As summer progresses, gardens are turning vibrant with new blooms. Longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures stimulate rapid growth and encourage vibrant colors and blooms.
If you want the plant to bloom in summer, you'll have to plant it a little early. Today, we discuss 20+ summer flowers that are perfect for your garden.
Boasting tall stems and bright yellow blooms, sunflowers are renowned for physically following the sun in a unique phenomenon called heliotropism.
Beyond aesthetics, sunflowers are easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies. They also produce edible seeds that are both healthy bees and butterflies. These qualities make these large plants extremely attractive to gardeners everywhere.
Marigolds bloom from late spring through summer into fall, flourishing in warm weather and continuously producing flowers until the first frost. They germinate within 5-7 days in warm, moist soil, transition to seedlings, and then enter a rapid vegetative stage lasting about 3-4 weeks.
The best time to plant marigolds is after the last frost in late spring. For earlier blooms, seeds can be started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil for a healthy growth.
One of the most beautiful flowers that bloom in summer, zinnia are normally grown by seeds. Plant seeds about 1/4 inch deep and 6-18 inches apart; water them gently and keep the soil moist until germination.
Once seedlings are established, thin them to prevent overcrowding. Zinnias require regular watering but avoid wetting the foliage to reduce the risk of disease.
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming. Fertilize lightly if the soil is poor, but zinnias generally thrive with minimal care.
Growing lavender at home gives you easy access to its calming and soothing properties. The plant is often used in aromatherapy to reduce stress, anxiety, and promote restful sleep. Oil derived from this flower is applied to minor burns and insect bites for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects.
Besides its medicinal use, lavender produces a sweet smell that can be used to freshen up indoor spaces. The frangrance is also utilized to scent linens and deter moths. These multifaceted uses make lavender a valuable addition to any garden.
If you are beginner in gardening, try growing dahlia this summer. Their ability to produce large, colorful flowers with relatively little effort is a rewarding experience that encourages newcomers to pursue gardening further.
Planting dahlia tubers is straightforward; simply place them in the ground after the last frost, with their "eyes" facing up. Don't forget to regularly water it, especially during dry spells. Also, deadhead spent flowers to ensure continuous blooming from midsummer to fall.
With its stunning, fragrant blooms, the rose plant adds elegance and beauty to any garden. Its flowers symbolize love, beauty, and passion across cultures. They are a universal emblem of romance, often given on special occasions like Valentine's Day and anniversaries.
Beyond romance, roses convey respect, admiration, and sympathy. They are also exchanged during emotional occasions like funerals and receptions.
Rose's significance also lies in its culinary use, including in rose water and rose hips. Meanwhile, its extracts are cherished in the cosmetic and fragrance industries for their soothing properties and exquisite scent.
This beautiful summer flower popular in gardens and containers for their wide range of colors and patterns. Native to South America, petunias prefer USDA zones 9-11 but can be grown as annuals in cooler regions.
Petunias bloom profusely from spring through fall, providing continuous color throughout the growing season. However, for achieving the desired blooms, make sure that the plant receives full sun and regular watering.
Additionally, petunias can be susceptible to pests like aphids and caterpillars. Therefore, regular inspection and appropriate pest control measures are important.
Hydrangeas are relatively easy to grow and maintain. These flowers grow best in fertile soil rich in organic matter. However, the ideal soil pH can vary as acidic soils produce blue flowers and alkaline soils result in pink blooms.
Moreover, hydrangeas prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, particularly in hotter climates. Make sure that these plants get about 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.
Talking about growth cycle, hydranges can take about 2-3 years to establish fully and reach their mature size. Once they reach maturity. hydrangeas are able to produce large blooms from late spring to early fall.
Mostly grown in USDA zones 10-11, geraniums also serve as annual plants in cooler regions. They bloom from late spring through fall, producing a range of colors including red, pink, white, and purple.
To extend the blooming season, deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. Provide consistent watering but let the soil dry out between waterings to prevent root rot.
Fertilize every 4-6 weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer to promote healthy growth and more flowers. Additionally, prune leggy stems to maintain a compact shape and stimulate new growth.
Also known as echinacea, coneflower has a daisy-like flowers with raised centers resembling cones. Native to North America, they are widely cultivated for their vibrant colors and ability to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Besides their ornamental appeal, coneflowers are also used for medicinal properties. Echinacea extracts are commonly used in herbal remedies to boost the immune system, alleviate cold symptoms, and reduce inflammation.
While the flowers, leaves, and roots of echinacea are used in teas, tinctures, and supplements, they are generally safe for consumption when prepared properly. However, they are more valued for their medicinal benefits rather than as a regular food source.
Often referred to as Rudbeckia, Black-eyed Susan symbolizes encouragement, justice, and motivation, often representing positive change and resilience. Meanwhile, its name comes from the dark brown or black center of the flower, which contrasts strikingly with the bright yellow petals.
These cheerful flowers serve several purposes. However, these floras are best known for their use in traditional medicine due to their potential anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
As perennials in USDA zones 3-9, Black-eyed Susans typically return each year. They provide a reliable and low-maintenance burst of color from mid-summer to fall.
