Creating a garden that bursts with color throughout the seasons is a dream for many gardeners. Perennial flowers, especially those with long blooming periods, are key to achieving this goal. Not only do they provide consistent beauty year after year, but they also play an important role in supporting local wildlife.
Long-blooming perennials offer more than just visual appeal. They ensure that your garden remains vibrant and full of life, while also providing a continuous source of nectar for pollinators like bees and butterflies. By choosing the right plants, you can enjoy a garden that requires less maintenance but delivers months of stunning blooms.
In this guide, we’ll introduce you to 20 of the best long-blooming perennials. These hardy plants will help you create a garden that stays colorful and engaging from spring through fall, offering both beauty and ecological benefits.
1. Astilbe (Astilbe x arendsii)
Astilbes are a fantastic addition to many gardens, thriving in both partial and full shade. In cooler summer regions, they can even tolerate full sun. The extended blooming period of Astilbes makes them a great choice for adding long-lasting beauty to your garden. Varieties like ‘Bridal Veil’ with its stunning white flowers, ‘Fanal’ with deep red blooms, and ‘Pumila’ with violet flowers offer a range of colors that can brighten up shaded areas from early summer well into the fall.
2. Autumn Joy Sedum (Hylotelephium)
Previously known as Sedum, the Autumn Joy Sedum flourishes in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Blooming in late summer, this plant is known for maintaining visual interest well into the fall. The flowers, which typically start pink, often darken to shades of rust-red or purple as the season progresses, adding depth and warmth to your garden as the weather cools.
3. Hummelo Betony (Betonica officinalis ‘Hummelo’)
Hummelo Betony is a wonderful long-blooming perennial with glossy, semi-evergreen leaves and warm pink flower spikes. This plant thrives in full sun or partial shade, especially in warmer regions, and its flowers bloom from early to mid-summer, holding their shape and beauty well into the fall. Even after the blooms have faded, the plant continues to provide visual interest with its attractive foliage.
4. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
While Black-Eyed Susans are widespread, they are popular for good reasons. These cheerful flowers are easy to care for and bloom from June through September in most climates. Although they are relatively short-lived as perennials, they often reseed themselves, allowing them to become a naturalized and enduring presence in your garden.
5. Luxuriant Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa)
This compact perennial is one of the most charming on our list, with its heart-shaped pink flowers that bloom from late spring or early summer all the way into the fall. Unlike other varieties of Dicentra, the ‘Luxuriant’ Bleeding Heart also features fern-like foliage that remains attractive throughout the growing season. This plant thrives in partial to full shade and is perfect for borders or containers.
6. Catmint (Nepeta racemosa)
Catmint, closely related to catnip but a different species, is an excellent choice for attracting bees and other pollinators. The ‘Walker’s Low’ variety is particularly well-known for its beautiful blue-violet flower spikes that bloom from spring through early fall. This plant is not only long-blooming but also drought-tolerant, making it a reliable choice for gardens in various climates.
7. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Purple Coneflower is not just a beautiful addition to your garden; it’s also highly beneficial. Known for its medicinal properties, this plant typically blooms from June until late August. It thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant, though it can tolerate some shade in certain regions. The striking pinkish-purple flowers are a magnet for pollinators, making this plant a valuable addition to any garden.
8. Moonbeam Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata)
The ‘Moonbeam’ variety of Coreopsis is particularly attractive with its light yellow flowers contrasted against delicate foliage. Blooming from June through September, this plant is a magnet for beneficial pollinators such as hoverflies and Lepidoptera. Moonbeam Coreopsis thrives in sunny spots and is ideal for adding a soft, airy touch to your garden.
9. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ (Geranium ‘Gerwat’)
The ‘Rozanne’ hardy geranium is one of the best for various garden conditions, tolerating everything except waterlogged soil. It blooms in shades of pink, purple, and blue from June to September and beyond. This long-blooming perennial is versatile enough to thrive in both sunny and shaded areas, making it a valuable addition to any garden.
10. Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi)
The Ice Plant is a low-growing perennial that produces masses of bright, reddish-pink or purple flowers from June to September. While it may not survive the winter in Zone 5 or colder, it is generally trouble-free in warmer gardens. This sun-loving plant also boasts a high drought tolerance, making it ideal for low-maintenance landscapes.
11. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender is not only one of the most fragrant perennials but also one of the most beneficial. Blooming throughout the summer, its purple flower spikes bring a soothing aroma to your garden and can be used in numerous ways around your home. Even after the flowers have faded, the greyish flower heads retain their charm, offering extended visual interest.
12. Allium ‘Millennium’
This ornamental onion blooms for a solid two months or more in summer and is another top choice for attracting pollinators. The large pinkish-purple flowers are a striking addition to any sunny, well-drained border or bed. Even after blooming, the spent flowers retain an architectural appeal that lasts into the fall and even the winter months.
13. Perennial Salvias (Salvia x sylvestris, Salvia nemorosa, Salvia farinacea)
Perennial salvias are excellent choices for gardeners looking for long-lasting blooms. Salvia x sylvestris, Salvia nemorosa, and Salvia farinacea all offer extended flowering periods, attracting a wide variety of pollinators and adding rich colors to your garden from late spring through early fall.
14. Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
Garden Phlox is a fantastic choice for adding vibrant pink, purple, and white hues to your garden from July through the fall. This plant thrives in sunny or lightly shaded spots with good air circulation and moderate moisture levels, making it a versatile addition to various garden settings.
15. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Russian Sage may have small flowers, but they are prolific. This plant’s lavender-colored blooms can be enjoyed from July to October. Russian Sage prefers full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for drought-prone areas.
16. Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)
The Shasta Daisy, with its cheerful white flowers, is another popular choice among long-blooming perennials. These charming daisies bring a sunny ambiance to your garden from July through September, offering a classic touch to any garden design.
17. Helenium
Helenium, often known as sneezeweed, is a vibrant and cheerful perennial with a long-lasting bloom. Regular deadheading can extend its flowering period, allowing you to enjoy its daisy-like flowers from early summer to early fall. With the right care, Helenium will add a burst of color to your garden for months.
18. Spiked Speedwell (Veronica spicata)
Spiked Speedwell is a striking plant that produces deep blue, purple, pink, or white flower spikes throughout the summer. By regularly trimming the spent flowers, you can extend its blooming season well into the fall. This plant thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, making it a reliable choice for a long-lasting garden display.
19. Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
Blue Vervain is a native plant in the U.S., hardy in Zones 3-8, and is an excellent choice for attracting pollinators. It also works well in designing a sunny rain garden. This wildflower, with its blue-purple spikes, blooms from mid-summer through early fall and even finds its place in ornamental gardens, bringing a natural, wild beauty to cultivated spaces.
20. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is a highly beneficial plant for ornamental gardens, traditionally bearing white flowers but now available in various shades of yellow, pink, and red. By deadheading (or harvesting) the flowers, you can enjoy its long-lasting blooms from June through September. Yarrow is also known for its medicinal properties, making it both a beautiful and useful addition to your garden.
These perennials are just the beginning of what you can consider for creating a garden filled with long-lasting blooms. However, it’s crucial to account for each plant’s specific needs. Consider the climate, microclimate, and soil conditions at your location before selecting flowering plants for your garden to ensure that you can enjoy their beauty for as long as possible.
