Perennials are perfect for people like us who follow a one-and-done planting style. If you make wise perennial choices, you can enjoy a flower-filled yard all summer, every summer. While the list of long-blooming perennials that thrive throughout the hottest months of the year is extensive, we've picked 10 showstoppers worth planting right away.
Blanket Flower
Blanket flower (aka Gaillardia) is a beautiful perennial that provides multi-tone red, yellow, orange, and/or peach (depending on variety) blooms throughout the hottest months of the year. These lovely plants can grow to 2-3' tall and form clusters that can spread from 1-2' feet wide.
Blanket flowers are hardy in USDA Zones 3-10.
Blue Clips Bell Flower
Blue clips bell flowers (aka Campanula carpatica) are beautiful, low-growing perennials that bloom all summer. They typically grow in compact clusters that reach 8" to 1' tall and about 18" in diameter. They work great in polyculture garden beds, as well as planted in front of taller flowers or shrubs.
Blue clips bell flowers are hardy in USDA Zones 3-9.
Quick Tip
Your growing zone plays a big part in spring and summer planting! In warmer growing zones, some annual flowers will behave like perennials.
Cranesbill
Cranesbill (aka Geranium) is a perennial that blooms throughout the entire summer and handles both full sun and partial shade like a pro. There are many varieties to choose from, ranging in height from 6" to 3' tall.
Most cranesbill varieties are hardy in USDA Zones 5-8. Limited varieties are also cold hardy in Zones 3 and 4, while a few others can tolerate Zone 9's heat.
Need to Know
When shopping for cranebills you might come across annual geraniums like Pelargonium. True geraniums are the ones that will come back year after year, whereas other varities may not.
Daylilies
If you're low on energy spoons or don't have time to tend to high-maintenance plants, daylilies are the ones for you. Daylilies (aka Hemerocallis) are not only beautiful, but they're extremely low-maintenance. These perennials prefer full sun but will grow and flower all summer, even in partial shade.
Daylilies come in many colors, including yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and more, and are hardy in USDA Zones 3-10.
Need to Know
Daylilies spread aggressively, so dividing them at the end of the season is a must if you want to keep them in check.
Hardy Ice Plant
Hardy ice plant (aka Delosperma cooperi) is a low-growing perennial succulent that produces violet/red blooms throughout the summer. This plant can handle extreme heat and drought, as well as being planted in rocky soil. It's rather short, only reaching about 3"-6" tall. But because of their small stature, ice plants work great in borders and can also cluster into beautiful groundcover.
Ice plant is hardy in USDA Zones 5-11.
Purple Coneflower
Purple coneflower (aka Echinacea purpurea) is a beautiful perennial that shows up and shows out year after year. A central brown, black, or orange cone rises above lovely light purple petals that droop back. Although coneflowers come in an array of colors, the original purple variety is the most common. These purple coneflowers reach up to 3-4' tall.
This long-blooming perennial is hardy in USDA Zones 3-9.
Fast Fact
Echinacea — which is known for its medicinal properties — and coneflower are one and the same.
Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisies (aka Leucanthemum superbum) are classic summer flowers that boast white petals and a yellow center. These long-blooming summer perennials grow in clumps and typically range from 2-3' tall. They're heat and drought-tolerant, making them perfect for the summer season. Though they prefer full sun, they also do well in partial shade.
Shasta daisies are hardy in USDA Zones 5-10.
Tickseed
Tickseed (aka Coreopsis) is a long-blooming perennial that produces lovely yellow or gold flowers throughout the summer months. Unlike many of the blooms on this list, tickseed grows in mounds, and typically peaks at 1-2' tall.
Most tickseed varieties are hardy in USDA zones 4-9.
Whirling Butterflies
Whirling butterflies (aka Gaura lindheimeri) —often referred to simply as gaura — are beautiful perennial wildflowers that may look delicate but have a tough constitution. This long-blooming plant can thrive almost anywhere! It loves full sun, but also does well in partial shade. It is tolerant of heat, humidity, and even drought.
Whirling butterflies are hardy in USDA Zones 5-10.
Yellow Coneflower
Yellow coneflower (aka Echinacea paradoxa) is similar to purple coneflower, except that it has yellow petals and a dark brown cone in the center. As with purple coneflower, its petals droop back from the central cone. This beautiful perennial can grow up to 3-4' tall. While it blooms throughout the entire summer, it also lasts a bit into the fall.
Yellow coneflowers are hardy in USDA Zones 3-9.
Summer Lovin' Starts With These Sunny Perennials
While we love these 10 flowers for their long-lasting, heat-tolerant blooms, they're not your only summer lovin' options! For maximum summer color, consider combining these plants with colorful summer annuals and/or other perennials that bloom in the summer for a vibrant display.
