Summer Flowers for Zone 9

198 plants that bloom Jun through Aug in USDA hardiness zone 9.

Summer is peak bloom season. Long days and warm soil fuel the biggest, boldest flowers. This is when your garden can be at its most colorful.

SpringSummerFallWinter
Z3Z4Z5Z6Z7Z8Z9Z10Z11
Colors
82
76
72
57
55
43
Types97 Perennials32 Shrubs22 Annuals18 Grasss
Jun
145 plants
Jul
164 plants
Aug
154 plants
Aeonium
Aeonium2-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z9-11

Dramatic rosettes on woody stems. 'Zwartkop' variety has near-black leaves. Stunning in containers.

Allium
Allium2-4'
Bulb · May-Jun · Z5-9

Dramatic globe-shaped heads on tall stems. Architectural and deer-proof.

American Elderberry
American Elderberry5-12'
Shrub · Jun-Jul · Z3-9

Large flat clusters of creamy flowers in early summer give way to dark berries for jams and wildlife.

Angel's Trumpet
Angel's Trumpet6-15'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z9-11

Huge pendant trumpets release intense evening fragrance over a long warm-season bloom.

Angelina Sedum
Angelina Sedum4-8"
Perennial · Jun-Jul · Z3-9

Chartreuse needle-like foliage turns golden orange in fall. Tiny yellow flowers are a bonus.

Annabelle Hydrangea
Annabelle Hydrangea3-5'
Shrub · Jun-Aug · Z3-9

Enormous snowball blooms on a native species. Blooms on new wood, so prune hard in spring.

Asiatic Lily
Asiatic Lily2-3'
Bulb · Jun-Jul · Z3-9

Upward-facing blooms in a wide range of vivid colors. Easy to grow and brilliant in the summer border.

Bee Balm
Bee Balm2-4'
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z3-10

Shaggy, crown-shaped flowers that hummingbirds fight over.

Bela Lugosi Daylily
Bela Lugosi Daylily28-34"
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z3-9

Deep, near-black purple with a small yellow-green throat, the darkest and most dramatic daylily you can grow.

Beverly Sills Iris
Beverly Sills Iris2-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-9

Coral-pink blooms with a tangerine beard. Named for the opera star and just as elegant.

Bird of Paradise
Bird of Paradise3-5'
Perennial · Mar-Dec · Z9-10

Sculptural, crane-like flowers in orange and blue. Unmistakable.

Blanket Flower
Blanket Flower12-24"
Perennial · Jun-Oct · Z3-10

Fiery bicolor pinwheels that bloom nonstop in the worst heat and soil.

Bloom-a-Thon Azalea
Bloom-a-Thon Azalea3-4'
Shrub · Apr-Sep · Z5-9

Repeat-blooming azalea with waves of color spring through fall. Evergreen in mild climates.

Blue False Indigo
Blue False Indigo3-4'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-10

Lupine-like spikes on a native that lives forever. Gets better with age.

Blue Flax
Blue Flax12-24"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z4-9

Delicate sky-blue flowers open each morning on airy stems over fine foliage.

Blue Oat Grass
Blue Oat Grass18-30"
Grass · Jun-Jul · Z4-9

Compact clumps of steel-blue blades provide year-round color and texture.

Borage
Borage2-3'
Annual · Jun-Sep · Z2-11

Star-shaped electric blue flowers that bees go absolutely wild for. Self-sows freely.

Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea10-30'
Vine · Mar-Nov · Z9-11

Explosive cascades of papery magenta, hot pink, or coral bracts that smother walls, fences, and pergolas with nonstop color from spring through fall in zones 9 to 11.

Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush5-10'
Shrub · Jun-Oct · Z5-10

Long, arching flower wands that butterflies absolutely lose their minds over.

Butterfly Milkweed
Butterfly Milkweed18-24"
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z3-9

Vivid orange-red flat-topped clusters that monarchs and swallowtails cannot resist. Drought-proof once established.

Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa6-12"
Annual · May-Oct · Z9-11

Mini petunias that bloom nonstop in hanging baskets. Dozens of color options and no deadheading needed.

California Poppy
California Poppy6-18"
Annual · Mar-Sep · Z5-10

Golden cups that carpet hillsides across the state. Closes at night and on cloudy days.

Caradonna Salvia
Caradonna Salvia18-30"
Perennial · May-Aug · Z3-9

Dark purple stems set this apart from every other salvia. Vertical, architectural, electric.

