Year-round bloom calendar
AnnualJun-SepBorage
Star-shaped electric blue flowers that bees go absolutely wild for. Self-sows freely.
Z2-11
AnnualJun-OctCelosia
Flame-shaped or crested flowers in electric colors that dry beautifully. Heat lovers that thrive in summer.
Z2-11
AnnualJun-SepCleome
Spider-flower with whisker-like stamens and airy blooms. Tall, dramatic annual that self-sows freely.
Z2-11
AnnualJun-SepFlowering Tobacco
Tubular flowers that release sweet fragrance at dusk. A cottage garden classic that attracts moths and hummingbirds.
Z2-11
AnnualJun-OctScarlet Sage
Electric red spikes that hummingbirds zero in on. Common bedding plant that earns its spot every year.
Z2-11
PerennialJun-AugBee Balm
Shaggy, crown-shaped flowers that hummingbirds fight over.
Z3-10
PerennialJul-OctBlack-Eyed Susan
Golden prairie workhorse that lights up late summer meadows.
Z3-10
PerennialJun-OctBlanket Flower
Fiery bicolor pinwheels that bloom nonstop in the worst heat and soil.
Z3-10
GrassJul-SepBlue Grama Grass
Short clumping grass with distinctive eyebrow-shaped seed heads thrives in dry soils.
Z3-10
PerennialJul-SepCardinal Flower
Screaming scarlet spikes. The most vivid red in the native plant world.
Z3-10
PerennialMay-SepCatmint
Billowy lavender-blue haze that blooms all season if you shear it back.
Z3-10
VineMay-SepClematis
The queen of flowering vines. Over 300 species, something for every spot.
Z3-10
PerennialJun-SepConeflower
Tough prairie native with long bloom season and medicinal history.
Z3-10
PerennialMay-JulCoral Bells
Grown mostly for dramatic foliage, but the tiny bell flowers are a bonus.
Z3-10
AnnualJun-OctCosmos
Airy, dancing flowers on thread-thin stems. Effortless cottage garden charm.
Z3-10
Ground CoverJun-JulCreeping Thyme
Fragrant, walkable ground cover. Bees love it, foot traffic can't kill it.
Z3-10
BulbJul-OctDahlia
Endless forms from dinner-plate to pompom. The obsession of flower farmers.
Z3-10
PerennialJun-AugDaylily
Virtually indestructible perennial with trumpet blooms in every warm hue.
Z3-10
PerennialMay-AugDianthus
Spicy-scented, fringed petals. One of the best edging plants there is.
Z3-10
ShrubMay-OctDrift Rose
Groundcover rose that stays low and spreads wide. Tough, disease-resistant, and constantly in bloom.
Z4-11
VineMay-AugHoneysuckle
Tubular, nectar-rich flowers with a fragrance that defines summer evenings.
Z3-10
AnnualMay-OctImpatiens
The shade annual champion. Flowers prolifically where nothing else will.
Z3-10
PerennialJul-SepLiatris
Blazing star. Spikes that bloom unusually from top to bottom.
Z3-10
AnnualJun-OctMarigold
Bulletproof color all season long. The workhorse of warm-toned borders.
Z3-10
AnnualJun-OctMorning Glory
Fast-climbing vine with trumpets that open fresh every morning.
Z3-10
PerennialJun-SepPardon Me Daylily
Compact cranberry-red with a yellow-green throat and one of the best reblooming habits in the entire family.
Z3-10
AnnualMay-OctPetunia
Cascading color for containers and beds. Blooms nonstop until frost.
Z3-10
PerennialJun-SepPickerelweed
Spikes of violet-blue flowers above glossy arrow-shaped leaves. Native pond and stream bank staple.
Z3-10
PerennialMay-OctRose
The queen of the garden. Modern varieties are surprisingly low-maintenance.
Z3-10
PerennialMay-SepSalvia
Vertical flower spikes that hummingbirds and bees cannot resist.
Z3-10
PerennialJun-AugShasta Daisy
Classic white-and-gold daisies that look fresh from a meadow painting.
Z3-10
AnnualApr-SepSnapdragon
Vertical flower spikes with squeeze-open blooms. Kids love them.
Z3-10
ShrubMay-JulSpirea
Flat-topped flower clusters on tidy mounds. The easiest flowering shrub.
