Canadian Gardening: Perennials that work in zone 2a, 1 by Chilko

Chilko wrote:
"Photographer" in another post asked me about what perennial flowers I can grow in 2a. There are a surprising number of them...

Looking through my seed box, I've got:: Alyssum saxatile, aquilegia (columbine), achillea (yarrow), campanula, centaurea, cerastium, clematis integrifolia (it's not a climber), coreopsis, daisies, delphiniums, dianthus, rudbeckia (echinacea), gaillardia, garden gloxinia (incarvillea delavayi)--marginal; geranium, iris, Lady's Mantle, lathyrus (marginal, with protection), lychnis, lupine, mallow, monarda, potentilla, poppy, pulmonaria, rudbeckia, some pansies, violas, scabiosa (marginal); sedums, stachys (lamb's ear), Sweet William. I'm limited by short summers with coldish nights, dry conditions, and heavy soil. Oh, and more that I'm probably forgetting because I haven't the seeds...peonies, lilies, salvia, --what's that one with the big fuzzy silver leaves (not Lamb's Ear--Doronicum?)

Lots of hardy perennial herbs have pretty flowers. I guess there aren't many really showy flowers, compared to milder zones, but my orange oriental poppies and purple irises put on a great show, and some wonderful columbines.

Has anyone in a cold zone (my 2a is warming up these years!) got some ideas I could try?

Rosemary