If you want your garden to stay colorful and full of life from spring all the way to fall, perennial flowers are the perfect choice. These hardy flowering plants come back year after year, giving you beautiful blooms without much effort.
So, which of these beautiful perennial flowers will keep your garden looking fresh and lively from spring to fall?
1. Peonies (Paeonia spp.)
Peonies bloom in late spring and early summer and can live for many years if you take good care of them since they don’t like to be moved.
When planting, dig deep enough so the roots can spread, and don’t bury the crown too deep—this helps them bloom better. You’ll need to stake them sometimes because their big blooms can get heavy.
Growing Tip: Peonies love mulch to keep the soil cool and moist.
2. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Lavender is a fragrant, calming flower that reminds you of summer fields. Its pretty purple blooms last all summer and even into fall with the right care.
Lavender needs lots of sun and well-drained soil—it doesn’t like soggy feet! Once established, it’s drought-tolerant and won’t need frequent watering. Give it a good prune after flowering to keep it looking tidy and to encourage more blooms.
Growing Tip: Lavender likes a little bit of sand in the soil to help with drainage, especially if your soil is heavy.
3. Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)
Coneflowers are tough and beautiful. Their bright, daisy-like flowers with a raised center bloom in summer and can last into the fall. Bees and butterflies love them, and you will too because they are so easy to care for.
They thrive in full sun and can handle some dry spells. They aren’t too picky about soil, but well-drained soil is always best. Once they’re established, they don’t need much attention, but cutting back the dead flowers can help them bloom even longer.
Growing Tip: Don’t water them too much—overwatering can cause the roots to rot.
4. Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus)
Daffodils are one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, brightening the garden with their cheerful yellow petals. While they’re mostly known for their early spring show, if you plant later-blooming types, they can extend into early summer.
These flowers love full sun or partial shade, and they grow best in well-drained soil. Plant the bulbs in fall, about three times as deep as the bulb’s height, and then just let them do their thing. They multiply over time, creating even more blooms each year.
Growing Tip: After they bloom, don’t cut the leaves off too soon. The leaves store energy for next year’s flowers.
5. Salvia (Salvia officinalis)
Salvia is a workhorse in the garden. It blooms in early summer and keeps going all the way to fall. Its tall spikes of blue, purple, pink, or red flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
This flower loves sunny spots and well-drained soil. It’s very low-maintenance—just cut back the spent flowers to keep it blooming longer. It’s also drought-tolerant, which makes it a great choice for hot, dry areas.
Growing Tip: Trim the plant back after the first bloom to encourage a second round of flowers.
6. Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)
Coreopsis is like sunshine in flower form. Its bright yellow or orange blooms last from early summer through fall, making it a star in the garden. It’s a great plant for attracting bees and butterflies.
It loves full sun and can handle hot, dry conditions, so you don’t have to worry about watering it too often. It prefers well-drained soil, but it’s pretty tough and can grow in poor soils.
Growing Tip: Deadhead (remove) the spent flowers to keep it blooming longer. Cut the whole plant back by half in midsummer to encourage even more blooms.
7. Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
Daylilies are super easy to grow, and they come in a variety of colors—yellow, orange, red, pink, and more. The flowers only last for a day, but each plant has lots of buds, so you’ll get blooms from late spring all the way through summer.
This flower love full sun but can also handle a bit of shade. They’re not too picky about soil, but they do best in well-drained spots. Once they’re settled, they need very little care and can even handle drought.
Growing Tip: Divide your daylilies every three to four years to keep them healthy and full of flowers.
8. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia spp.)
Blanket flower has fiery blooms in shades of red, yellow, and orange. They look like little flames dancing in the garden from summer to fall. Blanket flowers love full sun and well-drained soil.
They’re drought-tolerant, so you don’t need to water them too much once they’re established. Bees and butterflies adore them, and they’re a great choice if you want lots of color without too much effort.
Growing Tip: Deadhead the flowers regularly to encourage more blooms. Blanket flowers are short-lived, so replant every few years or let them self-seed.
9. Helenium (Helenium autumnale)
Helenium, often called sneezeweed (don’t worry, it doesn’t actually make you sneeze!), has daisy-like flowers in shades of red, yellow, and orange. It starts blooming in late summer and continues into fall, adding bright colors when other flowers are starting to fade.
They love full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It’s a great plant for bringing bees and butterflies into your garden.
Growing Tip: Pinch back the stems in early summer to make the plant bushier and encourage more flowers.
10. Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum)
Shasta daisies are the classic white daisies with yellow centers. They bloom from early summer through fall, bringing a fresh, clean look to the garden. They love full sun and well-drained soil.
These daisies are hardy and easy to grow. They also make great cut flowers, so you can bring their beauty inside. Just be sure to deadhead them to keep the blooms coming.