Z3-10
PerennialMay-SepStella de Oro Daylily
The most planted perennial in America. Compact, reblooming, and basically indestructible.
Z3-10
AnnualJul-SepSunflower
Pure joy on a stalk. Birds love the seeds, kids love the spectacle.
Z3-10
AnnualApr-OctSweet Alyssum
Honey-scented carpet of tiny flowers. The best living edging plant.
Z3-10
PerennialJun-SepTickseed
Cheerful native daisy that blooms for months with almost no care.
Z3-10
PerennialJun-SepYarrow
Flat-topped clusters on ferny foliage. Thrives on neglect in poor soil.
Z3-10
AnnualJun-OctZinnia
Easy-grow annual with electric colors. Cut-and-come-again champion.
Z3-10
ShrubJun-JulAmerican Elderberry
Large flat clusters of creamy flowers in early summer give way to dark berries for jams and wildlife.
Z3-9
PerennialJul-OctAmerican Gold Rush Black-Eyed Susan
Narrow, fuzzy foliage resists the leaf spot that plagues Goldsturm. A worthy upgrade.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-JulAngelina Sedum
Chartreuse needle-like foliage turns golden orange in fall. Tiny yellow flowers are a bonus.
Z3-9
ShrubJun-AugAnnabelle Hydrangea
Enormous snowball blooms on a native species. Blooms on new wood, so prune hard in spring.
Z3-9
BulbJun-JulAsiatic Lily
Upward-facing blooms in a wide range of vivid colors. Easy to grow and brilliant in the summer border.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-AugBela Lugosi Daylily
Deep, near-black purple with a small yellow-green throat, the darkest and most dramatic daylily you can grow.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-AugButterfly Milkweed
Vivid orange-red flat-topped clusters that monarchs and swallowtails cannot resist. Drought-proof once established.
Z3-9
PerennialMay-AugCaradonna Salvia
Dark purple stems set this apart from every other salvia. Vertical, architectural, electric.
Z3-9
PerennialMay-SepCat's Meow Catmint
Tidy, dome-shaped habit that never flops open. Stays compact without shearing.
Z3-9
AnnualMay-AugChamomile
Tiny daisy flowers with apple-scented foliage. Brew into tea or let it naturalize between pavers.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-SepCheyenne Spirit Coneflower
A rainbow mix of coneflower colors from a single seed strain. Every plant is a surprise.
Z4-10
PerennialJun-AugChicago Apache Daylily
Scarlet red with a velvety texture. One of the best true red daylilies available.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-AugDouble Punch Coral Daylily
Fully double coral blooms like a small peony on a daylily, lush and completely unexpected.
Z3-9
PerennialJul-AugDragon's Blood Sedum
Creeping mat of burgundy-tinged foliage with starry red flowers. Turns deep red in fall.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-SepFalse Sunflower
Cheerful golden-yellow daisies that bloom for months on a tough native perennial. The sunniest, most reliable workhorse in the border.
Z3-9
PerennialJul-AugGlobe Thistle
Perfectly spherical steel-blue globes on white stems that dry to perfection. Bees are absolutely obsessed.
Z3-9
PerennialJul-OctGoldsturm Black-Eyed Susan
The gold standard rudbeckia. Uniform, floriferous, and utterly reliable in any soil.
Z3-9
PerennialJul-AugGooseneck Loosestrife
Gracefully arching white flower spikes that curve at the tips like a goose neck. Spreads vigorously in moist soil.
Z3-9
PerennialMay-SepHappy Returns Daylily
Lemon-yellow rebloomer with light fragrance. A bit taller than Stella with softer color.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-AugHyperion Daylily
Tall, pale lemon-yellow, sweetly fragrant blooms on an heirloom variety that's been cherished since 1925.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-AugMary Todd Daylily
Ruffled golden-yellow flowers with a lavender eye, large, showy, and sweetly fragrant in the summer border.
Z3-9
PerennialMay-AugMay Night Salvia
Perennial Plant of the Year. Dense indigo-violet spikes that rebloom if deadheaded.
Z3-9
PerennialJul-AugNight Embers Daylily
Deep burgundy-red with a black eye and yellow throat, smoldering in the summer border.