Cat's Meow Catmint
Cat's Meow Catmint15-20"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-9

Tidy, dome-shaped habit that never flops open. Stays compact without shearing.

Catmint
Catmint12-24"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-10

Billowy lavender-blue haze that blooms all season if you shear it back.

Celosia
Celosia1-3'
Annual · Jun-Oct · Z2-11

Flame-shaped or crested flowers in electric colors that dry beautifully. Heat lovers that thrive in summer.

Century Plant
Century Plant2-4'
Perennial · Jun-Jul · Z8-11

Grows for decades, then sends up a massive flower stalk up to 20 feet tall before dying. Worth the wait.

Chamomile
Chamomile12-24"
Annual · May-Aug · Z3-9

Tiny daisy flowers with apple-scented foliage. Brew into tea or let it naturalize between pavers.

Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower
Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower24-30"
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z4-10

A rainbow mix of coneflower colors from a single seed strain. Every plant is a surprise.

Chicago Apache Daylily
Chicago Apache Daylily24-30"
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z3-9

Scarlet red with a velvety texture. One of the best true red daylilies available.

Chives
Chives12-18"
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-9

Cheerful purple pom-pom flowers on a kitchen staple. Edible blooms make any salad Instagram-worthy.

Clematis
Clematis6-20'
Vine · May-Sep · Z3-10

The queen of flowering vines. Over 300 species, something for every spot.

Cleome
Cleome3-5'
Annual · Jun-Sep · Z2-11

Spider-flower with whisker-like stamens and airy blooms. Tall, dramatic annual that self-sows freely.

Coneflower
Coneflower2-4'
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z3-10

Tough prairie native with long bloom season and medicinal history.

Coral Bean
Coral Bean3-8'
Shrub · Apr-Jun · Z7-10

Bold spikes of tubular red flowers in spring attract hummingbirds before bean pods form.

Coral Bells
Coral Bells12-18"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z3-10

Grown mostly for dramatic foliage, but the tiny bell flowers are a bonus.

Coral Honeysuckle
Coral Honeysuckle10-15'
Vine · Apr-Sep · Z4-9

Non-invasive native honeysuckle with brilliant coral-red tubular flowers that hummingbirds hover at for months.

Cosmos
Cosmos3-5'
Annual · Jun-Oct · Z3-10

Airy, dancing flowers on thread-thin stems. Effortless cottage garden charm.

Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtle10-25'
Tree · Jun-Sep · Z7-10

The tree of the South. Months of crinkled blooms and gorgeous peeling bark.

Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme2-4"
Ground Cover · Jun-Jul · Z3-10

Fragrant, walkable ground cover. Bees love it, foot traffic can't kill it.

Daylily
Daylily1-3'
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z3-10

Virtually indestructible perennial with trumpet blooms in every warm hue.

Desert Marigold
Desert Marigold12-18"
Perennial · Mar-Oct · Z7-11

Cheerful desert wildflower that blooms almost year-round in warm climates. Thrives on neglect.

Dianthus
Dianthus6-18"
Perennial · May-Aug · Z3-10

Spicy clove-scented pinks with fringed petals in pink, red, white, or salmon, one of the best long-blooming edgers and front-of-border perennials for sun.

Don Juan Climbing Rose
Don Juan Climbing Rose8-12'
Vine · Jun-Oct · Z5-10

Deep velvety red climber with classic rose fragrance. Repeats reliably on a strong, vigorous plant.

Double Delight Rose
Double Delight Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Sep · Z5-9

Creamy white petals blush to strawberry red at the edges. Knockout fragrance matches the looks.

Double Knock Out Rose
Double Knock Out Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-10

Fuller, double-petaled version of the Knock Out. Same bulletproof performance with more petal count.

Double Punch Coral Daylily
Double Punch Coral Daylily22-28"
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z3-9

Fully double coral blooms like a small peony on a daylily, lush and completely unexpected.

Drift Rose
Drift Rose18-24"
Shrub · May-Oct · Z4-11

Groundcover rose that stays low and spreads wide. Tough, disease-resistant, and constantly in bloom.

Dutch Iris
Dutch Iris18-24"
Bulb · May-Jun · Z5-9

Slender stems bear elegant iris blooms in late spring to early summer.

Echeveria
Echeveria6-12"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z9-11

Perfect rosettes in blue, green, pink, and purple. Bell-shaped flowers on arching stems. Frost-tender.

Endless Summer Hydrangea
Endless Summer Hydrangea3-5'
Shrub · Jun-Sep · Z4-9

Reblooms on old and new wood, so you get flowers even after a harsh winter. Color shifts with soil pH.

