the roses in the flower bed died after a harsh winter marked by frost, thaw and rainfall. After a few years with various red summer flowers, more permanent plans were made for the flower bed. This happened in conjunction with the renovation of Sophus Bugge’s hus. The selected plants were chosen to help Sophus Bugge’s hus achieve BREEAM certification, an environmental certification scheme for sustainability performance in buildings. The scheme proposes various measures to enhance the ecological value of a site, and to maintain biodiversity in development projects.
See what plants can be found in the perennial flower beds at Blindern
| Common name | Botanical name |
|---|---|
| Yarrow ‘Terracotta’ | Achillea millefolium ‘Terracotta’ |
| Siberian bugloss |
Brunnera macrophylla |
| Mexican giant hyssop ‘Red Fortune’ | Agastache mexicana ‘Red Fortune’ |
| Lesser calamint | Calamintha nepeta |
| Bugbane ‘Atropurpurea’ | Actaea ramosa ‘Atropurpurea’ |
| Eastern purple coneflower ‘Secret Passion’ |
Echinacea purpurea ‘Secret Passion’ |
| Red barrenwort | Epimedium x rubrum |
| Spotted joe-pyeweed ‘Atropurpureum’ |
Eupatorium maculatum ‘Atropurpureum’ |
| Bowman’s root | Gillenia trifoliata |
|
Bigelow's sneezeweed ‘Rubinzwerg’ |
Helenium biegelovii ‘Rubinzwerg’ |
| Bigelow's sneezeweed ‘Ruby Tuesday’ | Helenium biegelovii ‘Ruby Tuesday’ |
| Daylily ‘Pardon Me’ |
Hemerocallis ‘Pardon Me’ |
| Daylily ‘Serena Sunburst’ | Hemerocallis ‘Serena Sunburst’ |
| Coral bells ‘Rachel’ | Heuchera sanguinea ‘Rachel’ |
| Hostas 'Captain Kirk' | Hosta 'Captain Kirk' |
| Hostas 'Guacamole' |
Hosta 'Guacamole' |
| Macedonian scabious | Knautia macedonica |
| Eulalia 'Flamingo' | Miscanthus sinensis 'Flamingo' |
| Woodland sage 'Amethyst' | Salvia nemorosa 'Amethyst' |
| Great burnet 'Arnhem' | Sanguisorba officinalis 'Arnhem' |
| Orpine 'Herbstfreude' | Hylotelephium telephium 'Herbstfreude' |
| Orpine 'Red Cauli' |
Hylotelephium telephium 'Red Cauli' |
| Autumn moor grass |
Sesleria autumnalis |
| Shining moor grass | Sesleria nitida |
| Ruddy clover 'Red Feathers' | Trifolium rubens 'Red Feathers' |