Perennial flowers are a must-have in every garden! In contrast to annuals, which only grow in your garden for one season, perennials keep coming back. Over winter they go dormant and the foliage dies back only to delight you again next growing season with new blooms.
Instead of replanting your entire garden each spring, you can sit back and eagerly await your flowers to return. Sadly, perennials are known for their often short bloom season, but that's not true for all of these plants that keep on giving. Discover some of the longest-blooming perennial flowers you can plant so you can enjoy vibrant blooms all season long!
Shasta Daisies
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Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) bloom during summer and autumn for three to four weeks at a time. For a continuous supply, plant varieties that flower at different times such as 'Snowcap' for early to mid-season and 'Esther reed' for mid to late-season. They'll bloom for 10 weeks or so over the summer.
Deadhead flowers, meaning cut off wilting or pale flowers, so each plant blooms longer. Otherwise, to keep your daisies happy, plant them in full sun 1 to 2 feet apart. Only water in extended periods of drought, these perennials grow best when they have slightly moist or dry soil. This makes them easy to care for as seasonal rainfall is often all they need to thrive. If the soil gets too wet the plant will likely rot.
Bleeding Heart
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Bleeding hearts (Dicentra Formosa) flower in pink, red, and white with blossoms that resemble hearts. These spring-blooming perennials enjoy areas with full to partial shade. Once you pick the right spot, they can thrive in the same place for years.
When putting in new plants, water weekly for the first season. Once they take, only water if you get less than 1 inch of rainfall weekly during the growing season. Bleeding hearts thrive in mesic soil which provides an average moisture level for plants that is neither completely dry nor wet, but somewhere in between. To extend their blooming time, deadhead regularly when the flowers start to fade -- They bloom from April to May.
Russian Sage
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Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) has delicate and fragrant lilac flowers resembling lavender. This lovely perennial will bloom all summer and fall. While its flowers are petite, they add a graceful splash of purple and silver to your flowerbeds. Not to mention that butterflies love them!
For best success plant Russian sage in full sun and during its first growing season, water to moisten the soil. Be careful not to leave it soggy though as this will rot the plant. Once it is thriving, Russian sage is drought tolerant. If you find your soil stays too wet, upgrade soil drainage in your garden by mixing in compost or aged manure.
This plant has one of the longer lasting blooms up to two months.
Everblooming Daylilies
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Everblooming daylilies (Hemerocallis sp.) are a favorite long-blooming flower in perennial gardens. While some types of daylilies only bloom for a week, "everblooming" varieties flower throughout summer and autumn. Although, the hard reality is that even though the plant will bloom for one to five weeks, each bloom only lasts one day. Some popular types include:
- 'Stella de Oro' which produces whimsical yellow petals all summer
- 'Strawberry Candy' with flowers in a delicate cotton candy pink
- 'Happy Returns' with cheerful golden flowers
- 'Anzac,' which blooms in deep crimson reds
To care for your daylilies, water them weekly after planting. When they take, regular rainfall will give these drought-tolerant perennials the weekly inch of water they need to thrive. They prefer soils that are occasionally dry, making them a perfect addition to your summer garden. Then to prolong blooming, snip flowers when they wilt.
Astilbe
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With dazzling blooms in pink, red, and white, Astilbe perennials add a splash of color to any garden. This beautiful flower will happily linger in your garden for two to three weeks at a time. You should see blossoms from late spring to late summer, and there are even some varieties that continue into autumn.
For a breathtaking display of color all season, you can't go wrong with Astilbe. To help it grow vibrantly, plant it in full sun to partial shade. Then water the soil deeply about once a week if there isn't any rainfall. Astilbe grows best in soils that are moist and have great drainage. If there is a drought or a dry spell in the summer, you will need to water these flowers.
Lupine
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Lupines (Lupinus spp.) are stunning flowers that attract birds and butterflies to your garden! These perennials bloom for four to six weeks, so you can enjoy them all summer. With flowers in blue, pink, purple, red, white, and yellow there's no shortage of options if you want to paint your garden with all the colors of the rainbow.
They can grow as tall as 4 feet, which will add contrast to your landscape too. To care for lupine plant them in full or partial sun, and water to moisten the soil. Then when flowers wane, cut them off to encourage blooms.
Coneflowers
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Is there anything that says summer like a garden full of blooming coneflowers (Echinacea spp.)? These perennials flower in summer and autumn. To ensure your blooms last into autumn, cut a few stems by 1 foot when they start flowering.
This will stagger the blooming period in your garden so you can enjoy your perennials for more time. Caring for coneflowers is easy too; they relish the full sun and are drought-tolerant so you will only need to water them if you have an extended drought in the spring.
Phlox
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With clusters of flowers, Phlox adds joyful floral flourishes to garden beds and planters. You'll start seeing blooms in spring that continue into summer. To encourage longer blooms, deadhead flowers when their colors are dull. Phlox is an excellent groundcover choice as it adapts well to full sun, partial shade, and shade. Usually, seasonal rain is enough for these perennials. However, they like moist soil so if there is a dry period, water the soil regularly.
Stunning Perennials From Spring to Autumn
If you adore flowers, long-blooming perennials are a must. With varieties that bloom in spring, summer, and autumn you're sure to find a stunning selection to make your garden pop all season! Can't decide on which flowers to plant? Pick the ones that match up with the sun exposure and seasonal rainfall your garden gets. This will help them thrive with minimal work.
Which are your favorite long-blooming perennials? Pop a few of your picks in the comments below, then share this guide on socials to help fellow green thumbs grow a delightful garden this year!