Ernest Markham Clematis
Ernest Markham Clematis8-10'
Vine · Jun-Sep · Z4-9

Magenta-red flowers with brown anthers that bloom late when others have faded. A solid, underappreciated red clematis.

False Sunflower
False Sunflower3-5'
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z3-9

Cheerful golden-yellow daisies that bloom for months on a tough native perennial. The sunniest, most reliable workhorse in the border.

Feverfew
Feverfew18-24"
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z5-9

Clusters of small white daisies that bloom for weeks. Historic medicinal herb that self-sows readily.

Firecracker Penstemon
Firecracker Penstemon2-3'
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z4-9

Spikes of scarlet tubular flowers that hummingbirds fight over. Southwestern native at its finest.

Flowering Tobacco
Flowering Tobacco2-4'
Annual · Jun-Sep · Z2-11

Tubular flowers that release sweet fragrance at dusk. A cottage garden classic that attracts moths and hummingbirds.

Fringe Tree
Fringe Tree10-20'
Tree · May-Jun · Z4-9

Clouds of white fringed petals dripping from branches in late spring. Fragrant and underused native.

Gardenia
Gardenia2-6'
Shrub · May-Aug · Z8-11

Glossy evergreen foliage frames intensely fragrant white flowers from late spring into summer.

Globe Artichoke
Globe Artichoke3-5'
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z7-11

Bold silvery foliage and large thistle-like buds are both decorative and edible.

Golden Rain Tree
Golden Rain Tree15-30'
Tree · Jun-Jul · Z5-9

Showers of small yellow flowers followed by papery lantern-like seed pods. Tolerates tough urban conditions.

Graham Thomas Rose
Graham Thomas Rose4-5'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-9

Rich golden-yellow cups with an intense tea rose fragrance. David Austin's most famous creation.

Hagley Hybrid Clematis
Hagley Hybrid Clematis7-10'
Vine · Jun-Aug · Z4-9

Soft shell-pink flowers with a hint of mauve that fade beautifully in part shade and bloom reliably all summer.

Happy Returns Daylily
Happy Returns Daylily18-24"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-9

Lemon-yellow rebloomer with light fragrance. A bit taller than Stella with softer color.

Hawaiian Hibiscus
Hawaiian Hibiscus3-8'
Shrub · Mar-Nov · Z9-11

Large tropical blooms in vivid colors appear repeatedly from spring through fall.

Hidcote Lavender
Hidcote Lavender12-18"
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z5-9

Compact and intensely dark purple. The standard against which all other lavenders are measured.

Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle8-20'
Vine · May-Aug · Z3-10

Tubular, nectar-rich flowers with a fragrance that defines summer evenings.

Hydrangea
Hydrangea3-6'
Shrub · Jun-Sep · Z5-10

Massive mophead blooms that shift color with soil pH. Showstoppers.

Hyperion Daylily
Hyperion Daylily3-3'
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z3-9

Tall, pale lemon-yellow, sweetly fragrant blooms on an heirloom variety that's been cherished since 1925.

Ice Plant
Ice Plant3-6"
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z5-10

Neon-bright daisy flowers that shimmer in the sun over succulent foliage. Thrives in hot, dry rock gardens.

Immortality Iris
Immortality Iris24-30"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-9

Reliable rebloomer with pure white ruffled falls. Blooms spring, then again in fall.

Impatiens
Impatiens8-24"
Annual · May-Oct · Z3-10

The shade annual champion. Flowers prolifically where nothing else will.

Indian Paintbrush
Indian Paintbrush6-24"
Annual · Apr-Jun · Z4-9

Bright red to orange bracts surround small flowers and glow across spring prairies.

Iris
Iris2-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-10

Elegant sword-leaved perennials with intricate, ruffled blooms.

Japanese Iris
Japanese Iris2-3'
Perennial · Jun-Jul · Z4-9

Huge, flat, ruffled blooms up to 10 inches across. Needs consistent moisture, especially during bloom.

Jasmine
Jasmine6-15'
Vine · Mar-Aug · Z7-10

A vigorous twining vine with intensely sweet-scented white or yellow star-shaped flowers, the scent of warm southern evenings.

Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass2-5'
Grass · Jun-Aug · Z4-9

Strong vertical plumes emerge in early summer and persist as tawny stems through winter.

Knock Out Rose
Knock Out Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-10

The rose that changed everything. Disease-resistant, self-cleaning, and blooms nonstop from spring to frost.

