1
Yarrow
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The yarrow is a hardy perennial powerhouse that can withstand droughts, hot climates, and poor soil conditions. Aside from their low-maintenance nature, they boost soil health with their deep roots and attract insects that feed on garden pests. Of course, their clusters of small, colorful buds and tall stems with fern-like leaves make them lovely to look at, too!
Zones 3 to 9; prefers full sun; blooms late spring through early fall
2
Coreopsis
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These cheerful, brightly colored perennials will add a burst of sunshine to your garden year after year. What’s more, they’re drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly, long-lasting, and highly adaptable to any type of soil. Whether you plant them in a wildflower garden, a rock garden, or along a border, they’ll give your lawn a beautiful boost.
Zones 4 to 9; prefers full sun; blooms early summer through fall
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3
Garden Phlox
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If you decide to grow garden phlox, they’ll bring long-lasting color and fragrance to your yard. These sun-loving, summer-blooming perennial flowers smell like a mix of honey and vanilla, and their textured buds last six weeks or more. Since they grow up to four feet tall, they’re best for borders.
Zones 4 to 8; prefers full sun or partial shade; blooms mid-summer to early fall
4
Japanese Anemone
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If you want your garden to pop all through fall, Japanese anemones typically offer color and texture until the first frost! These resilient perennials are highly adaptable, no matter the condition. They repel hungry wildlife like deer and rabbit but attract helpful pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Zones 4 to 8; prefers full sun to partial shade; blooms late summer through mid-autumn
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5
Agastache
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Agastache, also known as Hyssop, is a perennial flower with spikes in shades of purple, pink, orange, or white that grow anywhere from one to six feet tall, making it a charming addition to borders and containers. They’re also sweet-smelling and a powerful pollinator magnet!
Zones 4 to 8; prefers full sun to partial shade; blooms late-summer through mid-autumn
6
Bee Balm
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Like its name suggests, the uniquely shaped bee balm is basically irresistible to bees—as well as hummingbirds and butterflies. The fringed and aromatic petals that come in purple, pink, and red can be planted in either spring or fall and can handle a variety of conditions. Just be sure they get good air circulation, otherwise the leaves can develop a fungal disease.
Zones 4 to 9; prefers full or half sun; blooms early summer to early fall
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7
Chrysanthemum
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Here’s the thing with chrysanthemums: They’re perennial if you get them in the ground during the spring to mid-summer months. If you wait too long, the roots won’t have enough time to settle before winter and they’ll act as annuals. So, plant the beautifully bright blooms early (and in direct sunlight) and with a little TLC, you’ll be rewarded year after year.
Zones 5 to 9; prefers full sun; blooms late summer to fall
8
Astilbe
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Whether added to borders, used in wet sites, or placed in containers, these feathery plumed blossoms atop fern-like foliage will add both vibrant color and texture to your garden. Plant them in the fall or spring, then watch as they flower from late spring into late summer. Better yet, they’ll attract butterflies but are resistant to rabbits and deer.
Zones 3 to 9; prefers full sun to part shade; blooms late spring to late summer
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9
Columbine
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This unique-looking wildflower is known to be one of the best for attracting hummingbirds to your shady gardens! That’s because as they bloom from spring through early summer, they provide early nectar for pollinators. And though they may look delicate, these perennials are super dependable, too.
Zones 3 to 9; prefers full to partial sun; blooms late spring to early summer
10
Shasta Daisy
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Though the shasta daisy is similar in appearance to the classic daisy, it’s actually larger and produces stronger blooms. Easy and fresh, this short-lived perennial will make its return for several years. You should also note that they’re capable of spreading so you may want to keep them contained in garden beds.
Zones 5 to 8; prefers full sun; blooms late spring to fall
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11
Iris
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These beautiful purple blooms were actually named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow. They can grow up to two to three feet tall and will make a colorful statement in your garden in the spring and summer. Plant them in full sun to ensure they reach their full potential.
Zones 3 to 10; prefers full sun; blooms late spring to early summer
12
Foxglove
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If you want to invite lovely little creatures like hummingbirds and bumblebees into your yard, these colorful and elegant, bell-shaped blossoms are the way to do it. Plant them two years in a row to enjoy continuous blooms.
Zones 4 to 9; prefers full sun to part shade; blooms early summer to mid-summer
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13
Goatsbeard
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Add whimsy and allure to your yard when you plant this shade perennial. It’s full of dark green fern-like leaves and feathery plumes of cream colored flowers that will bloom in late spring or summer. Bonus points: This plant can also weather any storm—in fact, it’s even been known to survive tornados unharmed!
Zones 3 to 9; prefers full to partial sun; blooms early summer to mid-summer
14
Amsonia
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Bring a pretty pop of color to your garden by planting these soft blue, star-shaped flowers. Amsonias pair perfectly with the larger-leaved plants on this list, like peonies and hosta.
Zones 3 to 11; prefers full sun; blooms late spring to early summer
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15
Baptisia
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Plant these long-living perennials once and they can last for decades! They also bloom from spring through fall, so you’ll be able to enjoy them for the better part of the year.
Zones 5 to 9; prefers full sun; blooms late spring to early summer
16
Daylily
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Can’t get anything else to grow? Plant daylilies! These hardy sun-loving plants bloom in midsummer, and though the blooms last just one day (thus, the name), they have multiple flowers per stem. They come in every shade of the rainbow and tolerate most soil types.
Zones: 4 to 9; prefers full sun; blooms early summer
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17
Coneflower
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Coneflowers come in an array of colors and heights, and they’re long-blooming sun-loving flowers that add gorgeous color to the summer garden. You also can leave the seed heads intact for winter interest and food for the birds in your garden.
Zones 3 to 9; prefers full sun; blooms summer to fall
18
Lenten Rose
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These stunning shade lovers almost don’t look real! Lenten rose, also called hellebore, appear in late winter or early spring (around the time of Lent) when snow still is on the ground. Their thick, glossy foliage remains year-round.
Zones 4 to 9; prefers dappled sun and partial shade; blooms late winter to early spring
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19
Peony
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Peonies are the queens of the springtime garden! With huge, lush flowers that are lavishly scented, they bloom in late spring. Make sure they get full sun, or they don’t bloom well. Don’t worry about the ants that visit; they do not harm the plant and are simply enjoying the nectar. (It’s also a myth that they’re necessary to make the plants bloom) If you’re cutting to bring indoors, just shake the ants off.
Zones 3 to 9; prefers full sun to partial sun; blooms late spring to early summer
20
Catmint
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Catmint is nearly indestructible. With its grey-green fuzzy foliage and pretty spikes of purple flowers that pollinators love, this perennial adds fuss-free color to sunny spots in your garden.
Zones 3 to 9; prefers sun or partial shade; blooms late spring to early fall
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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