Enjoy Beautiful Blooms All Summer When You Plant these Flowers
A landscape awash in colorful blooms is one of the gardener’s greatest joys. But most plants have a flowering season of only a few short weeks each year. You can dodge the drabness between flowering intervals by planting full sun perennials that bloom all summer.
Coreopsis
With bright, splashy blooms, coreopsis makes a vivid statement. These daisy-like flowers grow in clusters and stand nine inches to three feet tall. With many varieties of coreopsis to choose from, you can find just the right combination and shade of red, pink or yellow blooms to complement your existing garden.
Coreopsis is native to North America, making it a popular choice for gardeners due to its hardy nature. These low-maintenance flowers are resistant to drought and will even grow in sandy or acidic soil. However, like most flowers, coreopsis will not grow well in sodden soil with poor drainage.
Zinnia
With multi-colored flowers that look like pom-poms, zinnias add pizzazz and whimsy to your flower garden. Zinnias are also one of the easiest flowers to grow. You can sow the seeds indoors or directly in your garden. Cut flowers frequently to encourage more blooms. Check out our wide selection of zinnia seeds to make a colorful splash in your garden.
Phlox
From the bursting “star” petals of the Popstar™ Rose to the cone-shaped clusters of the Bee’s Bouquet, to the low, dainty stems of the Purple Beauty, phlox comes in so many colors and sizes that it’s hard to believe they’re all from the same species.
Phlox is an excellent choice if you’re trying to attract pollinators. The nectar-rich flowers of the phlox will lure butterflies and bees as well as hummingbirds to your garden.
In the past, phlox’s long bloom season was often cut short by its susceptibility to powdery mildew, especially in humid climates. Look for recent cultivars that are much more resistant to this fungal pest.
Butterfly Weed
As its name suggests, butterfly weed is a go-to perennial for gardeners trying to attract the beautiful and delicate winged insects. Monarch butterflies will even lay their eggs in butterfly weed. Hummingbirds love this perennial as well.
Because it attracts these important pollinators, butterfly weed is an excellent companion plant to strawberries. Check out our guide on how to grow strawberries from seed when you also add butterfly weed to your garden.
The clusters of small, bright orange flowers characteristic of butterfly weed grow in bushy clumps up to two feet tall. Long, thin green leaves make a striking complement to the orange blooms.
Butterfly weed requires soil with good drainage and is resistant to both droughts and cold winters.
Lavender
While bloom time varies among cultivars, many varieties of lavender will bloom beginning in spring and through the fall.
Growing up to three feet tall, lavender can be used to create a sweet-smelling hedge or border for your garden. The green stalks of a lavender plant are topped with wispy purple flowers that give a particularly pleasant and calming scent.
Most lavender is suitable for zones 5 – 9, with English lavender known for being the hardiest for northern climates. Lavender is easy to grow with well-draining soil and full sun.
In addition to its medicinal and culinary uses, lavender is an effective mosquito repellent.
Tips to Help Your Perennials Bloom Longer
Although many perennials grow well with little maintenance, you can increase your perennials’ bloom time with a bit of extra care.
- By deadheading spent flowers, you encourage your plants to produce more blooms. Perennials “flower” in an attempt to reproduce. This process is cut short by deadheading. When the spent flowers are deadheaded, the plant devotes more of its energy to producing blooms.
- Prune your perennials in fall or spring, depending on the species. Much like deadheading, pruning removes dead or weak stems to redirect the perennial's resources toward healthy flowers.
- Mulch with compost or dead leaves. Mulch helps the soil retain moisture. By using compost or dead leaves for your mulch, you’re increasing the nutrients in your soil. Mulching with wood chips, on the other hand, robs the soil of nitrogen as the wood chips decompose.
Enjoy Perennials All Season
With a little pre-planning, you can enjoy a colorful garden throughout the growing season. Plant long-blooming perennials to keep your garden vibrant as well as attract pollinators. Shop Park Seed for all of your perennial seed needs.