Lantana
Lantana1-4'
Perennial · May-Nov · Z7-10

Multi-colored flower clusters that bloom relentlessly in brutal heat.

Lavender
Lavender2-3'
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z5-10

Fragrant silver-green mounds beloved by bees and humans alike.

Mandevilla
Mandevilla3-10'
Vine · May-Oct · Z9-11

Glossy vines are covered in showy trumpet flowers from early summer to frost in warm climates.

Marigold
Marigold1-3'
Annual · Jun-Oct · Z3-10

Bulletproof color all season long. The workhorse of warm-toned borders.

Mary Todd Daylily
Mary Todd Daylily24-30"
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z3-9

Ruffled golden-yellow flowers with a lavender eye, large, showy, and sweetly fragrant in the summer border.

Matilija Poppy
Matilija Poppy4-8'
Perennial · May-Jul · Z7-10

Enormous fried-egg flowers on blue-gray stems. California's largest native wildflower. Spreads aggressively.

May Night Salvia
May Night Salvia18-24"
Perennial · May-Aug · Z3-9

Perennial Plant of the Year. Dense indigo-violet spikes that rebloom if deadheaded.

Mexican Feather Grass
Mexican Feather Grass18-24"
Grass · May-Jul · Z6-10

Gossamer fine blades ripple in the slightest breeze like living silk. Plant where you can watch it move.

Mexican Hat
Mexican Hat1-3'
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z4-9

Distinctive sombrero-like flowers sway on wiry stems in summer prairies.

Meyer Lemon
Meyer Lemon4-8'
Shrub · Jan-Dec · Z9-11

Sweetly scented white blossoms appear intermittently year-round and set thin-skinned lemons.

Morning Glory
Morning Glory8-12'
Annual · Jun-Oct · Z3-10

Fast-climbing vine with trumpets that open fresh every morning.

Munstead Lavender
Munstead Lavender12-18"
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z5-9

Earlier blooming and slightly softer purple than Hidcote. Gertrude Jekyll's favorite for a reason.

Native Spiderwort
Native Spiderwort2-3'
Perennial · May-Jul · Z4-9

Three-petaled flowers in blue-purple open fresh each morning on a tough native that blooms for weeks and seeds freely.

New Dawn Climbing Rose
New Dawn Climbing Rose10-15'
Vine · Jun-Sep · Z5-9

The world's most popular climbing rose. Soft blush pink, sweetly fragrant, and remarkably vigorous.

Nikko Blue Hydrangea
Nikko Blue Hydrangea4-6'
Shrub · Jun-Aug · Z5-9

The classic blue mophead. Rich, true blue in acidic soil. A cottage garden essential.

Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf Hydrangea4-8'
Shrub · Jun-Jul · Z5-9

A four-season native flowering shrub with oak-shaped leaves that turn burgundy in fall, exfoliating cinnamon bark in winter, and foot-long white cone blooms in summer that age to dusty pink.

Oceanspray
Oceanspray6-15'
Shrub · Jun-Jul · Z5-9

Cascading creamy white plumes on arching branches. Western Washington's summer answer to a native bridal veil.

Oregano
Oregano12-24"
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z4-9

Tiny flowers are a pollinator magnet when allowed to bloom. Let a patch go to flower for the bees.

Pacific Bleeding Heart
Pacific Bleeding Heart12-18"
Perennial · Apr-Aug · Z3-9

Western native that blooms much longer than its eastern cousin. Ferny foliage all season.

Pardon Me Daylily
Pardon Me Daylily18-24"
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z3-10

Compact cranberry-red with a yellow-green throat and one of the best reblooming habits in the entire family.

Pelargonium
Pelargonium12-18"
Annual · May-Oct · Z9-11

The classic window-box geranium. Ball-shaped flower clusters above scalloped leaves. Tough container staple.

Petunia
Petunia6-18"
Annual · May-Oct · Z3-10

Cascading color for containers and beds. Blooms nonstop until frost.

Phenomenal Lavender
Phenomenal Lavender2-3'
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z5-9

Survives humidity and cold that kills other lavenders. Silver foliage stays tight and full.

Pickerelweed
Pickerelweed2-3'
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z3-10

Spikes of violet-blue flowers above glossy arrow-shaped leaves. Native pond and stream bank staple.

Pink Dipladenia
Pink Dipladenia2-3'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z9-11

Bushy form with glossy foliage and abundant pink trumpets suited to pots and borders.

Plumeria
Plumeria10-25'
Tree · May-Oct · Z9-10

Intoxicatingly fragrant tropical blooms. The flower of Hawaiian leis.

