Summer solstice marks the longest day of the year—a time when gardens truly burst into life under abundant sunlight. Choosing the right flowers ensures your outdoor space glows with color, attracts buzzing pollinators, and offers delightful blooms just when you want them most. I know how exciting it is to plan for that peak-of-summer celebration, whether you’re hosting a solstice gathering or simply savoring the season’s warmth in your own backyard!
With so many sun-loving species to choose from, you might feel overwhelmed. That’s why I’ve rounded up fifteen top picks—each native to regions with bright summers and adapted to thrive with minimal fuss. From cheerful zinnias that perch atop sturdy stems to bee magnets like monarda, these flowers will make your garden sing on June 21 and beyond. Let’s dive into this randomized bouquet of summer solstice stars!
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Native to the Mediterranean Basin, English lavender thrives in full sun and lean, well-drained soil. It isn’t considered invasive, but in cooler climates it can benefit from a winter mulch to guard against soggy roots. One of my favorite plants for a solstice celebration is lavender—its silvery foliage and purple flower spikes release a calming fragrance that drifts through the garden as bees busily harvest nectar!
Besides its aromatic charms, lavender supports pollinators like honeybees, bumblebees, and even leaf-cutter bees that nest in hollow stems or nearby soil cavities. A handful of lavender stems tied in small bundles also make charming, natural sachets to keep pests at bay in your pantry!
Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
Zinnias hail from Mexico’s grasslands, flourishing in hot, sunny conditions that make them perfect for the solstice sun. They’re not invasive, but they self-seed readily, so you’ll enjoy accidental blooms next year if you allow a few to go to seed. Their sturdy stems and vibrant, daisy-like heads add instant cheer to borders and containers.
Zinnias are a magnet for butterflies—painted ladies and monarchs often pause on their petals to sip nectar. I love spotting bright orange and fuchsia blooms dotted with fluttering wings, transforming my patio into a lively butterfly café!
Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum)
Developed from European oxeye daisies, Shasta daisies shine with crisp white petals and sunny yellow centers. Native neither to North America nor considered invasive, they’re reliable perennials that rebloom if deadheaded. Their open faces are irresistible to hoverflies and solitary bees, which nest in nearby ground litter!
I know how satisfying it is to cut a bouquet of daisies for the solstice table—each bloom lasts days in a vase. Plus, the foliage stays neat, so you won’t be hacking through leggy stems when you tidy up at season’s end.
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
Monarda, also called bergamot, comes from North America’s woodlands and riverbanks. It’s native to the eastern US and non-invasive in most home gardens, though it can spread via rhizomes if unchecked. Its tubular red or pink blooms are shaped to suit hummingbirds and long-tongued bees, which I often spot diving deep for nectar!
One of the joys of growing bee balm is the hummingbird spectacle—tiny ruby-throated hummingbirds hover midair, sipping the sweet reward. The plant’s aromatic leaves also repel certain pests, making it a functional and beautiful centerpiece for a summer solstice patch.
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Native to Mexico and Central America, cosmos thrives in hot, sunny sites and tolerates poor soils—just what you need when summer heat scorches the ground. It’s not invasive but self-sows liberally, so expect cheerful volunteers next season if you let spent heads mature. The feathery foliage and daisy-like flowers come in white, pink, and deep rose, adding drift-like clouds of color.
Cosmos attract beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps, which often nest in dense foliage or clover patches nearby. I find that planting cosmos near my vegetable beds helps keep aphid populations in check—nature’s pest control in action!
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Originally native to eastern North America, black-eyed Susans are hearty perennials and reliable biennials that light up the garden with golden petals and dark centers. They’re not invasive and rarely self-seed excessively. Their sturdy blooms are perfect for mass plantings or mixed borders, creating sunny splashes that last from solstice well into fall.
These daisies are valuable for pollinators—bumblebees tumbling across the centers, gathering pollen. Even ground-nesting bees find refuge in the leaf litter at their base, making black-eyed Susans an all-around wildlife-friendly choice.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and, in some areas, can naturalize aggressively—so contain it or choose sterile cultivars if you worry about spread. Its flat clusters of tiny, long-lasting flowers range from white to pink, providing a stable landing pad for butterflies and hoverflies!
