37 Flowering Plants That Bloom in Early Summer (2024)

Spring is such a magical time of year. Flower buds are forming, and perennials are popping out of the ground. Before we know it, summertime will be here in full swing!

There always seems to be an awkward point in the gardens where the spring bulbs and pansies begin to fade away before the heat-loving annuals and perennials really start to take off. That’s why it’s important to have a diverse mix of different flowering plants that bloom at different times.

Below is a list of some of our favorite flowering plants that will bloom in the early summer, many of which bloom all season and well into the fall!

Allium

	botanical name Allium giganteum
	sun requirements Full Sun to Partial shade
	height 4-5 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 4-9

Allium, or the ornamental onion, creates a dramatic display in your late spring or early summer gardens. There are many different types of allium bulbs available which range greatly in size.

One thing they have in common is their large globe-shaped flowers which bloom on top of straight, sturdy stems. The foliage is lance-shaped and grows close to the ground. Allium bulbs have a strong odor that helps to keep critters away from your garden.

Astilbe

	botanical name Astilbe spp.
	sun requirements Partial shade to full shade
	height 1-4 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-8

Astilbe is a stunning perennial that thrives in the shade and produces foamy and spiky flowers in various colors. This perennial is really pretty when planted in a group. The low-growing foliage creates a dense mound of deep green leaves which are deeply cut.

The flowers will grow on single stems that rise up and above the leaves. The flowers are foamy plumes of long-lasting flowers that could be white, pink, red, purple, and even peach. Add astilbe to your shady garden borders for a pop of color and a perfect edge-forming perennial.

Azalea

	botanical name Rhododendron spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to Partial Shade
	height Varies greatly between species
	hardiness zones 5-9

Azaleas are a member of the rhododendron genus, but they are slightly different from their larger cousins. Azaleas are tolerant of more sunlight than rhododendrons, and because of this sunlight, they produce beautiful flowers in bright colors such as magenta, purple, white, and even orange.

Many azaleas are evergreen and make excellent hedges and privacy screens. Azaleas are shallow-rooted shrubs and will require frequent watering until your shrub matures in your garden.

Beardtongue

	botanical name Penstemon spp.
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-8

Beardtongue is a pretty perennial with bell-shaped flowers available in a range of colors. This perennial will begin to bloom in the late spring and last until the fall. To extend your bloom life, deadhead any spent blooms.

The leaves are a medium shade of green and lance-shaped. Find your favorite shade of red, pink, yellow, or white beardtongue and add it to your rock gardens, your cottage-style gardens, and your cutting garden.

Black Eyed Susan

	botanical name Rudbeckia hirta
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-9

Black-eyed Susans are a classic garden perennial. Their sunny yellow petals contrast with the chocolate brown centers to create the perfect multi-season plant.

Plant your Black-eyed Susans in your sunny gardens. Deadheading and watering are the only things these wildflowers will require from you. Black-eyed Susan is very easy to start by seed if that is something you are up for trying!

Bleeding Heart

	botanical name Dicentra spectabilis or Lamprocapnos spectabilis
	sun requirements Partial Shade
	height 1-3 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-9

Bleeding heart is a garden staple for those of us with a decent amount of shade. This perennial is one of the most interesting plants around. Its heart-shaped flowers appear to be dripping from their arched stems, which grow from deeply cut fern-like leaves.

Bleeding hearts will begin to bloom in the late spring months but will last through the summer. When the blooms fade, the foliage will also fade, so plant this perennial in an area where other plants can cover the gaps.

Catmint

	botanical name Nepeta spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to Partial sun
	height 1-2 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide. Some species can get much larger
	hardiness zones 4-9

Catmint is one of my favorite perennials. The purple spiked flowers growing atop the silver foliage is just too perfect to pass up.

This perennial makes a perfect low-border plant for your sunny gardens in front of shrubs or taller perennials. When the first batch of flowers begins to fade, cut the plant back, and you will get a resurgence of growth that will last into the fall.

