Until recently, gardeners have paid little attention to the ecological requirements of perennials when planting them in parks and gardens. This book describes a new way of using perennials in parks and gardens based on ecological rather then purely aesthetic principles. It demonstrates how attention to ecological needs of herbaceous perennials can result in low maintenance plantings in parks and other public spaces. The entire field of ornamental perennials is described with the main emphasis upon the ecological nature of the plant rather than the usual height, flowering sense and colour descriptions. Most of the current perennials available from nurseries are categorised according to the conditions in which they are most likely to thrive in the face of competition from other plants and weeds. These lists in particular are an indispensable work of reference for any gardener or landscape architect interested in the use of perennials. This is a translation of the classic fourth edition of the German book Die Stauden und ihre Lebensbereiche published in 1991.