Z3-9
PerennialJul-SepObedient Plant
Spikes of snapdragon-like flowers that can be pushed and stay where moved, earning a very literal common name.
Z3-9
BulbJul-AugOriental Lily
Huge, intensely fragrant blooms in deep pink and white that perfume the entire garden. The lily that defines summer.
Z3-9
PerennialApr-AugPacific Bleeding Heart
Western native that blooms much longer than its eastern cousin. Ferny foliage all season.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-SepPowwow Wild Berry Coneflower
Deep rose-purple petals and a bronzy cone on a compact reblooming plant that won't sprawl.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-AugPurple de Oro Daylily
Deep purple-red blooms on a compact Stella-sized plant. Brings rich color to the front of the border.
Z3-9
PerennialMay-SepRed Hot Returns Daylily
Brilliant red with a small yellow center, compact and one of the earliest daylilies to kick into rebloom.
Z3-9
PerennialMay-OctRosy Returns Daylily
Soft rose-pink blooms with a cream throat that keep coming from late spring to frost, absolutely tireless.
Z3-9
PerennialJul-AugSacred Lotus
Massive blooms rise above umbrella leaves in shallow water. Seedpods are as ornamental as the flowers.
Z4-10
PerennialJun-JulSiloam Doodlebug Daylily
Tiny pastel pink blooms on a miniature plant, perfect for container gardens and tight spaces.
Z3-9
ShrubJul-AugSummersweet Clethra
Spikes of intensely sweet-scented white flowers in midsummer, one of the best fragrant natives for shady spots.
Z3-9
ShrubJun-JulSwamp Rose
Clear pink single blooms on a native rose that thrives in wet spots, ditch edges, and rain gardens where other roses would drown.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-SepThread-Leaf Coreopsis
Thread-fine foliage and masses of tiny yellow stars bloom for months with zero effort. A perennial you can actually neglect.
Z3-9
VineJun-SepTrumpet Vine
Aggressive native vine with fiery trumpets. Hummingbird highway.
Z4-10
PerennialJul-SepVintage Wine Coneflower
Wine-purple petals that age to rose on a robust, well-branched plant. One of the most floriferous echinacea you can grow.
Z3-9
PerennialMay-SepWalker's Low Catmint
Perennial Plant of the Year. Billowy lavender-blue spikes that rebloom hard after a shear.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-SepWater Lily
Floating jewels that transform any pond. Pads provide shade for fish while flowers dazzle above.
Z4-10
PerennialJun-SepWhite Swan Coneflower
Pure white drooping petals around a bronze-orange cone. Elegant and underused.
Z3-9
PerennialJul-AugWild Bergamot
The wild cousin of bee balm. Lavender puffs alive with pollinators. Tougher and more mildew-resistant.
Z3-9
PerennialJun-JulYucca
Sword-like evergreen foliage sends up dramatic stalks of white bells. Tough, architectural, underrated.
Z4-10
PerennialJul-SepAnise Hyssop
Lavender-blue spikes with licorice-scented foliage. A pollinator powerhouse that blooms for months.
Z4-9
PerennialJun-AugAstilbe
Feathery plumes that light up shady, moist spots like nothing else can.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugAugust Moon Hosta
Glowing gold foliage all season, and one of the best hostas for brighter spots with some morning sun.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugBlue Angel Hosta
Massive blue-gray leaves up to 18 inches long. One of the largest and most slug-resistant hostas.
Z3-8
GrassJun-JulBlue Fescue
Steel-blue tufted mound. Perfect edging or rock garden accent.
Z3-8
PerennialMay-JulBlue Flax
Delicate sky-blue flowers open each morning on airy stems over fine foliage.
Z4-9
GrassJun-JulBlue Oat Grass
Compact clumps of steel-blue blades provide year-round color and texture.
Z4-9
ShrubJul-SepBobo Hydrangea
Dwarf paniculata smothered in blooms. Perfect front-of-border plant that needs almost no care.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-JulBridal Veil Astilbe
Graceful cascading white plumes on dark stems. Luminous in a shady corner.
Z3-8
ShrubJun-OctButterfly Bush
Long, arching flower wands that butterflies absolutely lose their minds over.
