Summer plants for Summer colour
Our recommended plants for summer colour 🌺 🌼 🌸
If you want a garden that stays vibrant and full of life all summer long, perennials are the perfect choice. These long-lasting plants return year after year, providing bold colours, interesting textures, and essential food for pollinators. Here’s a list of our favourites to add lasting summer colour to your British garden. 🌸🌿
1) Echinacea (Coneflower) – Pollinator Magnet 🦋
⭐ Colours: Pink, purple, white, orange
⭐ Why it’s great: Loved by bees and butterflies, drought-resistant, and blooms from June to September.
⭐ Bonus: The seed heads provide winter interest and food for birds.
2) Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) – Bold Golden Blooms 🌻
⭐ Colours: Yellow, orange, rust-red
⭐ Why it’s great: Long-lasting flowers from July to October, hardy, and easy to grow.
⭐ Bonus: Pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses for a prairie-style effect.
3) Salvia – Long-Lasting Spires of Colour 💜
⭐ Colours: Purple, blue, pink, white
⭐ Why it’s great: Blooms all summer and thrives in dry, sunny spots.
⭐ Bonus: Attracts pollinators.
4) Penstemon – Delicate Yet Hardy 🌸
⭐ Colours: Pink, purple, red, white
⭐ Why it’s great: Long flowering period from June to October and resistant to slugs and snails.
⭐ Bonus: Semi-evergreen in mild winters, adding year-round interest.
5) Helenium (Sneezeweed) – Fiery Late-Summer Colour 🔥
⭐ Colours: Red, orange, yellow, copper
⭐ Why it’s great: Produces masses of daisy-like flowers from July to September.
⭐ Bonus: Great for cutting and provides late-season nectar for bees.
6) Geranium (Cranesbill) – Low-Maintenance Ground Cover 🌿
⭐ Colours: Blue, purple, pink, white
⭐ Why it’s great: Flowers from late spring through summer and works well in sun or partial shade.
⭐ Bonus: Once established, it suppresses weeds and requires little upkeep.
7) Agapanthus (African Lily) – Exotic & Architectural 💙
⭐ Colours: Deep blue, purple, white
⭐ Why it’s great: Dramatic flowerheads in July and August, thrives in pots and borders.
⭐ Bonus: Prefers a sunny, sheltered spot, making it ideal for patios.
8) Coreopsis – Cheerful & Continuous Blooms 🌼
⭐ Colours: Yellow, gold, red, pink
⭐ Why it’s great: Flowers from June to September, attracts pollinators, and thrives in poor soil.
⭐ Bonus: Extremely drought-tolerant and easy to grow.
9) Phlox – Cottage Garden Favourite 🌷
⭐ Colours: Pink, purple, white, red
⭐ Why it’s great: Highly fragrant, floriferous, and excellent for cut flowers.
⭐ Bonus: A must-have for cottage gardens and attracts butterflies.
10) Crocosmia – Striking & Easy to Grow 🔥
⭐ Colours: Fiery red, orange, yellow
⭐ Why it’s great: Arching stems covered in flowers from July to September.
⭐ Bonus: Tolerates coastal conditions and pairs beautifully with grasses.
11) Hydrangea – Classic, Lush Blooms 🌸
⭐ Colours: Pink, blue, white, purple
⭐ Why it’s great: Large, showy blooms from June to September, perfect for adding structure and colour to borders.
⭐ Bonus: Soil pH affects flower colour—acidic soil produces blue flowers, while alkaline soil results in pink blooms.
How to Create a Stunning Summer Border:
🌸 Mix heights – Tall plants like Echinacea and Helenium contrast beautifully with lower-growing Geraniums.
🐝 Choose pollinator-friendly plants – Salvia, Rudbeckia, and Phlox attract bees and butterflies.
🌞 Consider sun and soil – Most summer perennials love full sun, but Geraniums and Phlox will tolerate partial shade.
🎨 Blend colours – Combine warm shades (Helenium, Crocosmia) with cool tones (Agapanthus, Salvia) for a balanced look.
Remember...
By choosing a mix of these summer-blooming perennials, your garden will be filled with vibrant colour, texture, and life all season long. Best of all, they return year after year with minimal maintenance, making them perfect for low-effort, high-impact gardening.
What plants did we miss off the list? Let us know your favourites in the commments! 🌿✨
Is your Garden ready for the summer? Take our free quiz to get your score: www.bloomfieldss.co.uk
