Tall flowers make a statement because of their sheer size. Their size usually requires them to be placed at the back of a border, making it difficult to tidy them up once the flowers have faded, without trampling on smaller plants still in bloom at the front of the border. Long-lasting flowers in your summer garden will require less tidying-up and provide easy gardening and pretty flowers throughout the summer, although some may require regular deadheading with long-handled secateurs. These tall perennials are fully hardy to -15C (USDA zone 8) unless otherwise stated.
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Acanthus mollis (bear’s breeches) is a fast-growing architectural plant that is happy in dappled shade as well as full sun. Its huge pretty flowers, coloured white with purple hoods, emerge from glossy green foliage reaching a height and spread of 1.5 m x 0.9 m. These popular tall flowers will flower in May right through until August.
As a long-flowering and low maintenance alternative to delphiniums Aconitum (monkshood) is hard to beat with its unusual and attractive metallic blue flowers. Although there are other varieties of monkshood this ‘Stainless Steel’ is particularly long-lasting, flowering from June to August. It reaches a height and spread of 1.5 m x 0.3 m.
Verbena bonariensis (Verbena) has tightly-packed clusters of tiny lilac flowers perching loftily on tall stems from June to September. Reaching around 2 m in height its open shape doesn’t confine it to the back of the border and it looks fabulous in a prairie planting scheme. A bee and butterfly favourite this fast-growing tall perennial is easy to care for but may need a bit of protection in very cold winters as it is borderline hardy.
Eupatorium is another easy gardening favourite. Ageratina alissima ‘Chocolate’ (aka white snakeroot) has stunning chocolate coloured foliage bearing almost featherlike tiny white lacy flowers on the top. It reaches a height and spread of 1.5 m x 0.6 m and its pretty flowers enhance any flower garden.
Flowering from June to September Veronicastrum virginicum (culver’s root) adds instant impact to a flower garden toward the end of summer. The bottlebrush-like spikes of flowers, appear above mounds of green leaves. There are several cultivars to choose from in colours including blue, lilac, purple, deep pink and, of course, white. They reach a height and width of 1.5 m x 0.6 m.
Centaurea ‘Phoenix Hybrids’ (knapweed) are hard to beat for summer flowers. They are fast-growing and the small, colourful flowers, appear above lofty stems from June to October, in either bronze, red, yellow or orange. Great for naturalized, cottage garden or wild flower schemes they are loved by bees and butterflies. Once the flowers have faded they form interesting seedheads which add structural interest to the winter garden if you can resist cutting them off. They reach an eventual height and spread 1.5 m x 0.5 m.
Tall perennials with long-lasting flowers can help create a dazzling summer garden display. You may want to combine them with other plants such as climbers with long-lasting flowers to achieve the perfect flower garden.
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