My grandmothers were farmers in Ireland, therefore, potatoes. Maybe some roses. I'm not sure they had the luxury. I wish I could ask.

http://www.theheirloomgarden.com/Perennials.html

My grandmother grew iris in the late 1800s. I have some of the descendents of these iris. I believe that orange ditch lilies (hemerocallis fulva) were also around at that time.

"Piney", Lilac, and the old fashioned iris are the only ones I know of offhand.

Your question brings back lots of memories. My Grandma and my Mom grew lots of annuals that self seeded and returned every year. Sweet William, four o'clocks, sweet peas, cosmos, phlox and dames rocket. Grandma always had roses on a trellis by the back door. And she loved poppies and peonies. My Grandma was an artist in combining the practical with the beautiful. Her flowers were planted around and amoung grapevines, apple and cherry trees, a thicket of raspberry, rhubarb and aspargus.