Pomegranate
Pomegranate6-15'
Shrub · May-Jul · Z8-11

Brilliant orange-red blossoms in late spring and summer are followed by decorative, edible fruits.

Powwow Wild Berry Coneflower
Powwow Wild Berry Coneflower18-24"
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z3-9

Deep rose-purple petals and a bronzy cone on a compact reblooming plant that won't sprawl.

Purple de Oro Daylily
Purple de Oro Daylily12-18"
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z3-9

Deep purple-red blooms on a compact Stella-sized plant. Brings rich color to the front of the border.

Red Hot Poker
Red Hot Poker2-4'
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z5-9

Torch-like spikes in fire-orange and yellow that hummingbirds zoom straight to. Bold and unforgettable.

Red Hot Returns Daylily
Red Hot Returns Daylily14-18"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-9

Brilliant red with a small yellow center, compact and one of the earliest daylilies to kick into rebloom.

Rose
Rose2-8'
Perennial · May-Oct · Z3-10

The queen of the garden. Modern varieties are surprisingly low-maintenance.

Rosy Returns Daylily
Rosy Returns Daylily18-24"
Perennial · May-Oct · Z3-9

Soft rose-pink blooms with a cream throat that keep coming from late spring to frost, absolutely tireless.

Salal
Salal2-5'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z6-9

Leathery evergreen groundcover of Pacific Northwest forests. Urn-shaped flowers lead to edible berries.

Salvia
Salvia1-3'
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-10

Vertical flower spikes that hummingbirds and bees cannot resist.

Scarlet Sage
Scarlet Sage12-24"
Annual · Jun-Oct · Z2-11

Electric red spikes that hummingbirds zero in on. Common bedding plant that earns its spot every year.

Shasta Daisy
Shasta Daisy2-3'
Perennial · Jun-Aug · Z3-10

Classic white-and-gold daisies that look fresh from a meadow painting.

Siloam Doodlebug Daylily
Siloam Doodlebug Daylily12-16"
Perennial · Jun-Jul · Z3-9

Tiny pastel pink blooms on a miniature plant, perfect for container gardens and tight spaces.

Snapdragon
Snapdragon1-3'
Annual · Apr-Sep · Z3-10

Vertical flower spikes with squeeze-open blooms. Kids love them.

Southern Magnolia
Southern Magnolia20-50'
Tree · May-Jul · Z7-9

Huge glossy-leaved tree bearing enormous lemon-scented white flowers. The quintessential symbol of the Deep South's summer.

Spirea
Spirea3-5'
Shrub · May-Jul · Z3-10

Flat-topped flower clusters on tidy mounds. The easiest flowering shrub.

Stella de Oro Daylily
Stella de Oro Daylily12-18"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-10

The most planted perennial in America. Compact, reblooming, and basically indestructible.

Stokes Aster
Stokes Aster12-18"
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z5-9

Fringed, shaggy-petaled flowers in shades of cornflower blue that bloom for weeks on a tough Southern native.

Swamp Rose
Swamp Rose4-6'
Shrub · Jun-Jul · Z3-9

Clear pink single blooms on a native rose that thrives in wet spots, ditch edges, and rain gardens where other roses would drown.

Sweet Alyssum
Sweet Alyssum3-6"
Annual · Apr-Oct · Z3-10

Honey-scented carpet of tiny flowers. The best living edging plant.

Sweet Pea
Sweet Pea4-6'
Annual · Apr-Jun · Z2-11

Ruffled, intensely fragrant climbing flowers in every pastel shade. Cool-season annual that hates heat.

Tall Verbena
Tall Verbena3-4'
Annual · Jun-Oct · Z7-11

Wiry stems topped with purple clusters that butterflies can't resist. See-through plant for layering.

The President Clematis
The President Clematis8-10'
Vine · May-Sep · Z4-9

Big, rich violet-blue flowers with silvery reverse petals rebloom through the season on a vigorous, reliable plant.

Thread-Leaf Coreopsis
Thread-Leaf Coreopsis18-24"
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z3-9

Thread-fine foliage and masses of tiny yellow stars bloom for months with zero effort. A perennial you can actually neglect.

Tickseed
Tickseed12-24"
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z3-10

Cheerful native daisy that blooms for months with almost no care.

Trumpet Vine
Trumpet Vine20-40'
Vine · Jun-Sep · Z4-10

Aggressive native vine with fiery trumpets. Hummingbird highway.

