Flowers That Bloom All Summer: 15 Long-Lasting Beauties
Create a garden that stays colorful from Memorial Day to Labor Day with these reliable, long-blooming flowers that thrive in summer heat.
Nothing beats a garden bursting with color all summer long. The secret to continuous blooms isn't constant work—it's choosing the right flowers that bloom all summer naturally. Here are 15 champions that deliver months of color with minimal effort.
Best Summer-Blooming Annuals
Annuals complete their life cycle in one season, but they bloom non-stop to compensate. These are your workhorses for continuous summer color.
1. Petunias
Bloom time: Spring to frost
Cascading varieties are perfect for containers and hanging baskets. Wave petunias spread without deadheading.
Sun: Full | Water: Moderate
2. Marigolds
Bloom time: Late spring to frost
Heat-loving and pest-resistant. French and African varieties offer different sizes and colors.
Sun: Full | Water: Low to moderate
3. Zinnias
Bloom time: Early summer to frost
Cut-and-come-again flowers. The more you cut, the more they bloom. Great for bouquets.
Sun: Full | Water: Moderate
4. Geraniums
Bloom time: Spring to frost
Classic container and bedding plants. Remove spent blooms to encourage more flowers.
Sun: Full to part | Water: Moderate
5. Verbena
Bloom time: Spring to frost
Trailing habit perfect for edges and containers. Heat and drought tolerant once established.
Sun: Full | Water: Low
6. Lantana
Bloom time: Spring to frost
Multi-colored flower clusters attract butterflies. Extremely heat and drought tolerant.
Sun: Full | Water: Low
Best Summer-Blooming Perennials
These hardy perennials come back year after year and provide weeks or months of summer blooms with less replanting work.
7. Coneflowers (Echinacea)
Bloom time: June to September
Native wildflowers loved by pollinators. Deadhead for continuous blooms or leave seedheads for birds.
Zones: 3-9 | Sun: Full to part
8. Black-Eyed Susans
Bloom time: June to October
Cheerful golden flowers that naturalize easily. One of the longest-blooming perennials.
Zones: 3-9 | Sun: Full to part
9. Daylilies
Bloom time: May to September (reblooming varieties)
Choose "reblooming" varieties like Stella d'Oro for continuous summer flowers.
Zones: 3-9 | Sun: Full to part
10. Salvia
Bloom time: May to October
Spiky blooms in blue, purple, red, and pink. May Nigh and Caradonna are excellent choices.
Zones: 4-9 | Sun: Full
11. Lavender
Bloom time: June to August
Fragrant flowers and foliage. Phenomenal and Hidcote varieties are most reliable.
Zones: 5-9 | Sun: Full
12. Phlox
Bloom time: July to September
Fragrant clusters of flowers. Garden phlox (tall) and creeping phlox (groundcover) offer different options.
Zones: 4-8 | Sun: Full to part
Heat-Tolerant Champions
These flowers thrive when temperatures soar, perfect for hot, sunny locations.
13. Portulaca
Succulent-like leaves, jewel-toned flowers. Thrives in poor soil and blazing heat.
14. Blanket Flower
Red and yellow bi-colored blooms. Native prairie flower that loves heat.
15. Coreopsis
Bright yellow daisies bloom continuously. Drought tolerant once established.
Tips for Continuous Summer Blooms
- 1Deadhead regularly
Remove spent blooms to redirect energy to new flower production instead of seed development.
- 2Feed consistently
Blooming plants are hungry. Use a balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during peak bloom.
- 3Water deeply
Deep, infrequent watering encourages deep root growth. Avoid frequent shallow watering.
- 4Mulch for moisture
A 2-3 inch layer of mulch keeps roots cool and reduces watering needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What flowers bloom from June to October?
Black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, salvias, and most annuals like petunias, marigolds, and zinnias will bloom continuously from early summer until frost with proper care.
Why did my flowers stop blooming in summer?
Heat stress, lack of water, or nutrient depletion are common causes. Ensure consistent watering during hot spells and fertilize every 2-3 weeks.
What's the easiest long-blooming flower to grow?
Marigolds and zinnias are virtually foolproof. They thrive in heat, resist pests, and bloom non-stop with minimal care.
With the right selection of flowers that bloom all summer, you can enjoy a colorful garden from the last spring frost until fall's first chill. Mix annuals for instant impact with perennials for long-term investment, and you'll have a low-maintenance paradise that blooms for months.
Local Flower Team
Local Flower
The Local Flower team is dedicated to helping you discover beautiful blooms and connect with talented florists in your area.