Cinquefoil

	botanical name Potentilla spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial sun
	height 1-2 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 5-8

Cinquefoil is noted as one of the easiest perennials to care for, which has an extremely long bloom period. There are many varieties of cinquefoil available that also come in various colors.

When your cinquefoil has finished blooming, deadhead the flowers and remove some of the older parts of the stems. This will encourage new growth and more blossoms! The leaves are a medium shade of green and resemble the leaves of strawberry plants.

Columbine

	botanical name Aquilegia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to Partial sun
	height 1-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-8

This perennial has some of the most interesting flowers around. Columbine thrives in sun or partially sunny areas of your garden and will begin to bloom towards the end of springtime. The flowers are born on stems that rise from the green heart-shaped foliage.

When the summer begins to heat up, columbine will begin to decline because it does not love the heat. Be sure to plant these perennials in an area where you will not mind a gap towards the end of the summer.

Coneflower

	botanical name Echinacea purpurea
	sun requirements Full sun to Partial shade
	height 2-5 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-8

Each summer, my garden is filled with the brightly colored petals of coneflowers. Coneflowers are great plants for new gardeners and dependable plants for veteran gardeners. Coneflowers come in just about every color of the rainbow, in single and double flowers.

These perennials love the sun and are very tolerant of most soil conditions, especially after they are established in your garden. Coneflowers will self-seed, so be prepared to deadhead if you do not want new coneflower babies popping up around your yard!

Coreopsis

	botanical name Coreopsis spp.
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1-2 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 5-9

Coreopsis is famed for its prolific yellow blossoms that are very long-lasting. This beautiful yellow flower is also very easy to care for! Plant this perennial in full sun, and your garden will have flowers all summer long.

When the flowers begin to fade, you can give the entire plant a haircut with your garden loppers. Then, your coreopsis plant will produce another bloom! If you do not wish to lose all of the coreopsis’ color at once, you can individually deadhead your coreopsis plant. However, this can get a bit tedious.

Daylily

	botanical name Hemerocallis spp.
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1-4 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide
	hardiness zones 4-9

The daylily genus, Hemerocallis, is a very large genus that offers us flowers in just about every color of the rainbow. From the palest of yellows to the deepest purple, the flowers of the daylily may be short-lived, but they are worth it.

When the flowers pass, the grass-like foliage will remain green and attractive into the fall. I believe the more the daylily, the merrier. Plant your daylilies in a large group, but only if you are prepared to remove a lot of spent blossoms!

Delphinium

	botanical name Delphinium spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to Partial sun
	height 2-6 feet tall, 1 foot wide
	hardiness zones 4-7

If you are looking for an herbaceous perennial with blue flowers, delphinium is the perfect choice for you! These taller perennials can reach up to 6 feet tall, depending on the variety. The majority of the height is made up of blue or white flowers.

There are shades of blue ranging from very pale to cobalt blue. Delphinium is not a long-living perennial, so if you love this plant, you should sow more seeds each year so there won’t be any gaps in your beautiful blue blossoms!

Dianthus

	botanical name Dianthus spp.
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1-2 feet tall and sometimes taller, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-9

Dianthus is a beautiful flowering groundcover that starts flowering in the early summer and will produce another bloom in the autumn. The tiny carnation-like flowers bloom on top of blue-silver grass-like foliage.

The foliage creates a pretty mound shape and is very attractive, especially when planted in groups. The blossoms come in a variety of colors. But they are most commonly seen blooming in pink, red, and purple. If you desire that fall bloom, shear off the spent blossoms when the bloom period has ended.

False Indigo

	botanical name Baptisia australis
	sun requirements Full Sun to Partial Shade
	height 3-4 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide
	hardiness zones 4-9

False indigo is a gorgeous perennial for the middle or back of your perennial garden. The foliage is a soft, almost olive green, and is very soft and attractive.

The flowers slightly resemble sweet peas or lupines and are highly recognized in purple but are also available in other colors, such as yellow! When the flowers fade, the foliage remains in very good shape through the rest of the growing season.

