Locate your garden zone based on the map above to reference which perennials will grow in your location.  Please be aware that most perennials do not do well in zones 9 and 10.  Most perennials require winters cold and zones 9 and 10 just do not get cold enough.  While perennials will grow in these warmer climates you will find that their life spans will be shorter and you will need to replace them more often. 

Microclimates:
The many climatic variations that occur even in an area as small as a garden are called microclimates.  Different areas of the garden are exposed to varying conditions such as direction of prevailing winds,  exposure to southern sun,   and often different areas will have different temperatures.  Start to pay attention to your garden - there may be areas that certain plants will grow in that you where not aware of.  For example here in Zone 6 it is not recommended that we grow the Southern Magnolia - our winters are just to cold, but we know of several gardening friends that have gorgeous Southern Magnolias in their gardens.  The key to their surviving our harsh mountain winters is placement .  They are planted in a location that is protected from cold winds and have total exposure to full sun.   Remember the USDA map is just a guide line -- it is not the rule.