To me, the perfect summer garden is an abundant tapestry of color, movement, and texture – a place where perennials and annuals bloom in riotous succession, creating a landscape that evolves week by week. The best beds and borders never stand still – when one flower falls, another rises to take its place, for a glorious display that is full of life. But creating this kind of garden takes more than good intentions – it needs star-performing plants, and choosing those is no easy task. Visit the local garden center or online nursery, and you will be overwhelmed with options, and while it's tempting to buy on impulse, the wrong choice can leave you with lackluster results.
Over the years, I've learned which perennial plants and annual flowers truly earned their place in my summer garden (though I'm still discovering new varieties) and keep giving as the season rolls on. Of course, every gardener has their go-to favorites, and I was curious to see which varieties seasoned pros reach for time and again. So, I turned to the expert contributors at Gardening Know How and asked them to share the summer-blooming plants they wouldn't be without.
From bold, pollinator-magnet flowers to cutting-garden staples, these expert-approved plants are tried, tested, and loved for a reason. Whether you're planting a new bed, swapping out containers, or simply looking for something new to grow this summer, these recommendations have something to offer every gardener.
1. Red Sunflower
"I have always loved sunflowers. They’re big and bold, tall, and cheerful. They turn to the sun and tower over other plants in the garden. If I could be any flower, it would definitely be a sunflower," says gardening writer Mary Ellen Ellis.
"A sunflower cheers people. You can’t help but smile when seeing a field of sunflowers, all facing the sun, or even a single cut bloom in a vase. They are a food source, and have long been. They feed valuable pollinators and can even be used as strong stakes for vining vegetables, like beans or peas.
"While I love the classic giant yellow sunflower, I am fascinated by the wide variety of colors available, including orange, red, purple, and even white." Our top pick is the stunning red-to-orange Velvet Queen sunflower, available in the Gardening Know How Shop. It grows 4 to 5 feet tall, adding vibrancy and drama to the back of any border.
2. Celosia
"Celosia plants are among the best tender annual flowers grown in cutting gardens," says cut-flower grower Tonya Barnett. "Though stunning when used in bouquets, these ornamentals are also quite attractive to pollinators. Vibrant, showy blooms can range greatly in size, shape, and texture depending upon the variety."
While most notable for its feathery plumes, like this classic seed mix from Amazon, celosia actually comes in a variety of flower forms – Burpee has a good mix of different varieties.
"Celosia is easy to grow from seed, but dwarf bedding types can also be found in spring at garden centers," adds Tonya.
3. Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are some of the most beautiful plants and are real landscape heroes. "I used to have a mammoth specimen at my old house; a powder blue lacecap that came with the place. Lacecaps aren’t really my favorite of the hydrangeas, though," says gardening writer Amy Grant. "I prefer the mophead varieties – of which I have two pink and one chartreuse – and most of all I love the panicle hydrangeas, which, unlike the mophead, thrive in our hot sun. I have a few panicle hydrangeas and I love how their foliage turns a deep magenta in the fall, giving them almost year-round appeal."
There are so many gorgeous panicle hydrangeas – from the almost ethereal lime-to-pink Limelight hydrangea, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, to the pinky red Little Quick Fire hydrangea, also in the Shop, which is perfectly sized for containers.
4. Dinner Plate Dahlia
One of my own favorite flowers is the giant decorative dahlia, affectionately known as the dinner plate dahlia due to – you guessed it – its magnificent bloom size. There are so many gorgeous varieties of these oversized, flouncy beauties, but my most loved is 'Café au Lait'. It's usually the last dahlia to bloom in my garden and persists well into autumn. Its double, peachy-creamy flowers are a delight and seem to go with everything.
You can find Cafe au Lait dahlias in this lovely Dancing Dahlias collection at Walmart. But don't let me limit your choices, as there are countless other dahlias worth your time.
5. Nasturtium
"I’ve had nasturtiums in the garden for as long as I can remember. They are one of the first seeds that I plant in containers and are easy to grow," says gardening writer Bonnie Grant. "After sowing, all they need is enough water to keep the soil damp, and away they go.
"The leaves are charming with gently scalloped edges. Some of the varieties I have are also variegated. Before long, the flowers start to appear. I have the traditional orange variety but also salmon, rose pink, cream, and yellow. I have yet to get my hands on seeds for Blue Pepe, which is a bluish-toned flower, but I will at some point. Burpee sells a wide range of stunning nasturtium varieties.
"Nasturtium blooms radiate good cheer. I have some bushy forms and some trailing plants. They all brighten up a container display, and I also put some out in the vegetable garden as companion plants, repelling certain veggie pests while they enhance the colors of the garden."
6. Fragrant English Roses
"It might be cliche, but for me, the classic rose will always be the most beautiful of plants. This is, of course, because of its flowers – the plant itself isn't all that special. But when a rose bush blooms, both the sight and the smell are glorious. Some dismiss this as an old lady or overly perfumey smell, but not me. I think it's the best aroma in the world," says Mary Ellen Ellis.
