At Strobert Tree Services we often focus on trees. Yet many of our clients ask about flowers that can keep their yards bright all summer. Trees give shade and structure, but perennials provide lasting color at the ground level.
Unlike annuals, perennials return year after year. Choosing the right varieties ensures blooms from the first heat of June to the cooler days of September. Below I will share some of the best perennial flowers that bloom all summer.
1. Agastache
Agastache, also known as hummingbird mint, produces tall spikes of purple, pink, or orange. It loves full sun and tolerates drought once established. The blooms stretch from midsummer through fall. Pollinators flock to this plant. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds cannot resist it.
2. Bee Balm
Bee balm is another magnet for pollinators. It comes in shades of red, pink, and purple. The flowers form in round clusters and have a strong fragrance. Bee balm thrives in full sun to part shade. It prefers moist soil. It can bloom for weeks on end, filling the air with life and movement.
3. Black Eyed Susan
Black eyed Susan is a classic garden flower. Its golden petals and dark centers are instantly recognizable. It blooms from June until September. It thrives in full sun and resists drought. These tough flowers are reliable and look striking in large patches.
4. Blanket Flower
Blanket flower offers fiery reds, yellows, and oranges. Its daisy like blooms continue nonstop through the summer. It loves well drained soil and full sun. Removing spent flowers encourages new ones. The plant can handle heat and poor soil.
5. Fringed Bleeding Heart
Fringed bleeding heart differs from the spring blooming type most people know. This variety keeps producing delicate pink or white hearts through the summer. It prefers part shade and cooler areas. When heat slows it down, it quickly rebounds once temperatures ease.
6. Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bush produces long clusters of purple or blue flowers. It blooms from midsummer until frost. Though shrub like, it is still considered a perennial in many regions. It thrives in full sun and responds well to yearly pruning. Butterflies and hummingbirds gather around it in abundance.
7. Catmint
Catmint brings spikes of lavender blue flowers. It starts in spring and can continue into fall with proper care. Full sun brings the best results. Shearing after the first flush keeps the blooms coming. The gray green foliage gives off a pleasant scent when brushed.
8. Clematis
Clematis is a climbing vine known for large flowers in purple and other shades. It begins in early summer and often reblooms through the season. Plant it in full sun to part shade and provide support for the vines. With the right care it becomes a showpiece.
9. Coneflower
Coneflower, or echinacea, offers bold purple pink petals around a raised cone. It blooms from June into August and sometimes longer. Full sun is best. It handles drought well and attracts both butterflies and birds. The seed heads provide winter interest after flowering ends.
10. Coreopsis
Coreopsis, or tickseed, provides a cheerful burst of yellow or gold. It continues all summer with regular deadheading. It thrives in poor soil and full sun. Some varieties like Domino add extra color with red centers. These flowers bring light to any border.
11. Daylily
Daylilies are hardy and dependable. Varieties like Stella d’Oro bloom repeatedly through the summer. Flowers come in shades of yellow, orange, and red. They adapt to full sun or part shade. Few plants are as forgiving and long lasting.
12. Dianthus
Dianthus is compact and fragrant. It produces fringed flowers in pink, red, or white. The blooms last from spring into summer and return with trimming. Full sun and well drained soil are essential. These small flowers fit nicely at the front of beds.
13. Garden Phlox
Garden phlox brings tall, colorful clusters of pink, white, or purple. It blooms from midsummer into fall. Fragrant and bold, it stands out in borders. Look for mildew resistant varieties. Full sun and moist soil will give the strongest show.
14. Hardy Geranium
Hardy geraniums like Rozanne spread across the ground and bloom for months. The saucer shaped flowers are often blue or pink. They tolerate part shade to full sun. They also work well as groundcovers under trees. Their ability to flower nonstop makes them valuable.
15. Hardy Hibiscus
Hardy hibiscus carries massive blooms that look tropical. The flowers are pink, red, or white and appear from midsummer to frost. It loves moist soil and full sun. It dies back in winter but returns bigger each year.
16. Reblooming Hydrangea
Varieties like Endless Summer bloom on both new and old wood. The mophead or lacecap flowers appear in shades of blue, pink, or white. They provide several flushes of blooms through the season. Part shade works best in hot climates.
17. Ice Plant
Ice plant is a low growing succulent. Its daisy like flowers come in bright colors from June to September. It loves dry soil and full sun. It spreads as groundcover and thrives in hot exposed areas.
18. Reblooming Iris
Some iris varieties produce flowers not just in spring but also in summer and fall. Immortality is one example. These plants enjoy full sun and well drained soil. The white blooms stand out against green foliage.
19. Knock Out Rose
Knock Out roses are bred for repeat flowering. They bloom almost continuously through summer in shades of red, pink, or yellow. They are disease resistant and low maintenance. Full sun helps them perform best.
20. Lavender
English lavender offers both beauty and fragrance. Purple spikes rise in June and continue through August. The plant prefers full sun and dry soil. The foliage is evergreen and aromatic, adding value year round.
21. Reblooming Lilac
New lilac varieties bloom not only in spring but also again in midsummer. Penda is one such type. These compact shrubs fit well in smaller gardens. Their lavender purple clusters bring fragrance and charm.
22. Pincushion Flower
Pincushion flower creates soft mounds of lavender blue blooms. The flowers keep coming through summer. Full sun is best. Butterflies are frequent visitors.
23. Red Hot Poker
Red hot poker sends up dramatic torch like spikes in red, orange, and yellow. It blooms in summer and sometimes into fall. It loves full sun and well drained soil. Its vertical form adds structure to plantings.
24. Rose Verbena
Rose verbena spreads along the ground with clusters of pink or purple blooms. It continues through the growing season. It handles poor soil and full sun. It works well as edging or groundcover.
25. Russian Sage
Russian sage carries airy lavender blue flowers above silvery foliage. It blooms from July into October. Full sun and dry soil suit it well. It tolerates heat and drought.
26. Salvia
Perennial salvia offers spikes in purple, blue, or red. With deadheading it flowers all summer. The foliage has a pleasant scent. It thrives in full sun.
27. Sedum
Sedum, or stonecrop, blooms in late summer with starry clusters. The foliage is succulent and easy to care for. It prefers full sun. Once planted, it requires little attention.
28. Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisies look like oversized wild daisies. Their white petals and yellow centers appear from July to September. Cutting back encourages reblooming. They prefer full sun.
29. Speedwell
Spike speedwell produces narrow spikes of blue or pink. It blooms from June into August and can continue with shearing. It grows in full sun or part shade.
30. St. John’s Wort
St. John’s wort offers bright yellow star shaped flowers. It blooms from summer into fall. It tolerates wetter soils and grows best in full sun.
31. Valerian
Valerian grows tall and fragrant. Pink or white clusters appear from spring through fall. Full sun and well drained soil support its long season. It is a useful background plant.
32. Yarrow
Yarrow produces flat clusters in yellow, pink, or red. It blooms all summer in full sun. The foliage is feathery and attractive. It tolerates drought and poor soil.
Final Thoughts
Perennial flowers that bloom all summer bring life and joy to any landscape. Pairing them with trees and shrubs creates balance and beauty.
At Strobert Tree Services we focus on tree health, pruning, and removal, but we also understand how flowers enrich a property. If you would like advice on trees or shrubs to complement your garden, contact us. Our certified arborists are ready to help you create a safe and thriving outdoor space.