Foxglove

	botanical name Digitalis purpurea
	sun requirements Full Sun to Partial Sun
	height 1-4 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 5-9

Foxgloves are almost a necessary perennial for your cottage gardens. They produce an excellent floral display for the middle or back of your perennial garden.

The tall stems support tube-shaped flowers that come in a variety of colors but typically are found in pastel shades of pink, purple, peach, or white. These flowers will last throughout most of the summer, attracting birds and pollinators to your garden. In the fall, the seedheads will continue to attract birds.

Garden Phlox

	botanical name Phlox paniculata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial sun
	height 2-4 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide
	hardiness zones 4-8

Garden phlox, or tall phlox, is a perfect perennial for your cottage garden. This perennial can grow up to 4 feet tall. The foliage is narrow and bright green. Some varieties have variegated leaves.

The blossoms are dense clusters of flowers that can be found in many shades of pink, purple, white, and even bicolored.

The only downside to garden phlox is its susceptibility to powdery mildew. This can be prevented by making sure there is enough airflow in between plants and by allowing your garden phlox to get some direct sunshine every day.

Globe Thistle

	botanical name Echinops spp.
	sun requirements Full Sun to Partial Shade
	height 2-5 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-8

If you are looking for a very low-maintenance plant that loves poor soil and full sun, globe thistle is your plant. These perennials produce globe-shaped flowers that are known for their classic purple blossoms, but there are also varieties that are white.

The foliage appears to be spiky or prickly, but it is actually soft to the touch. The silvery leaves add a unique texture to your garden. Globe thistle is a good addition to your perennial gardens or border gardens. Deadhead the spent blossoms for a repeat bloom!

Hosta

	botanical name Hosta spp.
	sun requirements Full shade to partial shade
	height 6 inches- 4 feet tall and wide, size will vary between species and variety
	hardiness zones 3-9

Okay, hear me out on this one. Hostas do bloom, and their flowers are quite pretty; it is just that they are not the main attraction here. Hostas are typically grown for their gorgeously large leaves.

These perennials are a staple for shade gardeners because they grow flawlessly and add great texture to our shady spaces. These plants are easy to grow but beware of slugs that may nibble on the low-growing leaves of your hostas.

Hydrangea

	botanical name Hydrangea spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade, species dependent
	height 2-8 feet tall, 2-8 feet wide species and variety dependent
	hardiness zones 3-9

With six different species of hydrangeas commonly grown by home gardeners, you can choose from plenty of options. The climbing hydrangea, or Hydrangea anomala, will begin to bloom at the end of spring and will be followed by the rest of the hydrangea group.

If you are seeking a hydrangea for the sun, be sure to choose Hydrangea paniculata, the rest of the species prefer some shade. Use hydrangeas as privacy screens, foundation plantings, and container plants!

Ice Plant

	botanical name Delosperma spp.
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3-6 inches tall, 1-2 feet wide Sun Exposure: Full Sun
	hardiness zones 6-10

Ice plant is an evergreen succulent perennial. That seems like a mouthful, but it is similar to a sedum that has foliage that will remain throughout the year. When this particular succulent plant begins to bloom in the late spring, it will continue blooming all season long.

The flowers are brightly colored and resemble daisies or mums in nature, just smaller. Plant this perennial in a rock garden or in front of a perennial garden that gets lots of sunshine!

One thing to note with this plant, however: while the ice plant can be amazing in much of the United States, it’s considered invasive along the Pacific coastline in the western US. The balmy temperatures of the coast are perfect for its spread, and as a result, you need to monitor it to ensure it doesn’t get out of control.

Iris

	botanical name Iris spp.
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1-8 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide. The size can vary significantly between species.
	hardiness zones 3-9

Iris is a large genus of flowering plants with gorgeous and unique flowers. There is a perfectly sized iris for each sunny garden, ranging from one foot tall all the way up to 8 feet! These flowers come in a variety of colors, as well as beautiful color combinations.