Growing Tip: Divide Shasta daisies every two to three years to prevent overcrowding and to keep the plants strong.
11. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Russian Sage is a tough plant with tall, silvery stems covered in soft, lavender-blue flowers. It blooms from summer into fall, creating a cloud-like effect in your garden.
This plant loves full sun and well-drained soil. It’s drought-tolerant, so once it’s established, you won’t have to water it frequently. Russian Sage grows tall and wide, making it a great choice for the back of a flower bed.
Growing Tip: Prune it back in early spring to about six to 12 inches to encourage strong growth and lots of flowers.
12. Geranium (Geranium spp.)
Geraniums, also known as Cranesbill, bloom in shades of pink, purple, blue, and white. These cheerful flowers last from spring through fall, and they’re easy to grow.
They do best in full sun to part shade, and they like well-drained soil. They’re perfect for filling in garden gaps or spilling over the edges of containers. Once established, they don’t need much care.
Growing Tip: Trim them back after the first round of flowers to encourage a second bloom later in the season.
13. Catmint (Nepeta spp.)
Catmint is a wonderful, fragrant plant with spikes of purple-blue flowers that bloom from spring through fall. It’s easy to grow and doesn’t require much water once established. Catmint loves full sun but can handle some shade.
It’s perfect for borders and attracts bees, butterflies, and even cats (they love rolling around in it!). The silvery-green foliage also looks lovely when the plant isn’t in bloom.
Growing Tip: Shear the plant back after the first bloom to keep it neat and encourage more flowers throughout the season.
14. Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)
Bee Balm is a bold, colorful flower that blooms in red, pink, purple, or white from summer into fall and is a favorite of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Bee Balm likes full sun to part shade and grows best in moist, well-drained soil.
This is a tall plant, so it works well at the back of flower beds. The flowers are shaped like little fireworks, adding a burst of color to your garden.
Growing Tip: Divide Bee Balm every two to three years to keep it healthy and prevent it from spreading too much.
15. Sedum (Sedum spp.)
Sedum, also called Stonecrop, is a sturdy plant with fleshy, succulent-like leaves and star-shaped flowers. It blooms from late summer into fall, with flowers in pink, red, yellow, or white.
It loves full sun and well-drained soil. It’s drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, making it a great choice for rock gardens or any spot that gets dry. The flowers are also a favorite of butterflies.
Growing Tip: Sedum spreads easily, so divide it every few years to keep it looking tidy and prevent overcrowding.
16. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is a tough plant with clusters of tiny flowers that come in shades of yellow, pink, red, or white. It blooms from early summer to fall and attracts butterflies.
These flowers love full sun and can grow in dry, poor soil, making it very easy to care for. It’s drought-tolerant, so once it’s established, you don’t need to water it much. The leaves are feathery, giving it a soft texture that contrasts nicely with its bold blooms.
Growing Tip: Deadhead the flowers to encourage more blooms and prevent the plant from spreading too much.
17. Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
This is a garden favorite with its tall stems covered in fragrant, colorful flowers, Phlox blooms in shades of pink, white, purple, and red from summer into fall.
It loves full sun but can handle some light shade, especially in hotter areas and prefers moist, well-drained soil. The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds, adding even more life to your garden.
Growing Tip: Cut back the plant after the first bloom to encourage a second round of flowers later in the season.
18. Penstemon (Penstemon spp.)
Penstemon, also called Beardtongue, has tubular flowers that come in shades of purple, pink, red, and white. It blooms from late spring to fall and is a magnet for bees and hummingbirds. Penstemon thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
This is a low-maintenance plant that’s drought-tolerant once established, making it perfect for hot, dry areas. The tall spikes of flowers look great in borders or mixed with other perennials.
Growing Tip: Deadhead the spent flowers to keep the plant blooming longer and looking tidy.
19. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Butterfly Weed is a vibrant orange flower that blooms from summer to fall, and as its name suggests, butterflies love it. This plant is also a host for monarch caterpillars, making it an essential plant for supporting wildlife.
It prefers full sun and dry, well-drained soil. It’s drought-tolerant and very low-maintenance. Once planted, it doesn’t like to be moved, so choose its spot carefully.
Growing Tip: Don’t overwater Butterfly Weed—too much moisture can cause root rot. Just let it thrive in the sun!
20. Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis)
Japanese Anemone is a graceful plant with delicate, poppy-like flowers in shades of white, pink, or lavender. It blooms from late summer into fall, bringing fresh color when many other plants are fading.
They love partial shade but can tolerate full sun if the soil is kept moist. They grow best in rich, well-drained soil. The flowers seem to float on tall, wiry stems, adding movement and elegance to your garden.
Growing Tip: Give Anemones plenty of space to spread, and divide the plant every few years to keep it healthy and manageable.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.