The fern-like foliage also hosts predatory insects like ladybugs, which lay eggs in the fronds. I love harvesting yarrow blooms for drying—those umbels hold their shape and color for months, reminding me of solstice days long after they’ve passed.
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
Echinacea is native to the prairies of central and eastern North America and isn’t invasive when grown in garden settings. Its cone-shaped seedheads persist into fall, offering nesting material for small songbirds that strip seeds from the central disc. The rosy-purple petals and spiky centers are magnets for bees and butterflies—one of my favorite sights is a cluster of bees clustered on an echinacea head!
Beyond pollinator appeal, echinacea roots can be harvested for medicinal uses, making it both ornamental and functional. Just leave some seedheads for birds before you cut any, and you’ll support wildlife all season long.
Coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora)
Native to the tallgrass prairies of North America, coreopsis (also called tickseed) brightens beds with golden, daisy-like blooms. It won’t take over your garden—though it may naturalize where conditions suit—but you can deadhead to control self-seeding. Its open form invites bees, and I’ve seen little mining bees nest right under clumps of foliage!
Coreopsis’s drought tolerance is a boon for solstice celebrations—long days and hot suns won’t wilt these cheerful yellows. They also pair beautifully with purple sages and silver-leaved artemisias for dynamic color contrasts.
Salvia (Salvia nemorosa)
Also known as woodland sage, this European native produces spiky blooms in violet, blue, and white. It’s non-invasive in most gardens and makes a sturdy, long-blooming perennial. Hummingbirds and bumblebees adore sliding into each tubular flower—one of my favorite garden spectacles is watching a hummer hover but inches from my face to sip that sweet nectar!
Salvia’s aromatic foliage repels deer and some insect pests, meaning fewer headaches when hosting backyard gatherings. A tidy silhouette and repeat bloom after deadheading make it a reliable solstice selection year after year.
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
Though originally from Asia and Europe, hollyhocks have been garden staples for centuries and rarely escape cultivated beds. Towering to 6–8 feet, their cup-shaped blooms range from pink to deep burgundy, forming a living backdrop that’s perfect for summer solstice décor.
Hollyhocks attract a variety of pollinators, including bumblebees that crawl into the open flowers, and their tall stems often provide perch sites for small birds—nesting swallows sometimes skim their seedheads for insects! Just watch for rust disease on leaves and remove any infected foliage promptly.
Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus)
Native to western North America, lupines form dramatic spires of blue, purple, pink, or white pea-like flowers. In some regions, they can naturalize along roadsides—so deadhead spent blooms if you wish to contain them. Their deep taproots aerate soil and fix nitrogen with rhizobia bacteria, enriching beds for neighboring plants!
I love the way butterflies, especially fritillaries, flock to lupine blossoms—those long spikes seem to beckon them! Lupines also draw hummingbird moths, whose hovering proboscises look like a living fireworks display at dusk.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula, or pot marigold, is native to southwestern Asia and the Mediterranean and isn’t typically invasive in temperate gardens. Its cheerful orange and yellow blooms open wide to welcome bees, hoverflies, and even ladybugs seeking nectar! The petals also make edible confetti for salads or cocktails—a festive touch for solstice soirees.
Beyond its beauty, calendula petals contain antifungal compounds; interplanting them with tomatoes or roses can help deter powdery mildew. I know how frustrating fungal spots can be, so sprinkling a few blooms around problem areas adds both color and protection.
Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor)
Morning glories hail from tropical Americas and, in warm climates, can self-seed prolifically—so pinch back seedpods if you want to curb volunteers. Their trumpet-shaped flowers unfurl each dawn, painting fences and trellises in blues, pinks, and purples just in time for an early solstice breakfast on the patio!
Hummingbirds adore morning glories, darting through vine foliage to reach the nectar. I find that planting them near bird baths brings extra avian visitors, turning your garden into a lively solstice aviary every morning.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Native to North America’s Great Plains, sunflowers are annuals that follow the sun across the sky—literally! Not invasive in garden plots, they self-seed if you leave dried seedheads. Their large flower faces are perfect landing strips for bees, and later, finches nibble on the plump seeds!
Sunflowers also serve as natural trellises—plant shorter companions like nasturtiums at their base for a layered effect. One of my favorite solstice projects is cutting tall stems for a dramatic, sun-lit centerpiece that radiates warmth and cheer!
