Add these summer flowering plants to your landscape for flowers that bloom all summer longBy Janet Loughrey, Garden Writer & Photographer
It’s summertime, and the living is easy. This is the time of year when gardens really hit their stride. The bright sunshine and long warm days result in an almost overnight explosion of vigorous growth and brilliant color. Warm-season annuals, from angelonia to zinnias, come into their own, while a seemingly endless parade of perennials and flowering shrubs ride a wave of continuous bloom. Even summer-blooming bulbs get into the act, with lilies and dahlias at their peak.
This bountiful buffet of summer-blooming flowers can be overwhelming to choose from. With so many options, there’s no right or wrong. Pick those that speak to your heart and give you the most joy. Here are some tried-and-true varieties, with a few unusual surprises sprinkled in.
SUMMER FLOWERS A-Z
Photo by: Proven Winners.
ANGELONIA
Angelonia Angelface® Steel Blue — Buy now from Proven Winners
Angelonia hybrid
Zones: 10-11, grown as an annual in most regions
Height/Spread: Upright spreading habit, 18 to 30 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide
Exposure: Full sun
During the heat of summer when many other annuals take a break, this snapdragon look-alike keeps right on blooming. Angelonia can be massed as a bedding plant, used as pathway edging, or planted in a container with other annuals. Combine Angelface® Steel Blue with ‘Marguerite’ sweet potato vine and Superbells® Grape Punch calibrachoa for a “filler, spiller, thriller” effect.
Read more about how to grow and care for angelonia plants.
Photo by: Proven Winners.
BLACK-EYED SUSAN
'Goldsturm'
Rudbeckia fulgida
Zones: 3-10
Height/Spread: Upright spreading habit, 2-3 feet tall and 1 1/2-2 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
This classic summer perennial is an indispensable addition to any landscape. Exceptionally hardy, this long-lived prairie native grows in most zones. ‘Goldsturm’ is an improvement over the straight species, with a more compact habit and larger flowers. Combine with other mid-to-late summer bloomers such as sea holly (Eryngium), bee balm, ‘Karl Foerster’ feather grass, and ‘Autumn Fire’ sedum.
Find more on how to grow and care for black-eyed Susan.
Photo by: Proven Winners.
CANNA LILY
Canna Lily Toucan® Coral — Buy now from Proven Winners
Canna generalis
Zones: 8-11
Height/Spread: Upright habit, 2-1/2 to 4 feet tall and 1-1/2 to 2 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
A flamboyant star of the summer garden, canna lily adds dramatic flair to the landscape with its showy tropical-looking foliage and colorful flowers. The leaves, which are similar to banana, can be green, colored, striped, or patterned, adding an exotic look to borders and containers. Combine this coral-flowered variety with ‘Sweetheart Purple’ sweet potato vine, ‘Wizard Coral Sunrise’ coleus or ‘Crystal Blue’ salvia.
Photo by: Proven Winners.
CONEFLOWER
Pow Wow Wild Berry — Buy now from Proven Winners
Echinacea purpurea
Zones: 4-9
Height/Spread: Upright branching habit, 16 to 20 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide
Exposure: Full sun
This North American prairie native has been hybridized in a wide range of colors and forms. Valued for its toughness, reliability, and carefree nature, coneflower supports beneficial insects and other pollinators. Naturalize in a meadow garden, plant in containers or mass in a mixed border. Plant alongside other mid to late summer bloomers such as Russian sage, agastache, bee balm and yarrow.
Find out more on how to grow and care for coneflowers.
Photo by: Janet Loughrey.
COSMOS
‘Sea Shells’
Cosmos bipinnatus
Zones: Grown as an annual in all zones
Height/Spread: Upright open habit, 3-5 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Even beginning gardeners will have success with this easy-care annual. The cheerful daisy-like flowers of this quintessential cottage garden favorite bloom all summer long, attracting birds and pollinators to the garden. Scatter seeds in a natural meadow, kitchen plot, or mixed border. The fluted tubular petals of ‘Sea Shells’ add a novelty element to the landscape as well as summer bouquets.
