Summer Blooming Perennial Plants

Daylily (Hemerocalis spp.) – Zones 3-9 or 10. A low maintenance perennial for full sun, daylilies produce flowers over a 4-12 week period in the summer. With several thousand cultivars available is it easy to find some that are fragrant and all are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Daylily foliage is also very attractive with arching grass-like leaves that are evergreen or semi-evergreen. Cultivars are available that rebloom, have double or triple flowers, and vary in size from 12″ to 36″ or more.

Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) -Zones 5-9. Sun to part shade is preferred for this 8-12″ tall groundcover. Also called leadwort, this perennial can become slightly invasive if you don’t want it to slowly spread throughout your garden. Blue flowers begin to appear in the summer and continue for many weeks until the foliage begins to turn red in a bright autumn foliage display. Hardy plumbago is easy to keep and adapts to a wide variety of soil. Don’t confuse Ceratostigma spp. with Plumbago spp., an African native shrub that won’t survive winters past zone 8.

Thyme (Thymus spp.) – Zones 4-9. Thyme is an evergreen ground cover and perennial herb with tiny, delicate looking flowers late spring or early summer. Often used as an alternative to a grass lawn, or in Medieval Herb Gardens, thyme is a popular ground cover choice for full sun to part shade and well drained soil. See more details about growing thyme plants.

Astilbe (Astilbe spp.)- Zones 4-9. A great summer flowering perennial that will light up the shade garden. Astilbe has upright flower plumes in a wide variety of colors that are feathery in texture and make good cut flowers Typically upright plants around 2′ -3′ tall, shorter cultivars or weeping forms are also available.

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – Zones 5-8. A staple for mass plantings and herb garden, this perennial herb has highly fragrant purple flowers on long flower stalks June through August. When summer flowers have faded the silvery-green foliage is still highly attractive and is evergreen in warm climates. English lavender grows about 2-3′ tall and wide. See details about growing lavender plants.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Zones 3-8. A popular drought tolerant perennial, the Purple Coneflower has large, daisy-like flowers summer through early fall. Flower stalks grow as tall as 5′ but are typically around 3′ and make great cut flowers or leave the coneflowers to self-seed gently in the garden. Hybridizers have even produced fragrant coneflower varieties now and while the species is purple, many new color forms are being introduced each year.

Fernleaf Yarrow (Achillea filipendulina) – Zones 3-8. An easy-to-grow perennial, the fernleaf yarrow has tightly packed flower clusters summer through early autumn. Fernleaf yarrow has more finely cut foliage than the species and the gray-green leaves are aromatic. This 2-3′ tall, drought tolerant yarrow plant may need staking on occasion, but is otherwise low maintenance and will thrive in poor, dry soil once established. Deadhead to extend bloom time and use the flowers in indoor arrangements or dry flower arrangements.

Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium) – Zones 5-11. Typically considered a biennial plant, Canterbury Bells have been known to survive three or more years in mild climates, though rare. Large bell-shaped flowers give the plant their name and flowering occurs over semi-evergreen foliage in the plants second year. Self-seeding can occur, but may not be true to form and cannot be relied on to keep Canterbury Bells in the garden. Set out started plants in the spring and provide them with full sun to moderate shade. Canterbury Bells, also called Coventry Bells, are less likely to need staking than their perennial cousins but be prepared to stake if in high wind situations.