"A rose garden is one of my favorite places to spend time. I can waste hours wandering the rows of different varieties of roses that come in so many different colors and forms. The best rose garden I have ever visited was in Portland, Oregon, which is appropriately known as 'Rose City.'
"Some of the most fragrant roses are English roses, and perhaps the most beloved of this for its scent is 'Gertrude Jekyll', which is considered the quintessential old rose fragrance." Browse a variety of high-performing roses at the Gardening Know How Shop.
7. Peonies
"Growing up, peonies were a cherished part of my great-grandparents' garden. Moving recently, I was thrilled to discover three herbaceous Eurasian peonies on my new property – two pale pink and one hot pink. By late April, their burgundy leaves emerge, and by late May, they're so tall they often nod over their 3-foot supports," says Amy Grant.
"These classic blooms, cultivated for over 2,000 years, fill with large, fragrant double blossoms by early June. They're perfect for cutting, and I enjoy filling my home with them. While their natural bloom time is short (7-10 days), a florist's secret allows for extended enjoyment: refrigerating unopened buds. Choose buds that give slightly when pressed, snip them, and store them in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge for up to two months. When ready, remove foliage, make a new cut, and place them in lukewarm water with flower food. For faster opening, add bananas to the bag at room temperature. My love for peonies is undeniable, especially knowing their beauty can be prolonged!"
There are too many peony varieties to narrow down a favorite, but this Garden State multicolor pink and white mixed collection from Lowe's is heavenly.
8. Bee Balm
"I simply adore bee balm, also known as monarda," says Tonya Barnett. "It's most commonly available at garden centers in shades of red to blue, but the lavender varieties add a really pretty touch to the garden."
"This stunning perennial can also be easily grown from seed, though it may not bloom the first season. Its unique clusters of tubular flowers are highly attractive to honeybees, bumblebees, and hummingbirds. Plants quickly multiply and grow into large masses, which can then be divided."
Burpee sells a gorgeous range of bee balm varieties in multiple hues.
9. Gerbera Daisy
"I love, love, love gerbera daisies and really, who wouldn’t?," says Amy Grant. "The perky daisy-like blooms come in an array of colors sure to cheer up the drabbest garden plot. While they can be grown in the soil, care must be taken to avoid crown rot – the result of planting too deeply. We usually plant them in pots outside where they thrive, and have even overwintered them indoors with varying results.
"I’m not a pink-loving kind of gal. So, when it comes to picking out flowers for the garden or plants for my home, I never gravitate towards pink. I want bright red, orange, yellow, blue, or purple, but never pink. But I make an exception for gerbera daisies. To me, gerberas look like perfect cartoon blooms with cheerful colors not found in nature. I love the absurdity of them.
"There are a few variations of pink available in gerbera daisies, from the lightest dusting of pink to bold as brass hot pink, but they also come in gorgeous shades of orange, red, yellow, and white." Try a mix of hues with this gerbera daisy seed collection from Amazon.
10. Zinnia Elegans
"Zinnias are often considered among the best annual flowers for attracting pollinators to the garden – and they are also stars of the cutting garden," says Tonya. "As a cut-and-come-again species, gardeners who add zinnias to their growing space will continue to reap their rewards throughout the entirety of the summer season. Their ease of growth also makes them an ideal choice for first-time growers. Though zinnias can range in color and size, large plantings are especially attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
"The most desirable zinnias for cutting are those which are described as 'dahlia-flowered'. This term places great emphasis on overall shape and petal count. These varieties are also known as Zinnia elegans." The Park Seed Zinnias for Cutting Collection in the Gardening Know How Shop includes five captivating dahlia-style zinnias that will give you joy for months.
11. Alstroemeria
Also known as the Peruvian lily, alstroemeria is one of my all-time favourite summer flowers. I have two varieties in my garden – the fiery Indian Summer, available at Burpee, and the delicate Peaches and Cream. Guests always comment on them, and they multiply every year in a non-invasive way. The flowers have an exotic look and last for months in the garden – mine go from late spring into fall. They are also some of the most enduring cut flowers, lasting two weeks in the vase.
When harvesting or deadheading alstromerias, it's important to pull them rather than to cut them. This will send a signal for the plant to produce new flowers.
12. Hollyhock
"My adoration for hollyhocks dates back to when I was a kid," says Amy Grant. "My grandmother had hollyhocks in great profusion growing along one side of the property, and of course, their height thrilled me. To a kid, they would seem giant, and even now that I’m an adult, I’m a bit agog as mine get to a height of about 8 feet! The only real downside to hollyhocks is that you must wait until mid-summer to witness their towering blooms. On the upside, they then bloom until about early September."
Hollyhocks come in a variety of pretty colors, perfect for adding cottage garden charm. This Country Romance hollyhock plant bundle from Burpee provides the perfect mix for any garden.