Find out more on how to grow and care for cosmos.
Photo by: Janet Loughrey.
DAHLIA
‘LAUREN MICHELE’
Dahlia
Zones: 8-11
Height/Spread: Upright bushy habit, 4 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
This mid-to-late season bloomer is a summertime favorite, with hundreds of varieties in every color and form imaginable. Grown from tubers or seeds, the flowers are exceptionally long-lasting, making them one of the best for summer bouquets. Plant in containers, borders or mass in the landscape. Tubers can be dug and stored indoors for replanting the following year.
Find out more about growing dahlias.
Photo by: Janet Loughrey.
FLOWERING TOBACCO
Flowering Tobacco
Nicotiana langsdorffii
Zones: 10-11, grown as an annual in most regions
Height/Spread: Upright open habit, 3 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
For quick color in containers and cottage-style borders, flowering tobacco is one of the easiest summer-blooming annuals to grow, either from seed or starts. The bell or trumpet-shaped flowers, which are sometimes fragrant, are especially attractive to hummingbirds. Smaller types can be massed as a bedding plant, while tall stately forms can be used as filler in a meadow garden or mixed border.
Photo by: Janet Loughrey.
FUCHSIA
'Swingtime'
Fuchsia hybrid
Zones: 9-11
Height/Spread: Trailing habit, 4 to 12 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide
Exposure: Part sun to shade
A Mother’s Day favorite, the delicate dangling flowers of fuchsia come in a wide array of colors, sizes and forms, with many varieties hardy in temperate zones. Trailing forms go well in hanging baskets, window boxes and containers, while upright types can be planted in a bed or mixed border. ‘Swingtime’, an elegant bicolor with ruffled petals, is one of the most popular for hanging baskets.
Learn more about how to grow and care for fuchsias.
Photo by: Proven Winners.
HYDRANGEA
Incrediball® Smooth Hydrangea — Buy now from Proven Winners
Hydrangea arborescens
Zones: 3-8
Height/Spread: Upright bushy habit, 4 to 5 feet tall and wide
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Few summer bloomers are more beloved than old-fashioned hydrangeas. These sturdy shrubs come in a wide range of colors and sizes, from dwarf varieties suitable to small spaces and containers to stately tree forms that make a stunning statement in the landscape. Plant as a stand-alone focal point, in a mixed border, as hedging, or mass along a slope for erosion control. Flowers are exceptional in cut bouquets and dried arrangements.
Read more on growing hydrangeas.
Photo by: Proven Winners.
LAVENDER
Sweet Romance® — Buy now from Proven Winners
Lavandula angustifolia
Zones: 5-9
Height/Spread: Upright open habit, 12 to 18 inches tall and wide
Exposure: Full sun
This popular herb is grown for its soothing fragrance. The flowers and foliage are used in cooking, aromatherapy and many products such as soaps and essential oils. Plant along a pathway, as hedging, massed along a slope, or in a mixed border. The compact size of Sweet Romance® makes it a good choice for containers and small spaces.
Find out more on how to grow and care for lavender.
Photo courtesy: Ball Horticultural Company.
NEW GUINEA IMPATIENS
ColorPower™ Peach Frost
Impatiens hawkeri
Zones: 10-12, grown as an annual in most zones
Height/Spread: Compact bushy habit, 8 to 10 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches wide
Exposure: Partial sun to shade
Traditional bedding impatiens have been upstaged in recent years by New Guinea and SunPatiens® varieties in response to a growing problem with downy mildew. This compact shade-tolerant annual can be grown in containers, borders or massed in the landscape, making it perfect for apartment balconies, patios and small spaces. ColorPower™ Peach Frost is an eye-catching bicolor with large flowers and a long bloom time.