Begonias possess attractive foliage and colorful flowers that are extremely pleasing to the eyes. A summer flower, this plant originated from tropical and subtropical regions, with a significant diversity found in South America, Central America, Africa, and Asia.
Furthermore, begonias are highly volatile plants. They can be grown in garden beds, containers, and hanging baskets for decorative purposes.
Begonia's best complement plants include impatiens, ferns, and hostas, all of which grow in similar light and moisture conditions. For a visually appealing and cohesive garden design, combine these plants in your garden.
As an exotic plant, lantana is known for producing vibrant, multi-colored blooms. It is also valued for its hardiness and low maintenance nature, including its tolerance to drought.
However, lantana is toxic to humans and pets. Ingesting its berries can cause symptoms nausea, vomiting, and even diarrhea in humans. For pets, particularly dogs and cats, lantana can cause more severe symptoms, including weakness, labored breathing, and even liver failure if consumed in large quantities.
Similarly, lantana is also an invasive plant. It can spread aggressively, outcompeting native plants and disrupting local ecosystems. Managing lantana requires careful monitoring and control to prevent it from becoming an environmental threat.
Impatiens, also called touch-me-not, are perfect for areas with limited direct sunlight as they can adapt in locations with partial to full shade. Ample moisture is crucial for their growth and flowering.
The name "impatiens" reflects the plant's unique seed dispersal mechanism. When the seed pods mature, they explode open when touched ("impatiently"), ejecting seeds to scatter and propagate nearby.
Moreover, avoid planting impatiens in hot, full sun locations as they are sensitive to heat and can wilt quickly under intense sunlight.
Morning Glories are climbing vines renowned for their trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in the morning and close by afternoon. They belong to the genus Ipomoea and are cherished for their rapid growth, often covering trellises, fences, and arbors with colorful blooms.
Moreover, morning glories produce flowers of different colors, including blue, purple, pink, and white. This makes it highly popular among gardeners.
In addition to their ornamental value, morning glories have cultural significance in various traditions. They are used in some cultures for medicinal purposes, though caution is advised as some parts of the plant can be toxic if ingested.
Commonly known as sage, salvia encompasses a diverse genus of flowering plants. These plants are celebrated for their resilience and adaptability in various climates and garden settings across the United States.
Salvia species can be found in almost every state, from the northern regions to the southern states. They typically prefer temperatures ranging from 60°F to 80°F (15°C to 27°C).
Likewise, salvia are valued not only for their ornamental beauty but also for their culinary and medicinal uses. Some Salvias, such as common sage (Salvia officinalis), are widely used as culinary herbs, However, not all Salvias are edible; it's essential to verify the specific species before consumption.
These flowers for summer originate from Mexico and the southern regions of the United States. They are named "cosmos" due to their orderly arrangement of petals that resemble the cosmos or universe. This name reflects their harmonious and balanced appearance in the garden.
Cosmos flowers are known for their daisy-like blooms with a central disk surrounded by colorful petals that can be either single or double-layered. They typically come in shades of white, pink, magenta, and crimson. Some varieties also feature bicolor or multicolored blooms, adding to their visual diversity.
Gladiolus flowers produce tall, elegant spikes adorned with multiple blossoms in a wide range of colors. These shades include pink, purple, red, yellow, and white.
One of the main advantages of gladiolus is its versatility in garden design, whether planted in rows for cutting gardens or as accents in borders and containers. They bloom from mid-summer to fall and add a burst of color to the garden when many other flowers may be waning.
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum) are beloved for their distinctive, snapping flowers that resemble dragon mouths when squeezed. These plants are popular in gardens and landscapes for their upright spikes of colorful blooms.
Unlike many common houseplants, snapdragrons have a extended blooming period, which spans from spring to early summer in cooler climates and into the fall in milder regions. They are also extremely low-maintenance but may benefit from occasional fertilization and grooming.
Daylily flowers normally last for only one day. But, these plants produce multiple buds on each stem, ensuring a prolonged blooming period throughout the summer. Their graceful, trumpet-shaped flowers atop tall, slender stems make them ideal for borders, mass plantings, and focal points in garden beds.
Beyond their ornamental appeal, daylilies have other uses. Some varieties are edible, with young shoots and flower buds used in culinary dishes. Daylily roots are also utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for their purported medicinal properties.
Phlox refers to a genus of flowering plants known for their clusters of colorful, fragrant blooms. They are popular in gardens for their ability to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Some of its common varieties include creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) and garden phlox (Phlox paniculata).
Phlox can be grown from seeds, seedlings, or divisions of mature plants. Starting from seeds requires sowing them indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, then transplanting seedlings outdoors after frost danger has passed. Seedlings and divisions can be planted directly in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade.
Hibiscus plants can be grown both outdoors in gardens and indoors as potted plants, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Indoor hibiscus plants require bright, indirect light and consistent watering to thrive.
The term "China Rose" refers to certain species of hibiscus, particularly Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, which are native to East Asia. This specific species is known for its large, showy flowers resembling roses, hence the name.
Hibiscus offers several benefits. The flowers are often used to make herbal teas and infusions. Its tea is rich in antioxidants and may help lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and promote liver health.
