| I am looking for ideals to add summer color for July, Aug, and Sept. to my lawn and flower gardens. I would prefer perennials in sunny locations. Could you give me some suggestions, please? Thank you, Barb |
| The list of summer blooming perennials is long, but the ones I grow in my Seattle area garden include; ASTERS ? Daisy like flowers come in lavenders, purples, pinks and white. Their average height is 2-3 feet. ?Wonder of Staffa? and ?Monch?, both in the lavender/blue tones bloom for months. CAMPANULA ? One of my very favorites is ?Blue Waterfall?. This variety blooms from June until fall, but is a low growing and spreading plant best used as a groundcover or as a rockery plant spilled over the edges of the rocks. The royal purple ?Sarastro? blooms from June until October. COREOPSIS ? These bloomin? machines are usually in the yellow and orange shades. ?Moonbeam?, ?Zamfir? and ?Goldfink? are some of the best choices. Their average height is 2-3 feet. DAHLIAS ? Another obvious choice. DAYLILIES ? Often evergreen, I suggest using the all summer blooming varieties like the bright yellow ?Happy Returns?, ?Stella d? Oro? and ?Apricot Sparkles?. All of the above reach 1-2 feet. DELPHINIUMS ? The 6 foot Pacific series should be planted at the back of a bed. Available in shorter varieties these majestic beauties come in brilliant blues, lavenders, pinks and whites. They often need to be staked and love the sun. ECHINACEAS ? This wonderful daisy like plant is usually 2-3 feet tall and available in pink, white, orange and yellow. Some have a fruity fragrance. Some great ones are; ?Sunset?, ?Sunrise?, ?Kim?s Knee High? and ?Razzmatazz?. HARDY GERANIUMS ? This plant is not like the annual geraniums you see everywhere during the summer months. This plant is best used in the front of the border as the best varieties are usually 1-3 feet tall and covered in small blooms in the blues, pinks, purple and white shades. Some favorites include; ?Rozanne? and ?Ballerina?. LILIES ? Like dahlias lilies are planted as bulbs. Lilies can be planted in the spring or fall or as plants growing already which you often see in the nurseries during the summer months. Many lilies are intensely fragrant and easy to grow. Their height ranges from 2-10 feet. Varieties like the white ?Casa Blanca? are 4 feet tall and stunning. NEPETA ? ?Walker?s Low? is one of the best Nepetas to grow. The aromatic foliage smells of clove and citronella and carries lavender blooms for months. Some believe it keeps bugs away. PEONIES ? Granted they only bloom for a month or so, but their spectacular blooms are worth it. Peonies usually come in white, red or pink or a mix of the above colors. Their foliage looks great from April until the first hard frost. The peony reaches 3-4 feet. Peony trees can reach 10 feet. PHLOX ? Because Phlox are prone to mildew make sure you choose the disease resistant varieties. ?David? is a fragrant white very disease resistant 4 foot tall variety that everyone should grow. ?Blue Paradise? and ?Eva Cullum? are other tough varieties to grow with roses. SALVIAS ? Most often found in the colors of blue and purple, salvias are gorgeous, dependable additions to your perennial beds. Some of the best are ?May Night?, ?East Friesland? and ?Marcus?. Average height is 2-3 feet tall. VERONICAS ? Another category of predominately blue flowered, long blooming plants, Veronicas are usually 2-3 feet tall. Some of my favorites include; ?Royal Candles? and ?Sunny Border Blue?. Hope this short list gives you some ideas for your own garden. Enjoy! |
