If you want a garden that stays colorful from early summer all the way through fall, choosing the right plants makes a big difference. Long-blooming perennials are a great way to enjoy continuous color without much fuss.
These perennials keep your garden vibrant for months, giving you lasting blooms that don’t quit. Whether you’re new to gardening or just want to make your yard pop, these plants are reliable choices to brighten your space all season long.
Black-Eyed Susan
If you want bright, cheerful color all summer long, Black-Eyed Susans are a great pick. These flowers usually grow about 3 feet tall and bloom from summer until frost.
They’re tough perennials but often live just a couple of years and reseed themselves. You’ll find their yellow petals and dark centers really light up any garden space. For tips on growing them well, check out this Black-Eyed Susan plant care guide.
Bee Balm
You’ll love Bee Balm for its bright, cheerful flowers that bloom all summer. It comes in colors like pink, red, and lilac, adding a nice pop to your garden.
Plant it where it gets at least six hours of sun and moist soil. Good air flow helps keep powdery mildew away. Bee Balm also attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making your garden lively and colorful. Learn more about growing Bee Balm here.
Agastache
You’ll love Agastache if you want a plant that blooms all summer long. It produces vibrant flowers from early summer to early fall, keeping your garden colorful for months.
These perennials are also great because they attract pollinators and resist deer and rabbits. Their bright, trumpet-shaped flowers add a unique touch to your garden’s look.
For a hotspot of color and life, Agastache is a solid choice to fill your garden beds and borders. See more on Agastache here.
Prairie Winds® Cheyenne Sky Panicum
You’ll love Prairie Winds® Cheyenne Sky for its compact size and cool color. It starts with blue-green leaves that turn a rich wine red by early summer.
This variety grows in a tight, upright clump about 3 feet tall, perfect for adding texture without taking up too much space.
Late summer brings subtle purple flower panicles just above the foliage, adding gentle movement to your garden. Check out more details on the Prairie Winds® Cheyenne Sky Panicum.
Whorled Tickseed
If you want color all summer, whorled tickseed is a great pick. It blooms from early summer and keeps going if you pinch off old flowers.
This perennial grows in bushy clumps and doesn’t get too tall, making it easy to fit into your garden beds. You’ll enjoy its small, bright flowers for months. Learn more about whorled tickseed here.
Salvia
If you want color that lasts all summer, salvia is a solid pick. These perennials bloom from summer through fall, offering bright flowers in shades like purple, blue, and red.
You’ll also attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your garden. Plus, salvia plants are pretty low maintenance and can handle full sun well. For more details, check out this guide to long-blooming salvias.
Lantana
Lantana is a great choice if you want color that lasts all summer. You’ll find it tough, handling heat and dry spells without much fuss.
These plants come in lots of colors, from yellow to purple, so you can mix and match in your garden. Plus, they attract hummingbirds, which is a nice bonus for your outdoor space. Learn more about lantana and how to care for it here.
Buddleia
If you want a splash of color that attracts butterflies, Buddleia is a great choice. These butterfly bushes bloom for a long time, keeping your garden lively through the summer. They come in colors like bright cerise-pink, which adds a cheerful look.
Buddleia plants are easy to grow and don’t need much water once established, making them low-maintenance for your garden. Find more options for Buddleia varieties here.
Knockout Roses
If you want low-maintenance color, Knockout Roses are a great pick. They grow up to 3-5 feet tall and wide but you can prune them to fit your space.
These roses are tough and disease resistant, making them easy to grow. You can plant them alongside other shrubs or perennials to brighten your garden without much fuss. Check out these Knock Out® Roses for a variety that fits your style.
Wild Blue Flax
If you want a low-maintenance plant, Wild Blue Flax is a great pick. It produces delicate, sky-blue flowers that bloom for months starting in late spring.
You can grow it as a ground cover alongside other drought-tolerant plants. Its narrow blue-green leaves add nice texture to your garden. Wild Blue Flax works well even in tougher conditions. For more details, check out this Wild Blue Flax information.
Petunias
If you want color that sticks around all summer, petunias are a solid pick. They bloom for months, brightening your garden with vibrant shades.
You’ll find them easy to grow and pretty adaptable to different spots. Just give them enough sun, and they’ll keep showing off their flowers. Check out varieties like Supertunia Vista for plants that spread wide and keep blooming nonstop through the season. For more tips, see this petunia guide.
Bellflower (Campanula)
You’ll love Campanula for its variety of shapes and colors. These perennials bloom for a long time, adding steady color to your garden.
Many types, like the Clustered Bellflower, bring early-season charm. They work great in rock gardens or as ground cover with their bell-shaped flowers. Check out more details on Campanula varieties.
Astilbe
If you want color in shady spots, astilbe is a solid choice. It blooms from late spring to late summer, depending on the variety you pick.
You’ll love the feathery, plume-like flowers that come in shades from soft pastels to deep reds. The fern-like leaves add texture even after the flowers fade. Astilbe is pretty low maintenance and brightens up any garden corner. You can learn more about these plants here.
Coreopsis verticillata
If you want a reliable perennial that blooms all summer, Coreopsis verticillata is a solid choice. Its bright yellow flowers bring cheerful color without needing much care.
It handles heat, humidity, and dry conditions well, making it great for tougher spots in your garden. Just remember to deadhead it to keep the blooms coming. Check out varieties like ‘Crème Brulee™’ if you want a twist on the classic look for your beds.
Peonies
Peonies bloom from late spring into early summer, giving your garden a fresh splash of color. Their flowers last only a few weeks, but their impact is worth it.
They’re low-maintenance and can thrive with just regular watering. If you want something that looks great with minimal effort, peonies are a good choice. For more on when they bloom, see this guide on pretty late blooming peonies.
Lavender
If you want a plant that smells great and blooms for weeks, lavender is a solid choice. It thrives in well-drained soil and lots of sun. You’ll enjoy its purple flowers and the way it attracts bees and butterflies to your garden.
Lavender’s easy to care for once established, making it perfect if you want long-lasting summer color. Check out more about lavender’s bloom time and care here.
Daylilies
If you want flowers that keep going all summer, daylilies are a great pick. They thrive with at least six hours of sun and can handle some light shade.
Look for reblooming varieties like ‘Stella de Oro’ or ‘August Pioneer’ for longer color in your garden. They’re easy to grow and bring bright, cheerful blooms for weeks. Check out options for reblooming daylilies.
Coneflowers (Echinacea)
If you want a flower that keeps going all summer, coneflowers are a solid bet. They thrive in full sun and can handle some drought once they’re settled in.
You’ll get vibrant colors that brighten your garden without much fuss. For best results, aim for at least six hours of sunlight daily. Learn more about growing coneflowers at Great Garden Plants.
Shasta Daisy
If you want a flower that shows up bright and steady all summer, Shasta Daisies are a solid choice. They start blooming in early summer and can last well into fall.
These daisies have big, white petals with sunny yellow centers, adding a classic look to your garden. You’ll find some varieties like the ‘Snowcap’ that stay neat and don’t get too tall.
They’re also pretty easy to care for, needing full sun and well-drained soil to thrive. Learn more about Shasta Daisies and their bloom time from this Shasta Daisy growing guide.