Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Hacks & How-to's
  3. Evergreens

The best perennial flowers that bloom all summer

By
Add as a preferred source on Google

One of the things we love most about summer is the flowers. Colorful, beautiful, and fragrant, a yard filled with flowers can be one of the great joys of any home gardener. If you’d rather spend more time enjoying the colors of your garden blooms and less time having to replant each and every year, it’s time to get well acquainted with the world of perennials. 

ConeflowersWhy perennials?

Perennials are plants that live more than two years, unlike annuals which live only a single season, and biennials which, as you can guess, live about two years. Plant a perennial and, barring some sort of gardening catastrophe, you are virtually guaranteed it will live for three seasons or more so you don’t have to replant your garden at the change of every season. Some perennials can live for decades, and in the case of peonies, they very well could outlive you.

Sadly, the blooming season of many perennials is short — in the case of peonies, for example, it’s just seven to ten days. However, there is a wide variety of other perennials with more extensive blooming seasons that you can enjoy for weeks and months to come.

Related

These perennial flowers not only come back year after year, but they also have a longer blooming season to keep your yard well stocked with flowers from the end of the frost straight through Labor Day. We’ve gathered together the most popular perennials flowers that bloom all summer long to keep your landscape looking gorgeous!

Perennial flowers that bloom all summer long

Phlox

With large blooming clusters that grow from rigid stems, this perennial wildflower makes a statement. Available in a wide range of colors, including white, pink, lavender, salmon, and red, and lengths ranging from compact to long, phlox can add both color and dimension to your garden plan. 

Phlox thrives in nutrient-rich, well-draining soil and requires at least six hours of sunlight per day, although they are hardy enough to grow well in partial shade too. Be sure to deliver an inch of water total over the course of a week.

Lavender

Despite the name lavender, this amazingly versatile perennial can also be white, pink, or yellow in color. Lavender also has many culinary uses because of its strong pigment, intoxicating aroma, and earthy flavor. A beautiful addition to your perennial garden plan, lavender plants can reach a height of two to three feet, so they are great to plant if your yard is looking a little too uniform. This plant grows best in full sun, and well-draining, dry soil, so keep it out of the shade and don’t overwater! 

Hydrangeas  

Hydrangeas are one of our favorite flowering perennials. With snowball-like blossoms that bloom from late spring to late summer, hydrangeas are one of the easiest growing, most prolific perennials around. With colorful blooms varying from snowy white to pale pink, lavender to deep blue, you can actually change the color of your hydrangea’s flowers based on the makeup of your soil. 

More acidic soil, with a pH level lower than 6.0, will yield hydrangeas in blue or lavender, while alkaline soil, having a pH level of about 7.0, tends to see blossoms in pinks and red. If your soil’s pH is somewhere between 6.0 and 7.0, you’ll likely see blooms in purple or bluish pink. To lower the pH levels in your soil and get those deep blue petals, add garden sulfur or aluminum sulfate to your soil.

Creeping thyme

Creeping thyme is a low-growing, ground cover that can effectively fill empty spots in your yard or gaps between stepping stones and walkways. Not only is it a great, low-maintenance option, but it can also minimize soil erosion and prevent weeds. While creeping thyme isn’t the edible variety used for cooking, it does boast the same wonderful herbal fragrance, providing a wonderful aroma you’ll enjoy on warm summer days Creeping thyme is best suited for sunny or lightly shaded areas of the garden, and is generally a very no-fuss, easy plant perfect for beginners.

Whether you’re a novice gardener or have a bright green thumb, it’s easy to achieve a rainbow of colorful blossoms in your garden all summer long and for years to come. Pick up a few seeds from your local gardening supply store, and get started on your outdoor oasis.

Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

The Easiest Way to Set the Table
Cutlery, Fork, Spoon

Have you ever wondered why the fork sits on the left and the knife on the right? Or why Europeans eat “Continental style,” holding the fork in their left hand and the knife in their right, while Americans cut, switch hands, and then eat? It turns out there’s a reason for all of it, and once you understand the history, setting the table suddenly feels far less mysterious. Before beautifully layered place settings and Pinterest-worthy tablescapes, dining was far more practical. Medieval feasts were less about etiquette and more about survival. Plates were often shared, forks were nonexistent, and eating with your hands was the normal standard. Tables were filled with trenchers (pieces of bread used as plates), and the idea of “proper placement” simply didn’t exist.

By the mid-to-late 1800s (around 1860–1870), European dining evolved again as meals began to be served in courses. This shift introduced what became known as the Russian style of dining, where utensils were laid out intentionally and used from the outside in. The fork stayed in the left hand, the knife in the right, and the table itself began to reflect structure, rhythm, and order. This approach eventually became the “Continental style” still used across much of Europe today.

Read more
5 tips to de-clutter your kitchen for the holidays
kitchen holiday

'Tis the season for holiday gatherings, which means your kitchen needs to be organized to avoid unnecessary stress. Here are some handy tips to follow.

1. Refresh your fridge and freezer

Read more
Color Drenching: The bold hue movement that is sticking around in 2026
Green living room walls with velvet green sofas

What is color drenching?Color drenching is an interior design trend where a single color is used on every surface in a room. This includes walls, trim, doors, and even the ceiling, creating a cohesive and immersive atmosphere. The technique can make a small room feel larger or a spacious room feel cozier, and it often extends to furniture, radiators, and cabinetry for a bold, unified effect.

While the term color drenching is relatively new, the concept has deep roots in design history. The look can be traced to historic European interiors where monochromatic schemes added depth and luxury. Even in the Victorian era, richly saturated jewel tones were often used in grand spaces such as libraries and parlors. It reappeared during the 1960's and 1970's as well. Designers have long understood that a single, enveloping hue can create a striking sense of mood and continuity.

Read more