Z5-10
AnnualMar-SepCalifornia Poppy
Golden cups that carpet hillsides across the state. Closes at night and on cloudy days.
Z5-10
PerennialJun-AugCampanula
Open, nodding bells in clear blue on tall graceful stems. Self-sows into refined cottage garden drifts.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-SepCompass Plant
Tall stems with large yellow daisies tower over deeply cut basal leaves that align north-south.
Z3-8
VineApr-SepCoral Honeysuckle
Non-invasive native honeysuckle with brilliant coral-red tubular flowers that hummingbirds hover at for months.
Z4-9
PerennialJul-AugCulver's Root
Tall tapering spires of tiny white flowers that bees mob. Vertical and elegant at the back of the border.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-JulDelphinium
Towering spires of true blue. The tallest, most dramatic back-of-border plant.
Z3-8
VineJun-OctDon Juan Climbing Rose
Deep velvety red climber with classic rose fragrance. Repeats reliably on a strong, vigorous plant.
Z5-10
ShrubMay-OctDouble Knock Out Rose
Fuller, double-petaled version of the Knock Out. Same bulletproof performance with more petal count.
Z5-10
PerennialJul-AugEmpress Wu Hosta
The world's largest hosta. Individual leaves can exceed two feet. A bold statement in any shade garden.
Z3-8
ShrubJun-SepEndless Summer Hydrangea
Reblooms on old and new wood, so you get flowers even after a harsh winter. Color shifts with soil pH.
Z4-9
VineJun-SepErnest Markham Clematis
Magenta-red flowers with brown anthers that bloom late when others have faded. A solid, underappreciated red clematis.
Z4-9
PerennialJun-JulFanal Astilbe
The deepest garnet-red of any astilbe. Dark bronze foliage makes those plumes glow.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-JulFire and Ice Hosta
Stark white centers with deep green margins, high contrast that jumps out from a shady border.
Z3-8
PerennialMay-JulFoxglove
Stately spires of spotted, bell-shaped flowers. Cottage garden royalty.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugFrances Williams Hosta
Classic blue-green heart-shaped leaves with wide gold margins that make this one of the all-time great hostas.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-SepGarden Phlox
Billowing clusters of fragrant summer color. A butterfly magnet.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugGolden Tiara Hosta
Small, fast-spreading mound with chartreuse-gold margins and one of the easiest hostas you can grow.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugGuacamole Hosta
Chartreuse-gold leaves with dark green margins and sweetly fragrant white flowers that perfume the shade garden.
Z3-8
VineJun-AugHagley Hybrid Clematis
Soft shell-pink flowers with a hint of mauve that fade beautifully in part shade and bloom reliably all summer.
Z4-9
PerennialJul-AugHalcyon Hosta
The bluest hosta you can grow. Thick, heavily textured leaves resist slugs better than most.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-SepHardy Hibiscus
Dinner-plate blooms up to 12 inches across on a native perennial that dies to the ground and returns bigger each year.
Z4-9
PerennialJun-JulHens and Chicks
Tight rosettes that multiply by producing offsets. The mother plant flowers once, then dies, replaced by chicks.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugHosta
The undisputed queen of shade gardening. Foliage in every green and blue.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-SepHot Papaya Coneflower
Fiery double blooms like tiny orange dahlias on a coneflower. A showstopper that earns every bit of the hype.
Z4-9
ShrubJun-SepHydrangea
Massive mophead blooms that shift color with soil pH. Showstoppers.
Z5-10
PerennialJun-SepIce Plant
Neon-bright daisy flowers that shimmer in the sun over succulent foliage. Thrives in hot, dry rock gardens.
Z5-10
ShrubJun-AugIncrediball Hydrangea
Annabelle's bigger sibling with stronger stems that don't flop. Blooms the size of basketballs.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-JulJapanese Iris
Huge, flat, ruffled blooms up to 10 inches across. Needs consistent moisture, especially during bloom.
Z4-9
PerennialJul-SepJoe-Pye Weed
Towering native with mauve domes that butterflies swarm in late summer.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugJune Hosta
Gold center streaked with blue-green margins. Color shifts through the season. A collector's favorite.
Z3-8
GrassJun-AugKarl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Strong vertical plumes emerge in early summer and persist as tawny stems through winter.
