Perennial plants come back year after year, sparing you the trouble of replanting each spring. Many of them are considered pollinator plants attracting hummingbirds and butterflies, making for great additions to the garden!
The disadvantage is that most perennials flower for a shorter duration than annual flowers. Fortunately, there are more long-blooming perennials than you may imagine. Here are some of the greatest perennials that bloom all summer (or at least for a lengthy period!).
1. Bellflower (Campanula)
Bellflower (Campanula) is one of the best perennial flowers that bloom all summer. It produces large, bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, pink, purple, and white. Bellflowers are very easy to care for and will continue to bloom all summer long if you deadhead them regularly.
2. Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender is another perennial that offers extended blooming. This fragrant flower can bloom from late spring to early fall, making it a great choice for a long-lasting floral display. Some gardeners leaves their lavender standing all winter in an effort to deter deer from their garden during the colder months of the year. There are quite a few varieties of lavender to choose from (including some white lavender varieties!).
3. Bee Balm (Monarda)
Bee Balm (Monarda) is a beautiful perennial that blooms all summer long with showy, brightly-colored flowers (usually pink or purple). Bee balm is very easy to care for and is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions. Deadheading will help to keep this plant blooming throughout the summer months.
4. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflower (Echinacea) is a hardy perennial that blooms from early summer to fall. It’s a great choice for gardeners who want color that lasts all season long. Echinacea is available in the classic purple, but also in pinks and oranges (and even white).
5. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) is a classic summer flower that produces yellow or gold blooms with black centers. This easy-to-grow plant blooms from early summer to fall and is a great choice for filling in gaps in the garden. Deadheading will prolong the blooming season.
- ‘Goldsturm’
6. Pinks (Dianthus)
Pinks (Dianthus) are lovely, old-fashioned flowers that bloom from spring to fall. They come in a wide range of colors, including white, pink, red, and purple. Pinks are very easy to grow and make excellent cut flowers for bouquets.
7. Yarrow (Achillea)
Yarrow (Achillea) is a drought-tolerant perennial that produces clusters of small flowers in shades of yellow, pink, or red. Yarrow blooms from early summer to fall and is a great choice for adding color to a garden with limited water.
- ‘Coronation Gold’
8. Evening Primrose (Oenothera)
Evening Primrose (Oenothera) is a beautiful flower that blooms at night (hence its name). It’s a great choice for gardeners who want to add a touch of romance to their landscape. The flowers are white, but they turn pink as they age. Evening primrose can bloom all summer if you deadhead the spent flowers regularly.
9. Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa)
Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa) is a beautiful perennial that blooms from early summer to fall. It produces large, round flowers in shades of blue, pink, purple, and white. Scabiosa is very easy to grow and makes an excellent cut flower for bouquets.
10. Salvia (Salvia)
Salvia (Salvia) is a heat-loving perennial that blooms all summer long with showy, brightly-colored flowers. Salvia is available in a wide range of colors, including blue, purple, red, and white. This plant is very easy to care for and is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions.
- ‘May Night’
11. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a heat-loving perennial that blooms all summer long with showy, lavender-blue flowers. This plant is also very easy to care for and is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions.
‘Blue Hill’
12. Delphinium
Delphiniums are tall, stately flowers that come in a range of colors including blue, purple, pink, and white. They have long stems with clusters of small blooms. Delphiniums bloom in early to mid-summer and can reach 6 feet tall or more! Established plants tend to bloom a second time in late summer for a gorgeous display of towering blooms.
13. Daylily
Daylily is another long-blooming perennial flower for the garden. Look for repeat bloomers, like the golden ‘Stella de Oro’ Daylily. These flowers have large, showy blooms that last for a day (hence their name). But the plant continues to produce new buds, so you’ll have blooms all summer long!
If daylilies aren’t blooming, ensure they are getting enough sun, water, and nutrition from organic mulch such as homemade compost. Daylilies may not flower well the year after they are planted or for a year or two after division. Fortunately, these low-maintenance perennials don’t need to be divided on a regular basis to keep flowering at their best throughout the summer.