Find out more on how to grow and care for impatiens.
Photo by: Proven Winners.
PETUNIA
Supertunia® Bordeaux™ — Buy now from Proven Winners
Petunia hybrid
Zones: 9-11, grown as an annual in most zones
Height/Spread: Mounding spreading habit, 6 to 10 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
With regular feeding and warmer temperatures, petunias will reward with a riot of color all summer long. Use as bedding plants, in containers, window boxes or hanging baskets. There are a dizzying array of colors and patterns to choose from to go with any garden style. Combine with other annuals with similar needs such as verbena, lobelia, sweet potato vine, or pelargonium.
Find out more on how to grow and care for petunias.
Photo by: Janet Loughrey.
QUEEN OF THE PRAIRIE
‘Venusta’
Filipendula rubra
Zones: 3-9
Height/Spread: Upright spreading habit, 4 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
This North American prairie native produces ethereal foamy flower plumes in early to mid-summer, adding height and drama to mixed borders and naturalized landscapes. The graceful plant is attractive on its own, with an elegant habit and deeply lobed leaves. ‘Venusta’ is one of the tallest, with upward-facing finger-like leaves and red stems. Combine with sea holly, catmint, liatris, and ornamental grasses.
Photo by: Proven Winners.
ROSE OF SHARON
Summerific® ‘Holy Grail’ — Buy now from Proven Winners
Hibiscus hybrid
Zones: 4-9
Height/Spread: Upright bushy habit, 4 to 4-1/2 feet tall and 4-1/2 to 5 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Add tropical flair to your landscape with the oversized blooms of hibiscus. This versatile annual or perennial can be massed in the landscape or planted in a mixed border or container. Summerific® ‘Holy Grail’ is a hardy perennial shrub with rich scarlet blooms and dark purple foliage, making it a good choice as a dramatic stand-alone accent or focal point.
Find out more on how to grow and care for hibiscus.
Photo by: Janet Loughrey.
SEA HOLLY
‘Miss Willmott's Ghost’
Eryngium giganteum
Zones: 4-9
Height/Spread: Upright open habit, 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Sea holly adds an element of surprise and drama to the landscape, with blue cone-shaped flowers surrounded by spiny bracts in shades of white, silver, green or blue. This short-lived perennial or biennial is especially attractive to bees and other insect pollinators. Combine with coneflower, tickseed, or drumstick alliums. ‘Miss Willmott’s Ghost’ has large pale blue flowers with silver-grey bracts.
Photo by: Janet Loughrey.
SNEEZEWEED
‘Mardi Gras’
Helenium
Zones: 4-8
Height/Spread: Upright bushy habit, 3 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Cheerful daisy-like flowers light up the garden from mid to late summer in colors of red, orange and yellow. This native perennial is tough and reliable, perfect for woodlands, meadows, mixed borders and natural gardens. Combine with black-eyed Susan, Joe pye weed, Russian sage and ornamental grasses. ‘Mardi Gras’ has variable blooms in solid or brushstroke colors of burnt orange and yellow.
Photo by: Janet Loughrey.
SUNFLOWER
‘Autumn Beauty’
Helianthus annuus
Zones: Grown as an annual in all zones
Height/Spread: Upright habit, 5 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 1-1/2 feet wide.
Exposure: Full sun
Nothing says summer like a bucolic field of statuesque sunflowers. Though annual forms are most commonly grown, there are perennial types as well. There are even dwarf forms suited to small urban spaces and containers. Grow in a cottage-style border, kitchen garden, or other sunny site in the yard. Birds and bees will love them, too.
Find out more about growing sunflowers.
Photo by: Proven Winners.
