Late night stroll
These beautiful flowers blossom during the mid to late winter, usually around the Lent season when snow is still covering the ground. Known as Lenten roses, these delicate-looking yet incredibly resilient flowers are famous for their toughness. They have evergreen leaves and prefer mostly shady areas, although they can also thrive in morning sunlight.
Peonies are a long-lasting and valuable addition to your perennial garden, as they can thrive for many years. These beautiful flowers typically bloom in the late spring and come in a variety of colors and shapes with intense fragrances. The ants that are often seen on peonies are not harmful pests; they are simply attracted to the nectar. Peonies require full sunlight to flourish.
Peppermint, also known as beebalm, is a tough, sun-loving summer bloomer. This plant can survive drought and is resistant to deer, making it perfect for any garden. The leaves come in deep green or burgundy, and the pink flowers with deep throats attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Lavender
There are various types of lavender, each suitable for different conditions: English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most common, but there’s also lavandin, a hybrid that’s less picky. Spanish lavender has “bunny ear” tufts on its flower spikes, but it’s not as cold-resistant as other varieties. Be sure to check the label to find one that’s suitable for your USDA hardiness zone. Lavender needs full sun and good drainage.
Coral Bells
In recent years, coral bells, also known as heuchera, have become increasingly popular with the introduction of many new cultivated varieties. These plants are mainly grown for their striking, ruffled foliage, which comes in a wide range of colors from lime green to bright plum. Additionally, coral bells produce delicate flower spikes in the summer, attracting hummingbirds. They can thrive in both sun and shade, but prefer afternoon shade in hot climates.
Dahlias are simply stunning, almost too perfect to be real! They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and hues, from tiny round blooms to flowers as big as a dinner plate. These beauties also last a long time when cut and placed in a vase. In colder climates, you may need to dig up and store the tubers after the first frost hits, then replant them in the spring. Dahlias thrive in full sunlight. A true showstopper in any garden!
Charming little flower buds, looking like little balloons, bloom into beautiful star-shaped flowers that last a long time during the middle of summer. These flowers come in a deep blue or light pink color. The good news is that deer typically ignore them. Make sure to give these balloon flowers plenty of sunlight. Known as the Japanese Anemone.
These lovely perennial plants offer a pop of color in the late season that can brighten up your garden all the way into autumn. Often known as wildflowers, these plants boast a delicate and elegant appearance, with a plentiful amount of pink or white flowers popping up on tall stems above their lush foliage.
These plants are often referred to as cranesbill.
Cranesbill, also known as perennial geraniums, are resilient plants that can thrive in poor soil and harsh winter conditions. Their beautiful leaves emit a fragrant aroma that keeps rabbits at bay. Delicate flowers adorn the foliage in early summer, with some varieties blooming throughout the season. Cranesbill plants prefer full sun but can also tolerate partial shade.
Papaver, also known as Oriental poppies, showcase delicate paper-like flowers in the spring and early summer. To enjoy their blooms next year, plant the roots in the autumn. There are also annual varieties that often self-seed. Butterflies are attracted to papaver blooms, making them a delightful addition to any garden. Poppies thrive in full sun.
While it may not have the most appealing name, lungwort is a beautiful perennial that thrives in shady gardens. With its silvery spots and charming purple-pink flowers in the early spring, this plant, also known as pulmonaria, got its name from its historical use in treating respiratory disorders.
Salvia is a tough perennial plant with clusters of purple, pink, or white flowers on top of bushy foliage. These flowers bloom in the summer, attracting pollinators, and are low-maintenance and reliable, making them essential for any sunny garden.
Bearded irises are stunning flowers with vibrant colors ranging from magenta to coral to hot pink. They vary in height from 12 to 36 inches, so check the tag when buying them to know where to plant them in your garden so they don’t overshadow shorter plants. Bearded irises need full sun to thrive and produce beautiful blooms.
Bearded iris flowers are known for their unique appearance, with an elongated tuft of hair that looks like tiny beards. There are over 70,000 registered varieties of these beautiful flowers, which can be planted throughout most of the United States, except for some regions in the hottest parts of the south. Irises thrive in full sun. Ranunculus flowers are also popular for their vibrant colors and delicate petals.
Gaillardias display beautiful, delicate flowers in a wide range of colors. These blooms make stunning additions to floral arrangements. The bulbs need to be planted in either spring or fall, depending on your location, and should be dug up and replanted in the spring if you live in a colder climate. Full sunlight is essential for their growth and development.
Coreopsis is a low-maintenance perennial that showcases its vibrant blooms from summer all the way to fall. These resilient plants can thrive in hot and humid conditions, as well as withstand periods of drought. Additionally, they are great for attracting pollinators and look stunning as cut flowers. Coreopsis is known for its hardiness, growing in zones 3 to 9 and reaching heights of around 36 inches.
Catmint
Easy-care catmint boasts spikes of vibrant purple flowers during the spring and summer seasons; in the fall and winter, its appealing gray-green foliage adds color to garden beds. This plant not only attracts pollinators but also cats, who are drawn to a chemical it contains (in small amounts, it is non-toxic). We recommend planting catmint in full to partial shade along a garden pathway.
Golden
Butterflies love the easy-to-grow perennial plant, Yarrow. Plant it after the last frost of spring for vibrant yellow, pink, white, or red flowers that will bloom all summer long. Yarrow is great for cut flower arrangements and is both drought and pest-resistant. It thrives in zones 3 to 9, in full sun and well-drained soil.
Consider low-growing phlox as the lush covering for perennial beds. Their star-shaped blooms are attractive to pollinators, but not to deer or other animals. Phlox thrives in zones 3 to 9 and in full sun to partial shade, depending on the specific variety. These spring-flowering plants do best when planted after the final frost.
Bee balm is another excellent choice for attracting pollinators to your garden. Its vibrant blooms are especially appealing to bees and butterflies, while deer tend to steer clear. Bee balm flourishes in zones 4 to 9 and prefers full sun. Planting bee balm in well-drained soil will result in healthy and robust growth.
Attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees to your garden is easy with fragrant bee balm. These pollinators can’t resist the sweet nectar of this summer-flowering plant. Bee balm is resilient in zones 4 through 9, reaching a height of two to four feet and thriving in full sun. Regular deadheading of the pink, purple, red, and white blooms will ensure they stay vibrant well into late summer.