- ‘Happy Returns’
“Typically individual flowers don’t last longer than a day, but so many buds are produced that a single plant may bloom for 30 to 40 days”
Essential Perennials: The Complete Reference to 2700 Perennials for the Home Garden, by Ruth Rogers Clausen and Thomas Christopher
“If early, midseason and late-blooming sorts are planted, there will be day lilies from June until almost September.”
The Harrowsmith Perennial Garden: Flowers for Three Seasons, by Patrick Lima
14. Red Valerian (Centranthus)
Red Valerian (Centranthus) is a stunning perennial flower with deep red blooms. It’s often grown as an annual in colder climates, but this easy-to-grow plant is actually a perennial that will come back year after year in zones 4-9. Red valerian blooms all summer long, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden!
15. Tradescantia (Tradescantia)
Tradescantia (Tradescantia) is a perennial groundcover that produces blue, purple, or white flowers. It’s an easy-to-grow plant that tolerates a wide range of growing conditions. This tough little plant is also drought tolerant once established. Tradescantia blooms all summer long, brightening up the garden with its colorful flowers and strap-like light green leaves!
16. Fumewort (Corydalis)
Fumewort (Corydalis) is a delicate-looking perennial flower with blue or purple blooms. It’s a shade-loving plant that does best in cool, moist conditions. Fumewort blooms all summer long in shades of blue, purple, and white. This pretty little flower is perfect for adding color to shady areas of the garden!
17. Mallow (Malva)
Mallow (Malva) is a perennial flower that comes in a range of colors including pink, purple, and white. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun to partial shade. Mallow blooms all summer long, attracting bees and butterflies to the garden!
18. Hardy Geranium (Geranium)
Hardy Geranium (Geranium) is a perennial flower that comes in a wide range of colors including pink, purple, blue, and white. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun to partial shade. Hardy geranium blooms all summer long!
19. Tickseed (Coreopsis)
Tickseed (Coreopsis) is a perennial flower that comes in a range of colors including yellow, orange, and red. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun. Tickseed blooms all summer long, attracting bees and butterflies to the garden!
- ‘Moonbeam’
20. Baby’s Breath (Gypsophilia)
Baby’s Breath (Gypsophilia) is a delicate-looking perennial flower with small white flowers. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun. Baby’s breath blooms all summer long, adding a touch of elegance to the garden. You can even dry them and bring them inside for wintertime floral arrangements.
- ‘Rosy Veil’ Baby’s Breath
21. Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisies are classic cottage garden flowers. They have white petals with yellow centers and reach 2-3 feet tall. Shasta daisies are easy to grow and bloom all summer long.
‘Alaska’ Shasta Daisy
22. Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint (Nepeta) is a perennial flower that comes in a range of colors including blue, purple, and white. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun to partial shade. Catmint blooms all summer long, attracting bees and butterflies to the garden!
- ‘Six Hills Giant’
- ‘Walker’s Low’
23. Veronica (Veronica)
Veronica (Veronica) is a perennial flower that comes in a range of colors including blue, purple, pink, and white. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun to partial shade.
- ‘Sunny Border’
- ‘Waterlily’
24. Globe Thistle (Echinops)
Globe Thistle (Echinops) is a perennial flower that comes in a range of colors including blue and purple. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun. Globe thistle blooms all summer long, adding interest to the garden with its globe-shaped flowers! You can leave the seed heads standing through the winter for cold-season interest and habitat for beneficial creatures.
- ‘Blue Glow’
25. Hardy Hibiscus
Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus) is a perennial flower that comes in a range of colors including pink, purple, red, and white. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun. Hardy hibiscus blooms all summer long, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden!
- ‘Moy Grande’
26. Verbena (Verbena)
Verbena (Verbena) is a perennial flower that comes in a range of colors including blue, purple, pink, and white. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun to partial shade. Verbena blooms all summer long, attracting bees and butterflies to the garden!
- ‘Homestead Purple’
- ‘Superbena Sparkling Burgundy’
27. Ajuga (Ajuga)
Ajuga (Ajuga) is a perennial flower that comes in a range of colors including blue, purple, and white. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun to partial shade. Ajuga blooms all summer long, adding color and interest to the garden!