Z4-9
ShrubMay-OctKnock Out Rose
The rose that changed everything. Disease-resistant, self-cleaning, and blooms nonstop from spring to frost.
Z5-10
PerennialJun-AugLavender
Fragrant silver-green mounds beloved by bees and humans alike.
Z5-10
ShrubJul-SepLimelight Hydrangea
Cone-shaped blooms open chartreuse, mature to white, then blush pink in fall. Tough as nails.
Z3-8
ShrubJul-SepLittle Lime Hydrangea
Compact Limelight. Same color show in a smaller package perfect for borders and containers.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-SepLuna Red Hibiscus
Compact variety with enormous crimson blooms that stays tidy enough for a large container.
Z4-9
PerennialJun-SepMagnus Coneflower
The gold standard coneflower. Flat, non-drooping petals around a bold copper cone. Perennial Plant of the Year.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-SepMexican Hat
Distinctive sombrero-like flowers sway on wiry stems in summer prairies.
Z4-9
PerennialMay-JulNative Spiderwort
Three-petaled flowers in blue-purple open fresh each morning on a tough native that blooms for weeks and seeds freely.
Z4-9
GrassJul-SepNorthern Sea Oats
Flat seed heads dangle from arching stems and dance in the slightest wind. The best native grass for shade.
Z4-9
PerennialJun-AugOregano
Tiny flowers are a pollinator magnet when allowed to bloom. Let a patch go to flower for the bees.
Z4-9
PerennialJul-AugPatriot Hosta
Dark green leaves with crisp white margins. Classic variegated hosta that brightens shady spots.
Z3-8
PerennialMay-JulPenstemon
Tubular flowers on upright stems. Native hummingbird magnet for dry gardens.
Z3-8
ShrubJul-SepPinky Winky Hydrangea
Two-tone blooms with white tips and pink bases. Strong stems hold heavy flower heads upright.
Z3-8
VineJul-SepPolish Spirit Clematis
Deep violet-purple flowers cover a vigorous plant from midsummer to fall. Prune hard each spring and stand back.
Z4-9
PerennialJun-SepPowWow Wild Berry Coneflower
Compact, heavily branched, and smothered in deep rose-purple blooms. Reblooms without deadheading.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-SepPrairie Dock
Huge basal leaves and tall stalks topped with yellow daisies give strong prairie structure.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-AugPurple Prairie Clover
Brushy purple flower spikes rise over fine foliage and feed prairie pollinators.
Z3-8
ShrubJun-SepQuick Fire Hydrangea
Blooms a full month before other paniculatas. White cones age to deep rosy pink by fall.
Z3-8
PerennialMay-JulRocky Mountain Columbine
Large blue-and-white spurred flowers bloom in late spring above lacy foliage.
Z3-8
PerennialMay-JulRocky Mountain Penstemon
Spikes of deep blue tubular flowers rise above glossy evergreen foliage in early summer.
Z3-8
ShrubJul-OctRose of Sharon
Tropical-looking hibiscus flowers on a cold-hardy shrub. Blooms late.
Z5-10
PerennialJul-OctRussian Sage
Airy lavender clouds on silver stems. Thrives in heat and poor soil.
Z4-9
PerennialJul-AugSagae Hosta
Huge gray-blue leaves with creamy margins on a stately, vase-shaped plant that wins awards for good reason.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-AugScarlet Gilia
Tubular red trumpets on a wiry biennial that hummingbirds adore across the Mountain West. Blooms its second year, then self-sows.
Z3-8
GrassJul-SepSideoats Grama
Seed heads hang like tiny flags along one side of the stem on this graceful, drought-tolerant prairie native.
Z4-9
PerennialMay-AugSpeedwell
Tidy spikes of blue that add vertical punch to the front of the border.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugStained Glass Hosta
Glossy gold center with dark green margins, like light through a cathedral window.
Z3-8
PerennialJun-JulSulphur Flower
Sulfur-yellow flower clusters on a silvery-leaved cushion plant. One of the toughest and prettiest natives of the Mountain West.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugSum and Substance Hosta
Chartreuse giant that can take more sun than most hostas. Heart-shaped leaves grow enormous.
Z3-8
VineMay-SepThe President Clematis
Big, rich violet-blue flowers with silvery reverse petals rebloom through the season on a vigorous, reliable plant.