Tufted Hair Grass
Tufted Hair Grass2-3'
Grass · Jun-Aug · Z4-9

Airy gold-green flower clouds hover above dark evergreen tufts. One of the few grasses that thrives in moist shade.

Turk's Cap
Turk's Cap3-6'
Perennial · Jun-Nov · Z7-10

Nodding red hibiscus flowers that never fully open are pure hummingbird candy across the Gulf South.

Twinspike Coral Bells
Twinspike Coral Bells12-18"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z4-9

Warm amber-caramel foliage that glows in the shade garden all season. The flowers are just a bonus.

Viburnum
Viburnum6-12'
Shrub · Apr-Jun · Z3-10

Fragrant snowball clusters in spring, then berries for birds in fall.

Vinca
Vinca4-6"
Ground Cover · Apr-Jun · Z3-10

Evergreen mat with periwinkle-blue flowers. Tough shade ground cover.

Virginia Sweetspire
Virginia Sweetspire3-5'
Shrub · Jun-Jul · Z5-9

Fragrant white bottlebrush flowers followed by brilliant orange-red fall color on a shade-tolerant, deer-resistant native.

Walker's Low Catmint
Walker's Low Catmint24-30"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-9

Perennial Plant of the Year. Billowy lavender-blue spikes that rebloom hard after a shear.

Water Lily
Water Lily1-6"
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z4-10

Floating jewels that transform any pond. Pads provide shade for fish while flowers dazzle above.

Wax Begonia
Wax Begonia8-12"
Annual · May-Oct · Z8-11

Glossy leaves and nonstop flowers in sun or shade. One of the most reliable bedding plants anywhere.

Western Red Columbine
Western Red Columbine18-30"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z4-9

Scarlet and yellow spurred flowers that hummingbirds follow through the Pacific Northwest's mountain meadows.

White Swan Coneflower
White Swan Coneflower2-3'
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z3-9

Pure white drooping petals around a bronze-orange cone. Elegant and underused.

White Wild Indigo
White Wild Indigo3-4'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z4-9

Luminous white lupin-like spikes on a structural native that's practically indestructible and improves with every year.

Wild Columbine
Wild Columbine2-3'
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z3-9

Nodding red-and-yellow spurred flowers that hummingbirds love on a self-sowing native that naturalizes along woodland edges.

Wonderful Pomegranate
Wonderful Pomegranate6-15'
Shrub · May-Jul · Z8-11

Reliable cultivar bearing large red fruits and vivid orange flowers.

Yarrow
Yarrow2-3'
Perennial · Jun-Sep · Z3-10

Flat-topped clusters on ferny foliage. Thrives on neglect in poor soil.

Yucca
Yucca4-8'
Perennial · Jun-Jul · Z4-10

Sword-like evergreen foliage sends up dramatic stalks of white bells. Tough, architectural, underrated.

Zinnia
Zinnia1-3'
Annual · Jun-Oct · Z3-10

Easy-grow annual with electric colors. Cut-and-come-again champion.

Agastache
Agastache18-24"
Perennial · Jul-Sep · Z5-9

Licorice-scented foliage and tubular orange-pink flowers that hummingbirds and butterflies find irresistible. Thrives on neglect.

American Gold Rush Black-Eyed Susan
American Gold Rush Black-Eyed Susan18-24"
Perennial · Jul-Oct · Z3-9

Narrow, fuzzy foliage resists the leaf spot that plagues Goldsturm. A worthy upgrade.

Anise Hyssop
Anise Hyssop2-3'
Perennial · Jul-Sep · Z4-9

Lavender-blue spikes with licorice-scented foliage. A pollinator powerhouse that blooms for months.

Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susan2-3'
Perennial · Jul-Oct · Z3-10

Golden prairie workhorse that lights up late summer meadows.

Blue Grama Grass
Blue Grama Grass8-18"
Grass · Jul-Sep · Z3-10

Short clumping grass with distinctive eyebrow-shaped seed heads thrives in dry soils.

Buttonbush
Buttonbush6-10'
Shrub · Jul-Aug · Z5-9

Weird and wonderful pincushion flowers like tiny white globes on a tough native that thrives in wet conditions.

Cardinal Flower
Cardinal Flower2-4'
Perennial · Jul-Sep · Z3-10

Screaming scarlet spikes. The most vivid red in the native plant world.

Chaste Tree
Chaste Tree5-10'
Shrub · Jul-Sep · Z6-9

Long lavender-blue spikes cover this heat-loving shrub all summer. One of the few shrubs that actually blooms in August.

