Plant These Flowers That Bloom All Summer Long
While some gardeners enjoy spending time with their plants and looking after them every day, others are looking for a more practical approach. It is one thing to plant flowers in the spring or early summer, for example, but this does not guarantee that you will have a solid carpet of colorful buds all summer.
But there are some types of flowers that bloom during all or most of the summer season, which makes your job a little easier. Here are some examples of these varieties, courtesy of Jeanne Huber at ThisOldHouse.com .
Stella de Oro Daylily (Hermerocallis)
Requirements : full sun to light shade and plain water. It grows as a perennial in zones 3-9 .
Sturdy and dependable, daylilies produce spectacular flowers on a hill of sword-shaped leaves. Whether in a garden or in a vase, each flower only lasts one day; they are lily day , after all. But on each stem, there are many buds that open on the following days. The undersized Stella de Oro produces new stems with an abundance of golden yellow flowers for up to five months, much longer than most daylilies.
Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)
Requirements : from full sun to partial shade and moderate water. Grows like an annual in any zone.
These clover-like flower heads are hard to beat for year-round enjoyment. Paper flowers last long in the garden and in fresh bouquets, and the flowers are easy to dry for use in winter compositions. Depending on the variety, the flowers are white, red, pink, lilac or purple. Strawberry Fields with bright red flowers and All Around Purple are two outstanding pieces.
Petunia F1 ‘Wave Purple’
Requirements : full sun and regular water. Grows like an annual in all zones.
Until 1995, when this hybrid was declared the winner of the All-American selection, gardeners considered petunias to be erect plants. Purple Wave petunias (and later Wave pink and lilac shades) are more like vines – ideal for growing in hanging pots, along retaining walls, or even as a top cover.
Perennial hibiscus (H. moscheutos)
Requirements : full sun and regular or abundant water. Grows like a perennial in zones 5-10.
Also known as rose mallow and marsh hibiscus, this outstanding horticultural product was developed from wildflowers found in the East and South. The huge red, pink, or white flowers can grow up to 30 cm in diameter on stems 2 to 8 feet high, depending on the cultivar. Bloom from late spring until frost. The stems die back to the ground every winter.
Abundance of zinnia (Z. hybrida)
Requirements : full sun and regular water. Grows like an annual in all zones.
Grow zinnias if you want to trim heaps of flowers for bouquets and still have a bright strip of color along your path or lawn. All zinnias do well in hot weather, but abundant zinnias continue to bloom even in autumn, whatever the weather.
Profusion White, Orange and Cherry flowers are reminiscent of chamomile and have each won multiple gardening awards. If you are looking for fluffy pom-poms, look for the dual Profusion varieties: cherry, gold, white, and fiery orange-red.
That’s it: flowers that bloom best in summer.