Bring color and texture to your garden with plants that bloom year after year. Here’s our top 10 favorite summer blooming perennials:

1. Phlox

Garden Phlox has fragrant, showy blooms in pink, purple, white or red.  It’s great for cutting or tall borders.  Plant in sun to part shade.  Phlox attracts butterflies.

 2. Hardy Hibiscus

Hardy hibiscus loves full sun and attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies.  It starts blooming late in the summer producing huge flowers in shades of red, pink or white.  The plant dies back in the winter and is very late to break dormancy.  It’s usually mistaken for dead, but give it time and you’ll be rewarded with spectacular color!

3. Shasta Daisy

Shasta Daisies will always brighten up your day! This classic perennial has large white blooms that last until early fall. Shasta daisy thrives in well-drained, not overly rich soil. Choose from different varieties for different heights – short ones are perfect for borders and tall ones create a dramatic backdrop. A perfect low maintenance plant and makes great cut flowers!

4. Coneflower

Coneflower is a mid-summer bloomer that’s a great cut flower.  There are many different varieties of plants, you’re sure to find one that’s right for your garden.  Coneflower is deer resistant and attracts butterflies.  Plant in full sun.

5. Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia or Black-eyed Susan is a must for the summer garden.  It blooms from July to September, is deer and rabbit resistant and attracts butterflies.  Plant in full sun, and be sure to remove spent blooms for more flowering.

6. Perennial Geranium

Perennial Geranium is a great border plant.  Tiny brilliantly colored flowers bloom for months starting in late spring.  Plant in part shade to shade.  It’s resistant to rabbits and attracts butterflies.

7. Lavender

Lavender is a favorite flower for its wonderful fragrance.  It’s a great border plant and likes well-drained soil.  Plant in full sun.  It’s deer and rabbit resistant and attracts butterflies.   Great plant to dry and use in sachets or potpourri.  

8. Coreopsis

Coreopsis has sunny daisy-like flowers that bloom in a variety of colors, such as yellow, pink, red or bi-color.  The flowers blossom early summer to midsummer. Deadheading spent blooms will increase bloom time. They attract birds and butterflies. Grows about 1 to 3 feet tall.

9. Bee Balm

Bee Balm has showy flowers that bloom July thru August.  Its fragrance attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.  Plant in sun to part shade.  Grows about 1 to 4 feet tall.

10. Allium

Alliums bloom in a wide range of colors, including shades of yellow, white, pink, and purple. Offering a whimsical structure in the garden, Alliums have tall thick stems that hold up a globe-like cluster of florets. Plant in full sun. Grows about 1 to 3 feet tall. They’re deer resistant, attract birds and make great cut flowers.