Z4-9
GrassJun-AugTufted Hair Grass
Airy gold-green flower clouds hover above dark evergreen tufts. One of the few grasses that thrives in moist shade.
Z4-9
PerennialMay-JulTwinspike Coral Bells
Warm amber-caramel foliage that glows in the shade garden all season. The flowers are just a bonus.
Z4-9
PerennialJul-AugVisions in Pink Astilbe
Compact and more drought-tolerant than most astilbes. Dense, rosy-pink plumes.
Z3-8
PerennialMay-JulWestern Red Columbine
Scarlet and yellow spurred flowers that hummingbirds follow through the Pacific Northwest's mountain meadows.
Z4-9
PerennialJun-AugWhite Prairie Clover
Cylindrical white flower spikes with orange anthers on a delicate, drought-proof prairie native that feeds bees all summer.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-AugWide Brim Hosta
Blue-green leaves with wide creamy-white margins that age to a clean white, a standout performer in any shade garden.
Z3-8
ShrubJun-JulWinterberry
Inconspicuous blooms, but covered in brilliant red berries all winter long.
Z3-8
PerennialJul-SepAgastache
Licorice-scented foliage and tubular orange-pink flowers that hummingbirds and butterflies find irresistible. Thrives on neglect.
Z5-9
ShrubApr-SepBloom-a-Thon Azalea
Repeat-blooming azalea with waves of color spring through fall. Evergreen in mild climates.
Z5-9
ShrubJun-JulBottlebrush Buckeye
Massive suckering shrub with foot-long white flower candles. Showpiece for large shade gardens.
Z4-8
ShrubJul-AugButtonbush
Weird and wonderful pincushion flowers like tiny white globes on a tough native that thrives in wet conditions.
Z5-9
VineJun-JulClimbing Hydrangea
Slow to start but spectacular once established, covering shady walls with flat-topped white lacecap flowers and exfoliating bark.
Z4-8
BulbJul-AugCrocosmia
Arching sprays of fiery red-orange that hummingbirds go crazy for. Sword-like foliage adds structure.
Z5-9
PerennialMar-OctDesert Marigold
Cheerful desert wildflower that blooms almost year-round in warm climates. Thrives on neglect.
Z7-11
ShrubMay-SepDouble Delight Rose
Creamy white petals blush to strawberry red at the edges. Knockout fragrance matches the looks.
Z5-9
BulbJul-SepEmily McKenzie Crocosmia
Bold orange blooms with red throats appear on graceful arching stems in late summer.
Z5-9
PerennialJun-AugFeverfew
Clusters of small white daisies that bloom for weeks. Historic medicinal herb that self-sows readily.
Z5-9
PerennialJul-SepGiant Coneflower
Towering stems with dramatically elongated cones rise above huge blue-green paddle leaves. An architectural native that commands attention.
Z5-9
PerennialJun-AugGlobe Artichoke
Bold silvery foliage and large thistle-like buds are both decorative and edible.
Z7-11
PerennialJun-JulGoatsbeard
Giant creamy plumes like an astilbe on steroids. Native woodland giant that anchors a shade border.
Z3-7
TreeJun-JulGolden Rain Tree
Showers of small yellow flowers followed by papery lantern-like seed pods. Tolerates tough urban conditions.
Z5-9
ShrubMay-OctGraham Thomas Rose
Rich golden-yellow cups with an intense tea rose fragrance. David Austin's most famous creation.
Z5-9
PerennialJun-AugHidcote Lavender
Compact and intensely dark purple. The standard against which all other lavenders are measured.
Z5-9
AnnualJul-SepIndian Summer Rudbeckia
Massive 6-9 inch golden daisies on a short-lived plant. Bigger and bolder than perennial black-eyed susans.
Z3-7
VineJun-SepJackmanii Clematis
The classic large-flowered clematis since 1858. Deep violet-purple blooms cover the vine midsummer.
Z4-8
PerennialMay-SepJapanese Painted Fern
Silver and burgundy fronds unlike any other fern. Foliage plant that earns its keep on color alone.
Z4-8
PerennialMay-JulLady's Mantle
Chartreuse frothy flowers and pleated blue-green leaves that hold water droplets like mercury. The ultimate filler plant.
