Easy to Grow Perennials that Bloom All Summer

It’s getting to be that season of the year when you can stop and smell the flowers. Perennial flower gardens are a great way to enjoy bloomers year after year without having to replant, but many perennial blooms are short-lived. While planting perennials with different blooming times in groups solves the problem, there are some easy to grow perennials that bloom all summer long.

Perennial plants and flowers are go-to choices for many gardeners because of their ability to come back each year. Not only do they continue giving the love, but every year they come back even more beautiful than the year before.

They do, however, require that you return the love by performing regular maintenance such as deadheading, pruning, and fertilizing.

Stunning Perennials that Bloom All Summer Long

Waiting all year to enjoy fantastic blooms of color and fragrance is disappointing when those blooms only last for a week, sometimes only a couple of days. The good news is, there are many varieties of perennial plants that produce flowers throughout the summer, from yarrow and hibiscus to roses and daylilies.

You can even choose to add a few sun loving tropical perennial plants around your pool or porch to give your property an island vibe during the summer. There are endless plant combinations to give you the atmosphere you want in your yard.

What are Perennial Plants?

Perennials grow back each year from a root system that goes dormant at the end of each growing season. They generally bloom once during each season, but some varieties produce continuous blooms all season.

Easy to grow perennial plants last for years, and they put much of their energy into future growth and long term health. Therefore, they have a more robust root system than annuals have.

There are also annuals that bloom all summer long but you must replant them every year. While perennials require less work than annuals since you only plant them once, routine maintenance is needed to ensure good health of the plant. Pruning, deadheading, and fertilizing are often part of routine care.

Are Perennials Hard to Grow?

Not only are perennials easy growers, but they also provide a naturally attractive investment to your yard. With year after year blooms, they only require regular watering and spring or fall pruning to maintain them. Once you choose the right perennial for your area and yard, these plants pretty much take care of themselves.

Do Perennials Grow Anywhere?

Perennials require specific types of growing conditions to thrive, and you must be aware of the kind of plant you have before planting in your garden. While some plants require full sun and fertile soil, others need shade and well-drained soil.

The USDA hardiness zone map helps determine which plants to grow in your yard. For example, if you live in zone 4, then any plant with a zone of 3 through 8 is perfect for your location.

Which Perennials Bloomers Should I Plant in My Yard?

When considering this question, there are certain things to take into account. How big is your yard? Do you own your home? How much sunlight does your garden area get each day?

Once you answer these questions, picking the right perennial is easy. Always make sure to inspect your yard before planting to check for areas of high or low sunshine. When planting a continuous bloom garden, make sure that all the plants have the same requirements before placing them together in the same area.

For a small yard, consider picking compact perennials that are low growth and do not spread. If you have large areas that need concealing, try planting perennial climbing plants that mask the space with colorful blooms.

You can even try some vegetables to grow in summer that will come back next year. Although they don’t have a lot of spectacular blooms, you can enjoy some fresh produce. Asparagus and rhubarb are two veggies worth your time to plant.

Phlox (Phlox paniculata)

Phlox comes in many different varieties, all of which produce a bounty of summer-time flowers. Meadow and garden phlox have a wide assortment of fragrant flowers and work well as a border flower, while the moss and creeping phlox make great groundcover plants.

Phlox is grown in zones 4 through 8, prefers part to full sun, and is both low maintenance and drought tolerant. The fragrant flowers bloom from late spring through late summer and attract birds to the garden.

Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum) – Easy Growing Summer Blooming Cut Flower

This eye-catching perennial is a long time favorite among gardeners due to is fresh, white daisy flowers with varying degrees of size. The summer and fall blooms grow on tall, sturdy stems, which makes it an excellent cut flower for the home.

These low maintenance flowers attract birds and grow well in both containers or a perennial garden. They are low maintenance and drought-tolerant and grow to a height of 1 to 3 feet. Shasta daisies grow best in zones 5 through 8, in partial shade to full sun.

Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

Seeing tall, wispy spikes of blue and lavender flowers rising above silvery-green foliage is the best way to describe Russian sage. This hardy perennial produces fragrant blooms from summer through early fall and is an attraction to birds and pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Russian sage is not only low maintenance and drought tolerant, but is one of the easiest deer resistant perennial plants, as well, so there is no worry about losing your flowers to a hungry appetite. It grows best in zones 4 through 9 and thrives in full sun.

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) – Bright Colored Perennial Flower for Easy Summer-Time Blooms

Echinacea, or purple coneflower, is a North American native wildflower that grows with brightly colored single and double blossoms. The fragrant flowers range in color from red, orange, and white, to purple, pink, and yellow, and attract both pollinators and birds to the garden.

This low maintenance flower thrives in sunny locations in zones 3 through 9 and is both drought tolerant and deer resistant. It reaches up to 3 feet with a spread of up to 2 feet.

Geranium (Pelargonium)

Geraniums come in a wide selection of colors, shapes, and sizes, and with over 300 types to choose from, these flowers find a happy place in any garden. With colors from blue and purple to pink and white, these flowers look stunning in both containers and a garden atmosphere.

These low maintenance flowers grow best in zones 3 through 9 and handle both shady and sunny areas of the yard. Geraniums are deer resistant and drought tolerant, and grow up to a height of 3 feet or more, depending on the variety.

Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-Sinensis) – Easy to Grow Flowering Perennial with Tropical Sized Flowers

Hibiscus is a hardy perennial that blooms from summer through fall with tropical-looking, dinner-plate-sized blossoms. The vibrant flowers range in color shades of red, pink, orange, and white and attract hummingbirds and pollinators to the garden.

Hibiscus grows in zones 4 through 9, and it reaches a height of 3 to 8 feet and a width of 3 to 5 feet. This sun-loving perennial is easily maintained and provides the garden with a flair of colorful drama.

Sometimes, aphids appear to like hibiscus plants as much as you do. To kill aphids on hibiscus, make up a DIY recipe to eliminate them or use a strong blast of water to displace them.

Catmint (Nepeta)

From early summer through fall, catmint burst into colorful blooms of purple, set against green/silver foliage. This versatile perennial is hardy enough to handle most garden situations and is a joy in any yard.

As a welcome bonus, catmint is one of the premier perennials that repel mosquitoes and other unwanted bugs. Catmint thrives best in zones 3 through 9 and prefers sunny locations.

It reaches an average height and spread of 3 feet, is easy to maintain, and is both drought tolerant and deer resistant. Catmint spreads easily so watch its growth to ensure it doesn’t take over. This plant is easy to pair with many other garden perennials.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – Country Garden Style Perennial that Blooms All Summer

This stunning country-style flower blooms in vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red. This native perennial grows well in small groups or mass plantings for a stunning display of color and provides cut flowers from summer through fall.

These sun-loving perennials thrive in zones 3 through 11 and have an average height and width of 3 feet. They are low maintenance, drought tolerant, and deer resistant, and attract many types of birds to the yard.

Tickseed (Coreopsis)

Coreopsis, or tickseed, has delicate, sunny flowers that bloom all summer in shades of yellow, orange, red, and pink. Butterflies and pollinators like bees and butterflies are drawn to the sweet nectar.

These are also popular perennials with seeds for birds when the plants finish blooming. Tickseed grows in zones 3 through 9, enjoys full sun, and produces delightful blooms from summer through fall.

Depending on the variety, this low maintenance plant reaches a height that ranges from 1 to 8 feet. Tickseed is both drought tolerant and deer resistant and grows well in the garden or container.

Daylily (Hemerocallis) – Easiest to Grow Perennial with Showy Blooms

Daylilies are genuinely one of the easiest perennial flowers to grow in the garden or along a tall border. They come in so many colors, sizes, and shapes that there is bound to be a favorite for every gardener.

While each flower only blooms for a single day, the plants have multiple flowers that bloom from summer through fall in shades of orange, yellow, white, pink, red, and purple.

These fragrant perennial flowers reach a height from 1 to 8 feet, depending on the variety, and grow best in zones 3 through 10. Daylilies are perennials for full sun or even partial sun and are both easily maintained and drought tolerant. Most pests don’t like daylilies either, making them ideal in areas troubled by deer or harmful insects.

Aster (Symphyotrichum)

These ornamental flowers come in many varieties with colors that include blue, white, pink, and purple. Their style is suitable for any type of garden atmosphere, as long as it’s in the sun. They also make an excellent cut flower.

Aster grows in zones 3 through 9, attracts birds of all types, and blooms from early summer through fall. They are drought tolerant and low maintenance, and reach a height between 3 to 8 feet, depending on the variety.

Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) – Long Lasting Cottage Style Flowers with Continuous Bloom

This classic cottage style perennial adds a bit of whimsy to the garden. It has dangling, heart-shaped flowers in colors of red, pink, and white, and has a long bloom time from early spring to fall. The rounded shape of this plant, combined with its drooping stems of colorful hearts, softens the edges of gardens, walkways, and borders.

Bleeding hearts grow to a height and width of 3 feet. This easily maintained perennial grows best in zones 3 through 9 in partial to sunny parts of the yard. They are also deer resistant and make beautiful cut flowers.

Sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile)

Sedum is a diverse group of plants that are commonly grown for its low growing texture and color. Sedum creepers are fabulous for ground cover and grow well in rock gardens, while upright sedum grows in clumps of foliage that add exciting appeal to the garden.

Sedum grows red, orange, purple, white, pink, and yellow flowers, and they reach a height of up to 3 feet, depending on the variety. These low maintenance, drought-tolerant plants grow best in zones 3 through 10 and enjoy part shade to full sun.

Delphinium (Delphinium ) – Easy Growing Perennial with Stunningly Tall Flowers

Delphinium reaches a height of up to 6 feet tall, with blooms that make a strong statement in the garden. With its vertical element and striking purple, pink, yellow, white, red, and blue flowers, this perennial is an excellent backdrop for the flower garden.

Delphiniums enjoy part to full sun, grow best in zones 3 through 7, and do not like hot summer days. It is a deer resistant plant that blooms all summer long in mild weather.

Pair delphiniums with perrenial grasses to make an eye-catching garden display or use them on their own in a grouping for a pop of color.

Summer-time goes by too fast as it is, and only getting to enjoy flowers for a few days of the year just doesn’t seem like enough. Fortunately, nature gives us perennials that keep on giving.

There’s nothing better than perfecting a summer garden filled with perennial flowers that blossom continuously, whether you enjoy taking daily strolls through the fragrant blooms or using cut flowers to fill vases in your home.

Creating the perfect flower garden with easy to grow perennials that bloom all summer long is easy using the right plant varieties, so why not share our list of easy growing perennials with friends and family on Pinterest and Facebook?