Summer gardens are a feast for the eyes with their vibrant blooms and lush foliage. Here are twelve of the most beautiful flowers to plant for a garden that stays colorful and attractive all summer long. These selections not only brighten up your space but also offer long-lasting blooms, ensuring your garden remains enchanting through the season.
- Aster
Asters are a gardener’s delight with their starry, delicate petals that bring late-season color to any garden. Their light, airy flowers come in a variety of shades including blue-purple and ruby red. Ideal for planting in early spring, these perennials are perfect companions to grasses and rudbeckia.
- Sweet Pea
Sweet peas are known for their delightful fragrance and vibrant colors. Varieties like ‘Fragrantissima’ and ‘King Size Navy Blue’ add charm to trellises and fences. Plant them in early spring for a beautiful display that pairs well with climbing roses and morning glories.
- Penstemon
Penstemon plants, particularly the ‘Andenken an Friedrich Hahn’ with its ruby red blooms, are robust and reliable. These perennials thrive when planted after the last frost and make excellent companions to yarrow and ornamental tobacco.
- Zinnia
Zinnias are a garden favorite for their bold, bright blooms. Varieties like ‘Envy’ and ‘Purple Prince’ provide large, striking flowers, while the ‘Persian Carpet’ mix is perfect for borders and pots. Stagger your planting from March to April to enjoy prolonged flowering.
- Ornamental Tobacco
The Perfume series of ornamental tobacco offers an array of scented flowers in colors like white, pink, and red. These annuals thrive when sown in early spring and look stunning alongside sage and verbena.
- Lily of the Incas
Alstroemeria, also known as the lily of the Incas, comes in a spectrum of colors from yellow to purple. Plant them in well-loosened, compost-rich soil in early spring. They pair beautifully with sages and fuchsias and require a couple of years to fully establish.
- Sage
With its vibrant blue and red varieties, sage is a striking addition to any garden. Salvia patens and Salvia farinacea are excellent choices for annuals, while perennial sages like S. microphylla offer lasting beauty. They thrive in well-drained soil and pair well with dahlias.
- Bacopa
Bacopa is a versatile plant that thrives in both sun and partial shade. Regular watering and light pruning keep this plant lush and blooming. Bacopa’s delicate flowers add a touch of elegance to any garden or balcony.
- Cosmos
Cosmos are easy to grow and come in beautiful colors like ‘Dazzler’ carmine pink and ‘Purity’ white. Sow them in late spring for a summer-long display. They pair well with dahlias and ornamental tobacco, and their seeds readily resow for future seasons.
- Morning Glories
Morning glories, with their large, sky blue and multicolored flowers, are perfect for adding vertical interest. Sow them in pots in early spring, and transplant them outdoors after the last frost. They complement climbing nasturtiums and sweet peas beautifully.
- Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia, or Black-Eyed Susans, are hardy and long-blooming. Varieties like ‘Goldsturm’ and ‘Prairie Sun’ offer bright, cheerful blooms that pair well with blue asters and grasses. Plant them in well-drained soil in early spring for best results.
- Verbena
Verbena bonariensis stands out with its tall, airy stems and clusters of tiny purple flowers. These perennials are easy to grow and self-seed readily, ensuring continuous blooms. They look great alongside blue asters and dahlias.
Tips for a Blooming Garden All Summer Long
- Early Planting: Start sowing annuals like cosmos and zinnias in early spring for continuous blooms.
- Companion Planting: Combine flowers with complementary colors and growth habits for a cohesive look.
- Regular Maintenance: Water regularly, mulch to retain moisture, and remove spent flowers to encourage new blooms.
- Protect from Frost: Bring sensitive plants indoors or cover them in colder climates to extend their growing season.
With these stunning flower choices from Seeds Wild, your garden will be a vibrant, blooming paradise all summer long. Happy planting!