Crocosmia
Crocosmia2-3'
Bulb · Jul-Aug · Z5-9

Arching sprays of fiery red-orange that hummingbirds go crazy for. Sword-like foliage adds structure.

Dahlia
Dahlia1-5'
Bulb · Jul-Oct · Z3-10

Endless forms from dinner-plate to pompom. The obsession of flower farmers.

Dragon's Blood Sedum
Dragon's Blood Sedum3-6"
Perennial · Jul-Aug · Z3-9

Creeping mat of burgundy-tinged foliage with starry red flowers. Turns deep red in fall.

Emily McKenzie Crocosmia
Emily McKenzie Crocosmia24-30"
Bulb · Jul-Sep · Z5-9

Bold orange blooms with red throats appear on graceful arching stems in late summer.

Giant Coneflower
Giant Coneflower4-7'
Perennial · Jul-Sep · Z5-9

Towering stems with dramatically elongated cones rise above huge blue-green paddle leaves. An architectural native that commands attention.

Globe Thistle
Globe Thistle2-4'
Perennial · Jul-Aug · Z3-9

Perfectly spherical steel-blue globes on white stems that dry to perfection. Bees are absolutely obsessed.

Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan
Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan24-30"
Perennial · Jul-Oct · Z3-9

The gold standard rudbeckia. Uniform, floriferous, and utterly reliable in any soil.

Gooseneck Loosestrife
Gooseneck Loosestrife2-3'
Perennial · Jul-Aug · Z3-9

Gracefully arching white flower spikes that curve at the tips like a goose neck. Spreads vigorously in moist soil.

Hardy Hibiscus
Hardy Hibiscus3-6'
Perennial · Jul-Sep · Z4-9

Dinner-plate blooms up to 12 inches across on a native perennial that dies to the ground and returns bigger each year.

Hot Papaya Coneflower
Hot Papaya Coneflower24-30"
Perennial · Jul-Sep · Z4-9

Fiery double blooms like tiny orange dahlias on a coneflower. A showstopper that earns every bit of the hype.

Liatris
Liatris2-4'
Perennial · Jul-Sep · Z3-10

Blazing star. Spikes that bloom unusually from top to bottom.

Luna Red Hibiscus
Luna Red Hibiscus2-3'
Perennial · Jul-Sep · Z4-9

Compact variety with enormous crimson blooms that stays tidy enough for a large container.

Night Embers Daylily
Night Embers Daylily24-30"
Perennial · Jul-Aug · Z3-9

Deep burgundy-red with a black eye and yellow throat, smoldering in the summer border.

Northern Sea Oats
Northern Sea Oats2-3'
Grass · Jul-Sep · Z4-9

Flat seed heads dangle from arching stems and dance in the slightest wind. The best native grass for shade.

Obedient Plant
Obedient Plant2-4'
Perennial · Jul-Sep · Z3-9

Spikes of snapdragon-like flowers that can be pushed and stay where moved, earning a very literal common name.

Oriental Lily
Oriental Lily3-5'
Bulb · Jul-Aug · Z3-9

Huge, intensely fragrant blooms in deep pink and white that perfume the entire garden. The lily that defines summer.

Plumleaf Azalea
Plumleaf Azalea10-15'
Shrub · Jul-Aug · Z5-9

The only azalea that blooms in midsummer, with fiery orange-red flowers that light up the late-season shade garden.

Polish Spirit Clematis
Polish Spirit Clematis10-15'
Vine · Jul-Sep · Z4-9

Deep violet-purple flowers cover a vigorous plant from midsummer to fall. Prune hard each spring and stand back.

Purple Fountain Grass
Purple Fountain Grass3-4'
Grass · Jul-Oct · Z9-11

Burgundy foliage topped with fuzzy rose-colored plumes. Stunning in containers where it's treated as an annual in cold climates.

Rose Mallow
Rose Mallow5-8'
Perennial · Jul-Sep · Z5-9

Enormous pale pink blooms up to 12 inches across on a wetland-loving native. Grow near a pond and you'll never look back.

Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon8-12'
Shrub · Jul-Oct · Z5-10

A cold-hardy hibiscus shrub (Hibiscus syriacus) with big tropical-looking blooms in lavender, pink, blue, white, or wine, opening late summer when most flowering shrubs are done.

Russian Sage
Russian Sage3-4'
Perennial · Jul-Oct · Z4-9

Airy lavender clouds on silver stems. Thrives in heat and poor soil.

