Summer’s heat doesn’t have to signal an end to your garden’s splendor—it can usher in a season of nonstop color and life! If you’re tired of brief pop-ups and long stretches of bare beds, you’re in the right place. These seventeen superstar flowers, planted today, will burst into bloom from June through September, filling your borders with vibrancy and attracting an army of pollinators.
Drawing from my own garden trials—like the year I had a cyclone of zinnias chasing away the doldrums—I’ve chosen plants that are resilient, floriferous, and generally well-behaved (no invasive takeovers here!). Ready to transform your plot into a living rainbow all summer long? Let’s dive into our randomized lineup of garden heroes!
Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
Zinnias hail from Mexico’s sunny plains and have been dazzling gardens with their daisy-like heads since Aztec times. Their sturdy stems and heat tolerance make them perfect for midsummer planting, and in well-drained soil they won’t wander beyond their patch.
Bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds perch on the broad, flat blooms to sip nectar, turning your garden into a joyful wildlife hub. Regular deadheading keeps those petals coming, ensuring flush after flush until the first frost!
Lantana (Lantana camara)
Native to tropical Americas, lantana thrives in scorching sun and poor soil—just the right pick for low-fuss summer color. It’s sometimes invasive in frost-free regions, so stick to containers or trim seedheads to prevent self-seeding.
Clusters of multi-colored blooms attract summer’s heaviest pollinators—swallowtails, honeybees, and hummingbirds—while the dense foliage provides shelter for tiny ground-nesting bees. A quick snip after each flush stimulates more vibrant clusters!
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Originating from Mexico, cosmos sends up tall, ferny foliage topped by single or double blooms in shades of pink, white, and crimson. It’s non-invasive, reseeding just enough to surprise you with new seedlings without overtaking your beds.
I love how its dainty petals flutter in summer breezes, drawing in bees and delicate butterflies. Sow successional batches every few weeks for a cascading season of color, and enjoy the dancing pollinator parade!
Portulaca (Portulaca grandiflora)
Also known as moss rose, portulaca comes from South America’s arid regions and revels in full sun and minimal water. Its cushion of fleshy leaves splashes beds with hot pinks, oranges, and yellows, never overstaying its welcome in rockeries or containers.
Pollinators like solitary bees visit at dawn when blooms first open; by midday, the flowers close, conserving moisture. Simply plant once and watch these sun-chasers sparkle all summer with almost zero fuss!
Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta)
Black-eyed Susans, native to North America’s prairies, bloom reliably from midsummer through fall. Their daisy-like heads perch on sturdy stems, forming golden waves that won’t spread invasively in your well-maintained borders.
Bees and skippers dive into the dark central cones, and birds later feast on the seedheads, offering a wildlife benefit long after petals fade. Deadhead gently to prolong bloom, or leave some for winter interest—it’s a win-win!
Salvia (Salvia splendens)
Salvia, originally from Brazil’s woodlands, brings upright spikes of scarlet, violet, or white that light up summer beds. It forms neat clumps without sending runners, making it perfect for edging or mass planting.
Hummingbirds and bumblebees hover around its tubular blossoms, creating a gentle hum of activity. Pinch back spent flowers to encourage side shoots and a continual parade of spikes!
Gaillardia (Gaillardia × grandiflora)
Blanket flower is a hardy hybrid of North American species, offering rich, bi-colored daisies that shrug off heat and drought. It self-seeds modestly, but never to a problematic extent, allowing you to enjoy its fiery tones year after year.
Butterflies flock to the nectar-filled centers, and the long-lasting blooms resist fading even under blazing sun. Deadheading spent heads keeps the color blazing through September!
Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)
From tropical Africa and Arabia, pentas produces clusters of star-shaped blooms in vibrant pinks, reds, and whites. It stays contained in well-drained beds and pots, rewarding you with continuous clusters until frost.