Iris spreads by rhizomes and will slowly spread throughout the life of the perennial. These rhizomes are easily divided and transplanted into other areas of your garden.

Lavender

	botanical name Lavendula angustifolia
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2-3 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide
	hardiness zones 5-9

Lavender is not just for aroma therapeutic uses; it is a lovely and easy-to-grow plant that adds an element of softness to hard areas such as patios or rock walls. The foliage of lavender plants is narrow and silver, and the purple flowers blossom from tall stems.

Lavender grows best in dry arid conditions, so this may not be the best option for you if you live in a humid area. Try planting lavender in containers if you have heavy soil. This is a great way to add this beautiful plant to your landscape without too much worry!

Masterwort

	botanical name Astrantia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to Partial sun
	height 1-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 4-7

Masterwort is a good size perennial for any garden. Growing to about 3 feet tall, depending on the variety, masterwort will produce red or white pincushion flowers.

The foliage on the masterwort plant is a deep green with deeply cut edges. The flowers make excellent additions to your indoor arrangements, so add a few of these plants to your cutting garden. Masterwort will grow nicely in shaded areas as well as containers!

Oriental Poppy

	botanical name Papaver orientale
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-8

Oriental poppies produce large and richly colored flowers. The centers of the flowers are typically black, creating beautiful contrast within the blossoms. Poppies are a perennial that tolerates poor soil well and are pretty low maintenance.

Aside from watering while the plant is getting established in your garden and deadheading, you really do not need to do much. Oriental poppies make nice additions to your sunny perennial gardens.

Peony

	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora
	sun requirements Full Sun to Partial Sun
	height 2-3 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-8

A garden full of peonies is a garden to be envied. Their large flowers come in a wide range of colors, from white to peach and red. Considering how gorgeous these perennials are, they are relatively low maintenance.

The large and delightfully fragrant blossoms can cause the stems to droop, and using a peony hoop for support is helpful. If you are new to peonies, try planting them in your perennial garden or as a border of a walkway.

Perennial Geranium

	botanical name Geranium spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to Partial sun
	height 1-3 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-9

There are many different varieties of perennial geranium, but all of them make excellent low-growing perennials. The foliage of the perennial geranium is lush green and deeply cut, giving it a lacey appearance.

The purplish-blue flowers will appear on the plant from late spring onward into the fall. When the foliage and flowers begin to look a bit faded, cut the plant back by half, and you will be rewarded with new lush leaves and a second bloom.

Perennial Salvia

	botanical name Salvia spp.
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1-4 feet tall, 1-4 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-8

Salvia is another tried and true perennial that will add gorgeous color to your perennial gardens. The purple spiked flowers will begin to appear in the late spring but will be in full force for most of the summer.

When the first round of flowers begins to turn brown, give your plant a good trim, and it will produce new foliage as well as a second round of blooms.

The foliage of perennial salvia is a deep green and will remain attractive through most of the summer. Plant perennial salvia where you have full sun. This perennial is especially tolerant of sandy soil.

Red Hot Poker

	botanical name Kniphofia spp.
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3-4 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide
	hardiness zones 5-9

Red hot pokers are really cool and unique plants that will spice up any garden. These tall single-stemmed perennials produce spikes of tube-shaped flowers that come in red, orange, yellow, or white.

No matter which color variety you choose, the color will be rich at the beginning of bloom time and will slowly fade and change to a lighter color altogether as they age. Deadhead spent blossoms, and the red-hot poker will rebloom!

Rhododendron

	botanical name Rhododendron spp.
	sun requirements Partial sun to Partial shade
	height Varies greatly within species and variety
	hardiness zones 4-8

Rhododendrons are spring and early summer blooming giants. These evergreen shrubs produce large trusses of trumpet-shaped flowers in a wide range of colors. Rhododendrons are lovely when planted in a woodland garden or as a foundation planting.

These large shrubs are low maintenance and barely need to be pruned or watered once they are established in your garden. Rhododendrons thrive in acidic soil, so consider running a pH test if you are not sure what type of soil you have.