Sacred Lotus
Sacred Lotus3-5'
Perennial · Jul-Aug · Z4-10

Massive blooms rise above umbrella leaves in shallow water. Seedpods are as ornamental as the flowers.

Sideoats Grama
Sideoats Grama18-30"
Grass · Jul-Sep · Z4-9

Seed heads hang like tiny flags along one side of the stem on this graceful, drought-tolerant prairie native.

Summersweet Clethra
Summersweet Clethra4-8'
Shrub · Jul-Aug · Z3-9

Spikes of intensely sweet-scented white flowers in midsummer, one of the best fragrant natives for shady spots.

Sunflower
Sunflower3-8'
Annual · Jul-Sep · Z3-10

Pure joy on a stalk. Birds love the seeds, kids love the spectacle.

Tuberose
Tuberose2-3'
Bulb · Jul-Sep · Z7-10

Tall summer spikes of waxy white blooms release powerful evening fragrance.

Vintage Wine Coneflower
Vintage Wine Coneflower2-3'
Perennial · Jul-Sep · Z3-9

Wine-purple petals that age to rose on a robust, well-branched plant. One of the most floriferous echinacea you can grow.

Wild Bergamot
Wild Bergamot2-4'
Perennial · Jul-Aug · Z3-9

The wild cousin of bee balm. Lavender puffs alive with pollinators. Tougher and more mildew-resistant.

Autumn Joy Sedum
Autumn Joy Sedum18-24"
Perennial · Aug-Oct · Z3-9

Broccoli-like heads open pink and age to copper-bronze. Four-season interest, zero maintenance.

Big Bluestem
Big Bluestem4-6'
Grass · Aug-Oct · Z3-9

The signature grass of the tallgrass prairie, turning copper-bronze in fall with distinctive turkey-foot seed heads.

California Fuchsia
California Fuchsia12-24"
Perennial · Aug-Oct · Z8-10

Low mounds of gray foliage are covered in tubular red-orange flowers in late summer.

Fountain Grass
Fountain Grass2-4'
Grass · Aug-Nov · Z5-10

Arching, bottlebrush plumes that catch the light. Movement in the garden.

Goldenrod
Goldenrod2-5'
Perennial · Aug-Oct · Z3-10

Wrongly blamed for allergies. A vital late-season pollinator magnet.

Great Blue Lobelia
Great Blue Lobelia2-3'
Perennial · Aug-Sep · Z4-9

Intense blue flower spikes that hummingbirds and bumblebees fight over in late summer. The bolder, taller cousin of cardinal flower.

Indian Grass
Indian Grass3-6'
Grass · Aug-Oct · Z4-9

Golden-orange fall color and shimmering flower spikes make this tall prairie native one of autumn's best performers.

Japanese Forest Grass
Japanese Forest Grass12-18"
Grass · Aug-Sep · Z5-9

Arching variegated leaves form graceful cascades and brighten shady spots.

Little Bluestem
Little Bluestem2-4'
Grass · Aug-Oct · Z3-9

Upright clumps turn coppery orange in fall and stand well through winter.

Northwind Switchgrass
Northwind Switchgrass4-5'
Grass · Aug-Oct · Z4-9

Stiffly upright blue-green foliage that never flops. The most architectural switchgrass available.

Prairie Dropseed
Prairie Dropseed18-30"
Grass · Aug-Sep · Z3-9

Fine-textured mounds send up airy fragrant flower sprays that persist into winter.

Prairie Sky Switchgrass
Prairie Sky Switchgrass3-4'
Grass · Aug-Oct · Z4-9

The bluest foliage of any switchgrass, with airy pink seed clouds drifting above in late summer.

Sedum
Sedum6-24"
Perennial · Aug-Nov · Z3-10

Succulent leaves, tough as nails. Ages to deep crimson in autumn.

Shenandoah Switchgrass
Shenandoah Switchgrass3-4'
Grass · Aug-Oct · Z4-9

Compact selection that turns vivid burgundy-red in late summer earlier than any other switchgrass.

Sweet Autumn Clematis
Sweet Autumn Clematis10-20'
Vine · Aug-Sep · Z4-9

Explosive late-summer bloom of thousands of tiny fragrant white flowers. Vigorous to a fault.

Switchgrass
Switchgrass3-6'
Grass · Aug-Oct · Z3-10

Upright native grass with airy seed heads. Gold and red fall color.

Build a Zone 9 Garden →
Explore More
Spring in Zone 9Fall in Zone 9Winter in Zone 9Zone 7 SummerZone 8 SummerZone 10 SummerZone 11 Summer