If you plan on growing a flower garden, there is no better choice to fill your containers or raised beds than perennials - particularly if you want to take a more low-maintenance approach.
Perennials, unlike annuals, do not have to be replanted every year. Instead, you’ll enjoy recurring blooms each and every year, with very little work or hassle on your part.
The only downside to growing perennials is that some have very limited bloom times. They may only bloom for a few months - or even worse, a few weeks! - at a time.
If you’re looking for perennial flowers that bloom indefinitely, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will tell you about 20 perennial flowers that bloom all season for everlasting color.
Jump to:
- 20 Perennial Flowers That Bloom All Season
- 1. Pasque Flower
- 2. Stella de Oro Daylily
- 3. Lenten Rose
- 4. Russian Sage
- 5. Lavender
- 6. “Popsicle Mix” Lupine
- 7. Butterfly Bush
- 8. Garden Phlox
- 9. Yellow Corydalis
- 10. Coneflower
- 11. Lady’s Mantle
- 12. Becky Shasta Daisy
- 13. Peach-Leaved Bellflower
- 14. Rue Anemone
- 15. Ice Plant
- 16. Yarrow
- 17. Autumn Joy Stonecrop
- 18. Midnight Marvel Hibiscus
- 19. Catmint
- 20. Red Hot Poker
- Growing a Perennial Flower Garden That Blooms All Season Long
20 Perennial Flowers That Bloom All Season
1. Pasque Flower
The pasque flower, or Pulsatilla vulgaris, is a beautiful flower with blooms that open in the early spring - sometimes when snow is still on the ground! Hardy in zones 4 to 8, this plant produces flowers that linger about three weeks each but will reappear all the way into the fall. It grows low to the ground, so it’s a good choice for a rock garden or as an edging plant.
2. Stella de Oro Daylily
There are several types of lilies that are known for their ability to produce color all season long, but the Stella de Oro daily is by far one of the most impressive.
This lovely flower is one of more than 50,000 hybrid daylilies that was created by crossing selected species within the genus.
A compact plant, it only grows up to 12 inches tall but is known for its long blooming period that can last all the way from May until July. It is hardy in zones 3 to 10.
3. Lenten Rose
The Lenten rose, particularly the “Penny’s Pink” cultivar, is another great flower to consider if you want all-season color. This beautiful pale pink flower produces blossoms that open as early as February in regions with mild winters. It looks great in perennial beds and is hardy in zones 4 to 9.
4. Russian Sage
Technically an herb, Russian sage has medicinal benefits and can also be used to provide everlasting color to your perennial garden. This plant is hardy in zones 4 to 9 and sports gorgeous lavender and blue blossoms.
Although its flowers are small, the plant can grow quite large. In fact, it can grow to more than five feet tall and spreads equally wide, too.
5. Lavender
Lavender brings gorgeous blooms - along with heavenly fragrances - to your garden all season long. The key to growing lavender is to select a variety that blooms for a long period of time. English lavender produces flowers that last from June until August, with plants growing up to three feet tall. It is hardy in zones 4 to 9, although this can vary depending on the cultivar.
6. “Popsicle Mix” Lupine
Most lupines produce flowers that last for quite some time, but if you want a color that starts in late spring and lingers throughout much of the summer, you should grow Popsicle Mix lupine. These flowers produce spikes of red, purple, yellow, and pink (with some bicolor blooms mixed in!), with each spike lasting at least three weeks. Lupines are hardy in zones 3 to 6.
7. Butterfly Bush
The elegant butterfly bush is a perennial that dies back to ground level in a cold climate. However, it will report each and every spring. This plant can grow quite tall - sometimes to eight feet or more! - but there are more compact cultivars available if a towering specimen is not what you have in mind.
Butterfly bushes bloom from June until September and are hardy in zones 5 to 9.
8. Garden Phlox
Garden phlox is a plant that is a staple for many gardeners. With long-blooming perennial flowers, this plant offers enduring beauty from midsummer all the way into fuel. For the best results, choose a mildew-resistant cultivar like “David” and plant it in full sun to partial shade. It’s hardy in zones 4 to 8.
9. Yellow Corydalis
The yellow corydalis is a plant that produces lovely lemon-yellow flowers for five months or more at a time! These plants self-sow, too - so much so that you should carefully consider where you plant the flower to prevent it from overtaking your other plantings. It is hardy in zones 5 to 8.
10. Coneflower
There are multiple plants in the coneflower family, also known as the Echinacea genus. Many of these flowers are cultivars of selected species and generally bloom from June all the way until August. They spread quickly, which is why you will find these plants growing in the wild in many areas.
