June is National Perennial Month, which means it’s time for perennials to step into the spotlight! With tons of varieties in bloom now, you’re sure to find the perfect summer plants for your space. Not sure where to start? Check out some of our favorites in the list below!

Digitalis

Digitalis, commonly known as foxglove, is a partial-shade lover that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. It is stunning both in the garden and as a cut flower! Check out the pink and cream from the Dottie series for a more compact habit and an earlier blooming period. For a true perennial foxglove, try ‘Arctic Fox Rose’!

Monarda

Monarda, or Bee Balm, is a well-known favorite of hummingbirds and one of the best options to attract them! The ultra-bright, showy blooms are also attractive to butterflies and bees, so you will see a ton of pollinators coming to visit. This plant is highly deer resistant and does best in full sun, but can be grown in partial shade as well.

Leucanthemum

Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisies) are a staple in the garden. These cheery white to pale yellow flowers typically bloom during the summer, but the exact time frame depends on the variety. Great for pollinators and cut flowers!

Achillea

Achillea, commonly called Yarrow, is known for its fern-like foliage and flat-topped flower clusters. This flat flower shape makes an ideal landing pad for bees and butterflies! With excellent deer resistance, drought tolerance, and the ability to thrive in poor soil, this is a great low-maintenance perennial. Plant in full sun and enjoy blooms all summer long!

Astilbe

Astilbe is an excellent option to add color and texture in low light! Showy plumes of pink, purple, white, or red (depending on the variety) typically bloom from late spring to late summer. Plant with hosta or ferns for great contrast in a shade or woodland garden!

Are you looking to expand your perennial gardens with fresh new plants for the summer? Look no further! We’ve curated a list of our Top 7 Summer Perennial Must-Haves to give your garden beautiful season-long color and interest.
  1. Perennial Hibiscus – Show-stopping dinner plate-sized blooms in red, pink, white, including varieties that mix each color on every flower. Create your own backyard tropical paradise!
  2. Coneflowers – This is THE classic native flower. It comes in lots of colors including in pink, neon pink, yellow, red, white, and even orange. Plus, it blooms on repeat.
  3. Lavender – This is a super fragrant choice for that sunny, sandy, summer beach scene with lots of long-lasting flowers.
  4. Coreopsis – A lacy, airy flower that reblooms with ease in the heat of summer. Keep them dry and hot for best results.
  5. Daylily – This indestructible rebloomer does best along roadsides, walkways, and sunny hot locales everywhere.
  6. False Sunflower – You can get tons of long-lasting color from this tall, narrow plant that loves to bake in the afternoon sun.
  7. Black-eyed Susan – These bright yellow flowers bridge the gap between summer vacation and football season. Bring the summer to a close and ring in autumn all in one great plant.
lphenomenalWith the recent extended period of dry weather, I thought this would be a great opportunity to highlight some of our Van Wilgen Grown, drought-tolerant perennials. While during the planting period these plants require water, one established these plants can survive on minimal supplemental water.
English Lavender -Lavender is a great drought perennial. It really prefers the driest soil possible. We carry a variety of sizes and these plants are extremely fragrant that also make a great cut flower.
Sedum – These plants are commonly known as stonecrop. They typically grow between 12-18″ tall and will bloom in late summer through early fall. These plants are excellent pollinators for bees and butterflies. We have several different varieties to choose from and their flower color range from different shades of pink. It is a great plant for any fall garden.
Sempervivum – These plants are commonly known as Hens and Chicks. They are extremely drought tolerant and look just like desert succulents. They spread over time hence giving them their name of Hens and Chicks. We carry a cool line of sempervivums that are called Chick Charms which come in an array of bright colors.
Artemisia – These plants are commonly known as wormwood. They have silvery soft foliage that forms a great mound in the garden. They will grow 6-12″ tall and 18-24″ wide. They look great when planted in a mass in a border or cottage garden.
This is a small sampling of our drought-tolerant perennials. I encourage you to come to visit our garden center to see our full line of plants and see what would be the best fit for your garden!