While many flowers bloom in the spring, there are lots of gorgeous varieties that peak during the summer months. But before your summer garden fully comes to life, you’ll need to set the tone weeks ahead by planting summer flowers. Whether you’re working with a sunny porch, a raised bed, or a few pots on the patio, planting them now will set your summer garden up for success, guaranteeing months of nonstop natural beauty.
Here, we’ve curated a beautiful mix of annuals and perennials that you can plant right now for summer blooms. No matter your gardening background and desired garden aesthetic, there’s something on this list for everyone. You’ll find colorful staples like zinnias, pollinator-friendly favorites like salvia, and low-maintenance options like calibrachoa.
While all of these pretty picks will beautify your backyard, they’re also tough enough to flourish during hot days, throughout dry spells, and in whatever condition the season throws their way. Best of all, they don’t require constant upkeep to look their best. Plant them now and enjoy months of blooms with minimal effort. Ready to dig in? Here are 10 flowers to plant this spring that won’t fade when summer arrives.
Add these stunning plants to your summer garden:
Plant geraniums now, and you’ll enjoy nonstop color and vitality from late-spring through fall. Whether you grow them in hanging baskets, window boxes, garden beds, or potted arrangements, geraniums will boast bright clusters of rounded blossoms all summer long. Given their low-maintenance, hardy, and heat-loving nature, if you skip the occasional watering, it won’t affect the flower.
Defined by their cheerful orange and yellow petals, marigolds are sunny summer blooms that’ll give any backyard a boost all season long—without much maintenance. These heat-tolerant flowers grow quickly, improve soil health, and attract pollinators. They thrive in containers, but you can also use them along walkways or add them to garden edges and borders.
If you’re looking for long-lasting color, zinnias are a great choice. These fast growers come in basically every hue imaginable, and they yield a large quantity perfect for cut arrangements—in fact, the more you cut these plants, the more fresh flowers will grow. Because they love the heat, these cheerful annuals are a great pick for a summer garden. They also attract pollinators while repelling pests, deer, and rabbits.
While angelonia might look delicate, this summer-blooming flower handles heat and humidity like a pro. With upright stems covered in small, snapdragon-like flowers painted in shades of purple, pink, blue, red, and white, these blossoms will make any garden border, backyard walkway, or potted display dazzle throughout the summer, from late spring through fall.
Lantana is a warm-weather favorite that’s known for its clusters of brightly colored blooms. This spring-planted flower thrives in full sun and doesn’t mind dry conditions, making it a great option for summer-long color in hot climates. What’s more, butterflies love it!
For those who want their summer garden to evoke a sweet-smelling fragrance, gardenias are a must-add! Aside from their alluring aroma, these seasonal buds have creamy white flowers and glossy green leaves that’ll bring a timeless touch to your yard. With nutrient-rich, well-draining soil, along with bright morning light and consistent watering, they’ll keep blooming well beyond spring.
Low-maintenance and long-blooming, knockout roses are a reliable source of gorgeous color from spring through the first frost of fall. While they’re just as beautiful as standard varieties, knockout roses are more disease-resistant and low-maintenance than their traditional counterparts. All they need to thrive is full sun, deep waterings, and annual shaping and fertilizing.
Known for their brightly colored red and yellow blooms, blanket flowers are tough plants that love full sun and dry conditions. They also thrive in poor, rocky, or sandy soil, which makes them hardy and unfussy flowers. These pollinator-friendly blooms are magnets for bees and butterflies, yet they resist deer and rabbits.
Given its trailing construction, this petunia lookalike is perfect for container gardens and hanging baskets. With a continuous blanket of blooms from spring through autumn, this flower makes a colorful addition to any summer garden. It’s also super low-maintenance—there’s no deadheading required!
Soon after planting them in your spring garden, salvia will produce tall spikes of red, purple, or blue flowers throughout the summer months. These long-blooming plants can withstand hot temperatures, and they’ll bring hummingbirds to your yard.
