Everyone’s gardens are reaching their peak right now with all the summer flowering beauties out there. If your garden could use a little boost, here are some great plants to add some summer color. These are also fantastic plants because they bloom for such a long time. Use them in combination with shrubs as background to complement their colors as they emerge. Keep in mind that many mid-late summer bloomers can be slow to come up in spring so give them some time. Right now all perennials are on SALE – Buy 5, Get 6th Plant FREE!
Joe Pye Weed
- Purple stems, dark leaves, flower heads at top
- Full sun and moisture, also attracts butterflies like crazy
- several varieties, same look but different heights
- Standard is about 6’+ tall
- Gateway 4-6’ x 3-5’ wide, Little Joe 3-4’ tall and wide
Black-eyed Susan
- Gold flowers with dark centers, large, dark green leaves
- Goldsturm very common, 2’ tall and wide, but can spread more
- Bloom July into September
Coneflowers
- Not just pale purple/pink anymore
- Dark pinks, white, orange, yellows, red/orange
- Sizes vary
Asters
- Latin for star, shape of the flowers, shade of purple or blues
- Smaller under 2 ‘ to 6’+, like full sun, light shade, moisture
- Blooms usually start in August, Purple Dome & Woods Blue are common
Helenium or Sneezeweed
- Little more water hungry, full sun, about 3-4’ tall, 2 feet of space
- ‘Salsa’ and ‘Sombrero’ – small daisy like flowers, dark red or yellow
- Great long blooming addition to the garden
Sedum
- Upright rather than spreading types are late bloomers, butterflies like them, drought tolerant
- Autumn Joy – green leaves, 2 ‘ tall and wide, pink flowers
- Matrona – leaves have a purple pink color to edge, less than 2’ tall, flowers pink
- Purple Emperor – dark purple leaves, pink purple flowers