Four years ago, I inherited my grandmother’s overgrown garden and had no clue what I was doing.
But hidden under all those weeds were amazing perennial flowers that taught me gardening doesn’t have to be hard!
These are the survivor plants that come back faithfully each year and keep my garden bursting with color all summer.
Best Summer-Blooming Perennials
The best part about these flowers? They’re pretty low-maintenance once established. I can focus on my family while still enjoying a gorgeous garden that makes our home look amazing.
1. Agastache
My pollinators absolutely adore these purple beauties! They start blooming in mid-summer and keep going until autumn rolls around.
I’ve planted mine along our east-facing wall, and they couldn’t be happier. They’re not picky – they’ll thrive in full sun or partial shade.
2. Alliums
These fancy members of the onion family are total show-stoppers in my garden. They’re like nature’s lollipops!
They come in the prettiest shades of pink, purple, and white. I love how they bridge that awkward gap between spring and summer when not much else is blooming.
3. Astilbe
Don’t let their delicate, feathery appearance fool you – these tough little plants are workhorses in the garden.
I’ve found they’re especially happy in the shadier spots of my yard, which is perfect for those tricky areas where other flowers struggle.
4. Balloon Flower
My kids get such a kick out of watching these flowers develop! The buds literally puff up like tiny balloons before they pop open.
Just remember to keep the soil consistently moist – I learned that lesson the hard way during my first summer growing them.
5. Black-Eyed Susan
These cheerful yellow flowers are my go-to recommendation for gardening newbies. They’re practically bulletproof!
I’ve forgotten to water them during hectic weeks, and they just keep on blooming. Plus, they reseed themselves, so you’ll get free plants every year.
6. Blanket Flower
While these gorgeous blooms don’t last super long individually, they’re worth having in your garden.
I’ve paired mine with other perennials to ensure continuous color throughout summer. It’s like creating a relay team of flowers!
7. Blue Lupine
If you live up north like I do, these beauties are a must-have. They’re not fans of our southern neighbors’ heat and humidity.
As a bonus, they actually improve your soil by fixing nitrogen – nature’s free fertilizer!
8. Clematis
These climbing beauties have transformed our boring fence into a stunning purple wall of flowers.
Just keep them well-watered, and they’ll reward you with amazing blooms. Some of mine start flowering in late spring when we have warm spells.
9. Dahlias
From tiny bouquet-worthy blooms to dinner-plate sized showstoppers, dahlias are real attention-grabbers.
Every time I add a new variety to my garden, I tell myself it’s the last one – but who am I kidding?
10. Dianthus
These sweet little flowers are like the divas of my garden – they need things just right to perform their best.
They prefer slightly alkaline soil and don’t like mulch around their bases. But their beauty makes them worth the extra attention.
11. Foam Flower
Got a shady spot where nothing seems to grow? Foam flowers might be your answer!
I love how they brighten up dark corners with their white, pink, or purple blooms.
12. Hibiscus
These tropical stunners need full sun to really strut their stuff.
I keep mine in containers so I can move them around to follow the sun – it’s like a daily garden dance!
13. Hydrangea
These remind me so much of my grandmother’s garden, with their big, bouncy blooms and wonderful fragrance.
They’re surprisingly easy to care for once established, making them perfect for busy gardeners like me.
14. Peonies
Even though they only bloom for a couple of weeks, peonies are worth every inch of garden space they take up.
Their gorgeous flowers and wonderful scent make them a timeless garden classic.
15. White Trillium
These native beauties bring a touch of woodland magic to any shady garden spot.
Their pristine white flowers look stunning against their dark green leaves, and they remind me of hiking through the Appalachians.