Rose

	botanical name Rosa spp.
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1-8 feet tall, 2-4 feet wide. The size greatly varies on the variety
	hardiness zones 4-11, depending on the species

An absolute garden classic, roses are a must-have in your sunny gardens! It is impossible to sum up what a rose is in a small blurb like this, but we are all familiar with the beautiful flowers.

The plants themselves can vary greatly from low-growing creeping roses to shrub roses as well as climbing roses. There truly is a rose for every sunny spot in your yard; it is just up to you to decide what works best for you and your space. There are even standard roses grafted to grow upward in a tree form.

Rose Campion

	botanical name Lychnis coronaria
	sun requirements Full sun to Partial sun
	height 1-2 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-8

Rose campion is an easy-to-love plant due to its attractive silver foliage and brightly colored flowers that give you months and months of color. The silver foliage is minimal but provides a soft color to your landscape.

The small trumpet-shaped flowers will bloom magenta, pale pink, or white. This is an excellent perennial to plant in an area with poor soil. You can deadhead the rose campion for repeat blooms. If you allow the rose campion to go to seed, the seeds will eventually drop and produce new plants.

Serbian Bellflower

	botanical name Campanula poscharskyana
	sun requirements Full Sun to partial sun
	height 4-12 inches tall, 1 foot wide
	hardiness zones 4-9

There are many different types of bellflower. Most are known for their rich purple flowers, and the Serbian bellflower is no exemption. Serbian bellflower is a beautiful summer groundcover that can reach up to one foot wide and tall.

The sweet little bellflowers are purple and bloom on top of small heart-shaped leaves. This perennial will spread by runners making it a great choice for a sloping area that could use slight erosion control.

Plant Serbian bellflower like you would plant creeping phlox; in a rock garden, over a wall, as a garden edge, or even in containers. Watch out for slugs!

Shasta Daisy

	botanical name Leucanthemum x superbum
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2-4 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide
	hardiness zones 4-9

Shasta daisies are increasingly popular perennials that can be found in many gardens and used in various ways. There are many different varieties of shasta daisy, each a bit different from the next, making it a versatile plant.

This perennial grows upright and will provide weeks and weeks of true daisies. Shasta daisies are tolerant of many different soil types and only require deadheading making it a pretty low-maintenance plant.

Plant your shasta daisies in your cutting garden, containers, or perennial gardens. The more of these plants you grow, the more beautiful the floral display will be.

Solomon’s Seal

	botanical name Polygonatum multiflorum
	sun requirements Partial sun to Shade
	height 2-3 feet tall, 1 foot wide
	hardiness zones 3-8

I love Solomon’s seal as a replacement for Lily of the Valley. It is easier to establish and does not have the high toxicity of lily of the valley. Solomon’s seal is primarily a foliage plant. However, white teardrop flowers will hang from the stems in the spring and early summer.

You can find Solomon’s seal with variegated leaves as well as solid green leaves. They are both beautiful! Plant in a shady area and watch this plant spread slowly. This perennial is very easy to care for and does not require much once established.

Spiked Speedwell

	botanical name Veronica spicata
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 4-8

Veronica, also known as spiked speedwell, is a really nice low-growing perennial. This plant has small green leaves that stay pretty low to the ground.

The flowers are spikes of pink, purple, or white. Once these flowers begin to fade, snip them off, and new flowers will begin to form.

There are a few different varieties of spiked speedwell available. Depending on which variety you select, speedwell is a nice addition to the front or middle of your perennial or border gardens.

Yarrow

	botanical name Achillea millefolium
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Plant Size: 2-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
	hardiness zones 3-9

Yarrow is a beautiful native plant that can be grown as a wildflower or a mounding perennial. The silver fern-like foliage is beautiful all season long and accents the colorful flower clusters that will also last throughout the summer.

Once yarrow is established in your garden, it will become drought resistant, making it a great plant for a neglected area of your garden or perhaps that tricky spot where you have trouble getting anything to grow.