- ‘Black Scallop’
28. Euphorbia (Euphorbia)
Euphorbia (Euphorbia) is a perennial flower that comes in a range of colors including yellow, green, and white. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun to partial shade. Euphorbia blooms all summer long, attracting bees and butterflies to the garden.
29. Sea Thrift (Armeria)
Sea Thrift (Armeria) is a perennial flower that comes in a range of colors including pink, purple, and white. It’s a low-maintenance plant that does best in full sun to partial shade. Sea thrift blooms all summer long!
- ‘Victoria’
30. Phlox
Phlox is a classic cottage perennial flower with a long blooming period. Phlox come in a range of colors including pink, purple, red, and white. They’re easy to grow and make great cut flowers!
- ‘David’
- ‘Moss Pink’
31. Astrantia
Astrantia are delicate-looking perennial flowers with a pincushion-like appearance. These unique blooms come in a range of colors including pink, purple, and white. Astrantia are easy to grow and make great cut flowers!
- ‘Major’
- ‘Roma’
32. Stonecrop (Sedum)
Stonecrop (Sedum) is a mainstay in the perennial garden not only due to its flowers but because of its hardy ornamental foliage. Stonecrop comes in a range of colors including pink, purple, red, and white. It’s easy to grow and tolerates a wide range of growing conditions!
- ‘Autumn Joy’
- ‘Matrona’
33. Ornamental Allium
Ornamental Allium bloom in late spring, but their ornamental seed heads can stay up all year! Some gardeners leave them standing into wintertime for winter interest, while others like to dry them and bring them indoors for cold-season floral arrangements.
- ‘Gladiator’
- ‘Purple Sensation’
34. Helenium
Helenium are cheerful perennial flowers available in all sorts of bright colors. They’re perfect for adding a touch of cheer to the late-season garden!
- ‘Mardi Gras’
- ‘Salsa’
35. Aster
Asters are another must-have for a long-lasting perennial flower garden. They bloom in a wide range of colors from white to purple and everything in between. Asters make great cut flowers, too!
- ‘Alma Potschke’
- ‘Professor Kippenberg’
36. Red Hot Pokers
Red Hot Pokers are a striking perennial that are also known as excellent flowers for attracting hummingbirds and other beneficial pollinators. These statuesque flowers come in a range of colors including red, orange, and yellow.
- ‘Flamenco’
- ‘Tango’
37. Cinquefoil
Cinquefoil is a perennial flower with yellow flowers that bloom in early summer. It’s a drought-tolerant plant that’s perfect for dry, sunny spots in the garden!
- ‘Dart’s Gold’
38. Blanket Flower( Gaillardia)
Blanketflower (Gaillardia) is a heat-tolerant perennial flower that blooms all summer long. These cheerful flowers come in a range of colors including red, orange, and yellow.
- ‘ Arizona Sun’
39. Alpine Strawberries
Alpine Strawberries are a perennial plant grown both as an ornamental groundcover and for their adorable edible tiny wild strawberries. These plants bloom throughout the summer for a steady supply of mini berries from your garden.
- ‘Colette’
- ‘Mara des Bois’
40. Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria)
Alstroemeria, commonly known as the Peruvian lily, is a long-lasting cut flower that also happens to make a beautiful addition to the garden. These flowers come in a wide range of colors and bloom from late spring through summer.
- ‘Inca Gold’
- ‘Orange Storm’
41. German Statice
German Statice is a low-maintenance perennial flower with long-lasting blooms. The flowers are often used in dried arrangements, but they also make a beautiful addition to the garden. German Statice comes in a range of colors including white, purple, and pink.
- ‘Carnea’
- ‘Lavender Mist’
42. Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum)
Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum), also called Golden Everlasting, is a long-lasting perennial plant from Australia. The plant produces yellow, papery flowers that make great cut flowers. Strawflower blooms all summer long!
- ‘Mango Punch’
43. Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) is a long-lasting perennial plant from North America. The plant produces white, pearly flowers that make great cut flowers. Pearly everlasting blooms all summer long!
- ‘Margarita’