Z3-7
PerennialJul-AugLigularia
Bold, dinner-plate leaves with daisy-like flowers. Loves wet feet and will wilt dramatically if dry.
Z4-8
GrassMay-JulMexican Feather Grass
Gossamer fine blades ripple in the slightest breeze like living silk. Plant where you can watch it move.
Z6-10
PerennialJun-AugMountain Bluebell
Sky-blue bell flowers on tall arching stems along mountain streams. The showy western cousin of Virginia Bluebell.
Z3-7
PerennialJun-AugMunstead Lavender
Earlier blooming and slightly softer purple than Hidcote. Gertrude Jekyll's favorite for a reason.
Z5-9
VineJun-SepNew Dawn Climbing Rose
The world's most popular climbing rose. Soft blush pink, sweetly fragrant, and remarkably vigorous.
Z5-9
ShrubJun-AugNikko Blue Hydrangea
The classic blue mophead. Rich, true blue in acidic soil. A cottage garden essential.
Z5-9
ShrubJun-JulOakleaf Hydrangea
Oak-shaped leaves turn burgundy in fall. White cone blooms age to pink. Four-season native shrub.
Z5-9
ShrubJun-JulOceanspray
Cascading creamy white plumes on arching branches. Western Washington's summer answer to a native bridal veil.
Z5-9
PerennialMay-SepOstrich Fern
Tall vase-shaped fronds that unfurl from fiddleheads in spring. Spreads to form dramatic colonies.
Z3-7
PerennialJun-AugPhenomenal Lavender
Survives humidity and cold that kills other lavenders. Silver foliage stays tight and full.
Z5-9
ShrubJul-AugPlumleaf Azalea
The only azalea that blooms in midsummer, with fiery orange-red flowers that light up the late-season shade garden.
Z5-9
PerennialJun-AugRed Hot Poker
Torch-like spikes in fire-orange and yellow that hummingbirds zoom straight to. Bold and unforgettable.
Z5-9
PerennialJul-SepRose Mallow
Enormous pale pink blooms up to 12 inches across on a wetland-loving native. Grow near a pond and you'll never look back.
Z5-9
PerennialJul-SepSea Holly
Metallic blue bracts and cones turn the whole plant a vivid silvery-blue. Otherworldly and completely drought-proof.
Z4-8
TreeJun-JulSmoke Tree
Airy pink flower plumes create a smoke-like haze around the canopy. 'Royal Purple' has burgundy foliage.
Z4-8
PerennialJun-SepStokes Aster
Fringed, shaggy-petaled flowers in shades of cornflower blue that bloom for weeks on a tough Southern native.
Z5-9
PerennialJun-AugSundrop
Bright yellow cups that open in daylight on a cheerful, drought-tolerant native that spreads into informal drifts.
Z4-8
PerennialJun-AugSwamp Milkweed
Soft mauve-pink clusters that monarch butterflies seek out for egg-laying. Thrives where it's consistently wet.
Z3-7
PerennialJul-SepTall Phlox David
Pure white fragrant phlox with the best mildew resistance in the species. A reliable, clean performer for the late-summer garden.
Z4-8
AnnualJun-OctTall Verbena
Wiry stems topped with purple clusters that butterflies can't resist. See-through plant for layering.
Z7-11
ShrubJun-JulVirginia Sweetspire
Fragrant white bottlebrush flowers followed by brilliant orange-red fall color on a shade-tolerant, deer-resistant native.
Z5-9
ShrubJun-JulAmerican Beautyberry
Inconspicuous flowers give way to stunning clusters of magenta-purple berries in fall. The berries are the show.
Z5-8
PerennialJun-JulCentury Plant
Grows for decades, then sends up a massive flower stalk up to 20 feet tall before dying. Worth the wait.
Z8-11
ShrubJul-SepChaste Tree
Long lavender-blue spikes cover this heat-loving shrub all summer. One of the few shrubs that actually blooms in August.
Z6-9
TreeJun-SepCrape Myrtle
The tree of the South. Months of crinkled blooms and gorgeous peeling bark.
Z7-10
ShrubMay-AugGardenia
Glossy evergreen foliage frames intensely fragrant white flowers from late spring into summer.