Butterflies and hummingbird moths can’t resist its nectar, offering moments of pure garden zen as they dance from cluster to cluster. Regular pruning of spent clusters encourages fresh blooms and a tidy habit.
Coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora)
Native to the eastern United States, Coreopsis sports cheerful yellow daisies that open their faces to the sun from June onward. It forms tidy mounds and rarely escapes garden confines, making it an excellent low-maintenance choice.
Pollinators such as solitary bees and small butterflies gather on its flat surfaces, adding bright pinpoints of activity. Shear back old flower stems to spark a second bloom in late summer!
Osteospermum (Osteospermum ecklonis)
Also called African Daisy, Osteospermum hails from South Africa’s Cape region and boasts striking, daisy-like blooms in blues, purples, and whites. It spreads modestly without becoming invasive in cool-summer climates, thriving in well-drained soils.
Its flowers open wide in bright sun, luring bees and hoverflies to their fertile discs. Pinch back tips after initial bloom to encourage bushier growth and more flowers into autumn!
Verbena (Verbena bonariensis)
Tall verbena, native to South America’s savannas, towers at 3-4 feet with clusters of lilac-purple stars. It self-seeds freely in temperate gardens—keep volunteers in check by deadheading or confining to a dedicated bed.
Its airy, long-lasting bloom clusters are magnets for butterflies and honeybees, providing nectar well into fall. The elegant, upright habit adds vertical interest and a delicate backdrop for lower bloomers.
Gazania (Gazania rigens)
Gazania, from South African grasslands, unfurls bold, daisy-like flowers that close at night and open wide in sun. It forms clumps without running rampant, perfect for sunny rockeries and containers.
Bees visit early in the day when petals first open, and the metallic sheen of the blooms reflects light, brightening shady borders. Just deadhead spent blooms to keep the display fresh and radiant all season!
Scaevola (Scaevola aemula)
Fan flower, native to Australia, carpets the ground with half-flowers in lavender, blue, and white. It’s known for its non-invasive, trailing habit, ideal for spilling over containers or edging beds.
Bees and small butterflies perch on the unique, fan-shaped blooms, and the dense mats suppress weeds without choking neighboring plants. Occasional pinching maintains compact growth and prolongs flowering.
Phlox paniculata
Garden phlox, native to eastern North America, dazzles with large clusters of fragrant blooms in pinks, whites, and purples. It clumps rather than spreads invasively and stands up to midsummer heat with adequate moisture.
Butterflies and hummingbird moths favor phlox’s sweet scent and roomy landing platforms. Cutting back spent stems after the first bloom encourages a second round of fragrance and color later in the season.
Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)
Floss flower, introduced from Mexico and Central America, boasts soft, pom-pom blooms in sky-blue, pink, and white. It grows in tidy mounds without sending rhizomes, fitting neatly into mixed borders.
Bees and small hoverflies love its clusters, and the fuzzy blooms provide an unexpected texture contrast. Deadheading removes spent heads and invites fresh flowers to open in quick succession!
Dahlia ‘Happy Single Kiss’
This single-flowered dahlia, a cultivar of Mexican origin, offers open-faced blooms in soft apricot-pink that resemble stars with their radiating petals. It clumps at the base and does not spread invasively, flourishing in full sun with fertile soil.
Bees navigate its broad petals to reach nectar, and the long stems make splendid cut flowers that bring summer’s calm indoors. Pinch back young shoots to encourage bushier growth and more blooms into fall!
Impatiens ‘Sunpatiens’
Though classic impatiens wilt in sun, this hybrid from Southeast Asia’s forest edges laughs at heat, forming lush mounds of blooms in pinks, reds, and whites. It stays compact without running rampant, perfect for partly shaded beds.
Butterflies and bumblebees flit among the densely packed flowers, and the glossy foliage provides habitat for tiny beneficial insects. Deadheading is optional—these prolific bloomers will keep flowering with minimal upkeep!