11. Lady’s Mantle
Lady’s mantle is not a head-turning plant by any means, but it's delicate, modest beauty will add a touch of elegance to your perennial garden. This plant produces chartreuse blooms and velvety green leaves, with flowers lasting from late spring until early summer. It is hardy in zones 3 to 7.
12. Becky Shasta Daisy
All daisies have long bloom periods, but the Becky Shasta Daisy is by far one of the most impressive. This plant is tough and resilient, which is why you will often see it growing in the wild. Despite its delicate appearance, it can handle most growing conditions and can reach up to four feet in height. This plant is hardy in zones 5 to 9.
13. Peach-Leaved Bellflower
The peach-leaved bellflower, or Campanula persicifolia, is a plant that produces gorgeous white, blue, or pale purple blossoms from early summer onward. This plant grows well in full sun and partial shade and can be divided every four years. It reproduces rapidly! It is hardy in zones 3 to 7.
14. Rue Anemone
The rue anemone is another plant that produces flowers lasting up to eight weeks. These flowers are usually small, only about an in wide, but you’ll love that the flowers appear as early as mid-spring. It can be grown in dry conditions as well as heavy shade, making it a popular landscape plant for gardeners in zones 4 through 8.
15. Ice Plant
The ice plant is a low-lying perennial that blooms from early spring all the way until late September. The plant is hardy in zones 5 to 10, although it may need a bit of mulch to help it survive a harsh winter in a colder growing zone.
16. Yarrow
Yarrow is an herb that grows in the wild in many places. In fact, it is considered by some to be a weed! However, this beautiful plant, hardy in zones 3 to 8, can reach up to three feet in height and produces flowers of many colors all season long. It reproduces rapidly, so you may need to divide your plants once every four years or so.
17. Autumn Joy Stonecrop
This plant was once a member of the Sedum genus but is now categorized as Hylotelephium. However, most people refer to it simply as Autumn Joy Stonecrop.
An easy growing plant, this flower blooms in late summer and hangs on all the way until the first frost in the fall. It’s one of the few plants that can endure fall weather, growing well even when other flowers have died back. It is hardy in zones 3 to 9.
18. Midnight Marvel Hibiscus
The Midnight Marvel Hibiscus is one of the few hibiscus plants that can be grown in cooler climates. It has dark purple leaves and scarlet flowers that make it one of the most gorgeous plants you can grow for season-long color.
It blooms for up to ten weeks, with each plant producing blossoms that open up at nine inches across. It is hardy in zones 4 to 9.
19. Catmint
Catmint is not the same thing as catnip, something that tends to confuse gardeners on their quest for long-lasting perennials.
Although both catmint and catnip are both forms of mint, they are different pieces and grown for different purposes. While catnip is grown for its effect on cats, catmint is prized for its landscape uses.
This plant grows up to a foot tall and is generally used as a ground cover. If you prune back the flower spikes after blooming, they will continue to put out new blossoms all season long.
20. Red Hot Poker
Red hot poker is one of the most unusual-looking perennial plants you can grow - and it provides color all season long. There are multiple cultivars and hybrids available, with the most popular being those in the “Popsicle” series. These flowers produce blooms up to two feet tall, each of which lasts all throughout the spring and summer. This plant is hardy in zones 5 to 9.
Growing a Perennial Flower Garden That Blooms All Season Long
The trick to growing a perennial garden that remains colorful and beautiful all season long is to pick the right blooms. Choose plants that offer long-lasting color and that are appropriate for your specific growing conditions and growing zone.
Make sure you do some research about which plants are invasive, and research the blooming times for every plant you choose.
This can vary not just based on her pieces, but also based on the cultivars. For example, some clematis flowers the only flower in the spring, while others bloom on old growth in the fall.
Be sure to deadhead your plants, too. When plants flower, the goal is to produce seeds that they can reproduce.
By deadheading your plants, you will be encouraging second blooms. Some plants may require regular cutting back to encourage new blooms, too.
Finally, do your best to protect the flowers that you do have. When you experience harsh summer wind storms or heavy rains, your flowers can easily be damaged. This can discourage later flowering, too. Consider moving your potted plants inside when the weather turns, and do your best to cover up vulnerable plants.
Otherwise, growing a perennial garden with months-long color is definitely possible. It’s all about choosing the right plants - and considering this list of 20 perennial flowers that bloom all season long is a great place to start on your search for the perfect blooms!
Bill gondring. Md
Where do I buy the flowers that are 3 to 4 feet high. Largest f,
Flower heads , little water, longest flower heads
Kay Herndon
Where can I order the 20 long-blooming perennial flowers
claudia sayre
I enjoyed you sharing flowers that bloom throughout the summer.Looking forward to putting some in my garden I hope the rabbits and squirrels dont have a field day.
Denise
Could you give an explanation of the zone areas you mention please.