Z8-11
VineMar-AugJasmine
Intensely sweet-scented white stars. The scent of warm southern evenings.
Z7-10
PerennialMay-NovLantana
Multi-colored flower clusters that bloom relentlessly in brutal heat.
Z7-10
PerennialJun-AugMasterwort
Intricate pincushion flowers surrounded by papery bracts in soft pinks and whites. Beloved by florists and shade gardeners alike.
Z4-7
PerennialMay-JulMatilija Poppy
Enormous fried-egg flowers on blue-gray stems. California's largest native wildflower. Spreads aggressively.
Z7-10
ShrubMay-JulPomegranate
Brilliant orange-red blossoms in late spring and summer are followed by decorative, edible fruits.
Z8-11
PerennialMay-OctRozanne Geranium
Violet-blue saucer flowers on a sprawling mound that blooms from late spring until frost. The most awarded perennial geranium in history.
Z5-8
TreeJun-JulStewartia
Camellia-like white flowers, exfoliating bark, and crimson fall color. The four-season tree professionals love.
Z5-8
BulbJun-AugTiger Lily
Spotted orange-yellow turk's cap blooms on tall stems. The fire-bright wildflower of Pacific Northwest meadows and open forests.
Z5-8
BulbJul-SepTuberose
Tall summer spikes of waxy white blooms release powerful evening fragrance.
Z7-10
PerennialJun-NovTurk's Cap
Nodding red hibiscus flowers that never fully open are pure hummingbird candy across the Gulf South.
Z7-10
AnnualMay-OctWax Begonia
Glossy leaves and nonstop flowers in sun or shade. One of the most reliable bedding plants anywhere.
Z8-11
ShrubMay-JulWonderful Pomegranate
Reliable cultivar bearing large red fruits and vivid orange flowers.
Z8-11
ShrubMay-OctAngel's Trumpet
Huge pendant trumpets release intense evening fragrance over a long warm-season bloom.
Z9-11
VineMar-NovBougainvillea
Explosive cascades of papery bracts. Covers walls and fences in color.
Z9-11
AnnualMay-OctCalibrachoa
Mini petunias that bloom nonstop in hanging baskets. Dozens of color options and no deadheading needed.
Z9-11
PerennialMay-JulEcheveria
Perfect rosettes in blue, green, pink, and purple. Bell-shaped flowers on arching stems. Frost-tender.
Z9-11
ShrubMar-NovHawaiian Hibiscus
Large tropical blooms in vivid colors appear repeatedly from spring through fall.
Z9-11
VineMay-OctMandevilla
Glossy vines are covered in showy trumpet flowers from early summer to frost in warm climates.
Z9-11
ShrubJan-DecMeyer Lemon
Sweetly scented white blossoms appear intermittently year-round and set thin-skinned lemons.
Z9-11
AnnualMay-OctPelargonium
The classic window-box geranium. Ball-shaped flower clusters above scalloped leaves. Tough container staple.
Z9-11
ShrubMay-OctPink Dipladenia
Bushy form with glossy foliage and abundant pink trumpets suited to pots and borders.
Z9-11
GrassJul-OctPurple Fountain Grass
Burgundy foliage topped with fuzzy rose-colored plumes. Stunning in containers where it's treated as an annual in cold climates.
Z9-11
PerennialJun-JulRodgersia
Huge textured leaves resembling horse chestnuts with fluffy plumes. Architectural shade statement.
Z5-7
TreeMay-JulSouthern Magnolia
Huge glossy-leaved tree bearing enormous lemon-scented white flowers. The quintessential symbol of the Deep South's summer.
Z7-9
PerennialMar-DecBird of Paradise
Sculptural, crane-like flowers in orange and blue. Unmistakable.
Z9-10
AnnualJul-AugColeus
Grown for kaleidoscopic foliage, not flowers. Pinch blooms to keep energy in the leaves.
Z10-11
TreeMay-OctPink Plumeria
Clusters of pink, sweetly scented blooms cover this classic tropical tree in summer.
Z10-11
TreeMay-OctPlumeria
Intoxicatingly fragrant tropical blooms. The flower of Hawaiian leis.
Z9-10
TreeMay-OctWhite Plumeria
Highly fragrant white flowers with yellow centers appear in clusters on succulent branches.
Z10-11