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I love summer! The first pops of colors in the spring-time refresh my spirit and get me so excited for the warm season to come. Throughout summer and fall, the best thing about being in your space is all of the colorful blossom that surround you and put a smile on your face!

If you are looking for a way to design a garden that will bloom all summer long, this post is for you.  I have collected a list of some of the best perennials that will keep your garden in full bloom.

Note: I have included links to Amazon for your viewing purposes. I highly recommend obtaining your flowers from a nursery if possible.

How to Plan a Perennial Garden with Flowers that Bloom all Year

Choosing your Flowers

Planning a Perennial garden that will bloom all season may take a little effort in the beginning, as you will need to research each plant and make sure it will do ok in your space. Be sure to check to make sure you have enough sun for the desired plant and that it will work in your zone. Click here to see what zone you are in.

Once you know your climate and sun needs, pick a few flowers from each of the seasons listed below.  Mix the blooms around in your garden space, so you will have an added interest in each area.

 

Planning Early Spring Blooms:

The best way to get the early spring pop of color is to plant bulbs in the fall. The spring blooming bulbs that come up super early and get everyone excited for spring are Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Tulips. Planting a good volume of all of these bulbs all over doesn’t take up space where your summer plants will be growing (since they will die back) and will provide you a beautiful show, starting in March!

Bushes that Bloom in Early Spring:

Bushes are another great addition to your garden that can add tons of blooms and aroma to your Perennial garden in the Spring.

• Forsythia Show Off  (Will grow to 5-6ft tall)
• Lilac (10-12 ft. tall)

Late Spring Blooming Flowers:

• Hellebore
• Lily of the valley
• Bleeding heart (Good for shade)
• Lamium (Good Groundcover)
• Columbine
• Foxtail Lily  (Plant bulbs in fall)
• Coral bells (Good for shade)
• Lung Wort (a personal fave which also does good in shade)
• Violas

Late Spring Blooming Bushes:

• Rhododendron (3-4ft tall)
• Cherry Blossom (12-24)
• Azalea 24-48”

Spring Perennial Blooming Vines:

Vines are another great way to add interest in your garden.

• Honey Suckle
• Blue Moon Wisteria

Late Spring Ground-covers:

• Phlox

Late Spring Grasses:

Grass is great to add in with flowers for instant interest a good one for spring is Feather Falls Sedge.

Planning for Summer Perennial Flowering:

Here are some great Summer flowering bulbs you can plant in the spring:

• Lilies
• Iris
• Peonies
• Gladiolus
• Hosta roots (good for shade)

Some other bulbs you can plant, but will have to dig up and save over the winter are Cannas, Dahlias, Freesia, Begonia and Elephant ears.

Planning your Summer Flowers:

Now that we can finally plant outside, here are some plants that you can buy from nurseries that will establish themselves, bloom during the summer and then return every year after.

• Delphinium
• Cone Flower
• Roses
• Daylily
• Allium
• Coreopsis
• Poker Lily

Summer Blooming Bushes:

Here are some great bush ideas for some summer blooms.

• Hydrangea 3-4ft
• Hardy Hibiscus 6-8ft
• Butterfly Weed

Summer Blooming Vines:

• Clematis
• Climbing Rose

 

What to Plant for Late Summer Blooms:

• Astilbe
• Daisies
• Snapdragons
• Russian sage
• Lavender

Late Summer Blooming Vines:

• Trumpet Vine

 

Late Summer Bushes:

• Abelia 36-48in
• Boxwood (evergreen all season) 5-6ft

Planning for a Fall Blooming Finale:

Fall Blooming flowers:

• Mums
• Foxglove
• Hollyhock

Fall Flowering Bushes:

• Butterfly bush 6-10ft

Vines for Fall Color:

• Virginia Creeper (leaves turn red)

I live in Colorado in zone 5, so most of the flowers mentioned here have done well for me in the dry Colorado soil (a few I will be trying this year). The winter here tends to be long and freezes  onset early. While some people around the states can be outside planting in March, we have to wait until Mother’s Day to bring our plants outside.

I hope this list gives you some (if not too many) ideas in designing a Perennial garden with flowers that bloom all year. Pick a few flowers from each section in each season and soon you will be the envy of the neighborhood with your amazing (and low maintenance) garden that returns each year!

If you are just starting your gardening experience check out this post on the best way to start seeds indoors!

And if you are designing the perfect backyard, check out this Tree Stump planter and How to make a Wooden Arch for your yard.