TICKSEED
‘Jethro Tull’ — Buy now from Proven Winners
Coreopsis hybrid
Zones: 4-9
Height/Spread: Compact mounding habit, 12 to 18 inches tall and wide
Exposure: Full sun
The cheerful flowers of tickseed are sure to brighten up any landscape. This reliable perennial or annual is virtually maintenance-free and drought-tolerant, with many varieties native to North American prairies and woodlands. This long bloomer provides an important source of food for insect pollinators and birds. Use as edging along a pathway, mass along a slope, naturalize with other natives, plant in a mixed border or container.
Find out more on how to grow and care for tickseed.
Photo by: Janet Loughrey.
TIGER FLOWER
Tiger Flower
Tigridia pavonia
Zones: 8-10
Height/Spread: Upright habit, 1 to 2 feet tall and 5 inches wide
Exposure: Full sun
For an exotic look that is sure to garner attention, this underutilized South African bulb will lend a unique touch to a border or container. Also called Mexican shell flower, the showy blooms are brightly colored with a speckled center. Treat this easy-to-grow bulb as an annual in cooler zones or dig the bulbs and store indoors over the winter to replant the following year.
Photo by: Proven Winners.
ZINNIA
Magellan™ Scarlet
Zinnia elegans
Zones: 10-12, grown as an annual in most zones
Height/Spread: Upright branching habit, 12 to 18 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches wide
Exposure: Full sun
Zinnia is one of the most beloved summer annuals, with long-lasting flowers that are exceptional in cut bouquets. Their use in the landscape is versatile, from groundcover types such as ‘Profusion’ that can be massed as bedding plants, to stately ‘Benary’s Giant’ for cottage-style borders and cutting gardens. This medium-sized red variety adds a cheerful burst of bright color as pathway edging or massed along a slope.
Find out more on growing zinnias.
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Summer Flowering Plants
The article "Add these summer flowering plants to your landscape for flowers that bloom all summer long" by Janet Loughrey discusses a variety of summer-blooming flowers, including warm-season annuals, perennials, flowering shrubs, and summer-blooming bulbs. The article provides detailed information about specific summer flowering plants, their characteristics, growing conditions, and how to incorporate them into the landscape. It covers a diverse range of plants, from angelonia to zinnias, and offers insights into their unique features and growing requirements.
Now, let's delve into the specific concepts mentioned in the article and provide detailed information about each of the summer flowering plants mentioned.
Angelonia
Angelonia (Angelonia hybrid) is a summer-blooming plant with an upright spreading habit, typically 18 to 30 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. It thrives in full sun and can be massed as a bedding plant, used as pathway edging, or planted in containers with other annuals. Angelonia is known for its continuous blooming during the heat of summer and can be combined with other plants for a "filler, spiller, thriller" effect [[1]].
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm') is a classic summer perennial with an upright spreading habit, growing 2-3 feet tall and 1 1/2-2 feet wide. It is exceptionally hardy and can be combined with other mid-to-late summer bloomers such as sea holly, bee balm, feather grass, and sedum [[2]].
Canna Lily
Canna Lily (Canna generalis) is known for its upright habit, reaching 2-1/2 to 4 feet tall and 1-1/2 to 2 feet wide. It adds dramatic flair to the landscape with its showy tropical-looking foliage and colorful flowers. Canna lilies can be combined with other plants such as sweet potato vine, coleus, or salvia [[3]].
Coneflower
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Pow Wow Wild Berry') is a North American prairie native with an upright branching habit, typically 16 to 20 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. It is valued for its toughness, reliability, and carefree nature, and can be planted alongside other mid to late summer bloomers such as Russian sage, agastache, bee balm, and yarrow [[4]].
Cosmos
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus 'Sea Shells') is an easy-care annual with an upright open habit, reaching 3-5 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Its cheerful daisy-like flowers bloom all summer long, attracting birds and pollinators to the garden. Cosmos can be scattered in a natural meadow, kitchen plot, or mixed border [[5]].
This is just a glimpse of the detailed information available about the summer flowering plants mentioned in the article. If you'd like to explore more about any specific plant or have further questions, feel free to ask!