Summer is here (finally), and there is no better way to celebrate being outside in warm weather than by incorporating new plants into your yard or landscape. Perennials and shrubs that are spring bloomers are pretty much done by now, so now is the time to think about what summer blooms you would like to decorate your yard with for this season. To help you out, we’ve created a list of our favorite plants for summer interest in order to help show you what you can plant to help add color to your house or business this summer.
Top 5 Plants for Summer Interest
1. Echinacea:
Echinacea is perhaps one of the most quintessential summer plants. Also know as Coneflowers, they are indigenous to North America and bloom throughout the summer in the fields throughout the US. These perennials are extremely hardy and can withstand hot, summer days. People love them because they flower the entire summer. The native flowers are typically purple or pink, but new varieties come in shades of yellow, orange, red, and white.
above: Echinacea purpea Magnus
2. Tiger Eyes Sumac:
This sumac is a low-maintenance shrub with a unique look. The neon foliage makes an awesome contrast to its dark, nearly-purple branches. It’s hardy and does not need much water. They thrive in the summer and can be used to in a variety of ways as either an accent plant, shrub border, or mass planting.
above: Tiger Eyes Sumac
3. Hypericum:
Hypericum, also called St. John’s Wort, is a fun shrub with notable, yellow flowers with a fuzzy center. They consistently bloom from July until the beginning of fall — hence why they make our list of top summer plants. Add them to any yard to sprinkle some pops of yellow.
above: Hypericum Sunny Boulevard
4. Butterfly Bush:
Summer is not only a great time for flowers, but it is also a great time for butterflies. Butterfly bushes obtained their name because their flowers attract butterflies from left and right all summer and into fall. These shrubs come in blue, purple, pink, and white mostly and will be sure to add color and butterflies to your yard.
above: Butterfly bush
5. Hydrangeas:
We cannot talk about summer plants without talking about hydrangeas! Hydrangeas are the show-stopping plants of any landscape or yard in the summer. Some varieties have memorable flowers that you can change from pink to blue (or vice versa) depending on the soil properties. The best varieties for summer interest are Smooth (arborescens), Panicle (paniculata), Oakleaf (quercifolia), and Bigleaf (macrophylla). There is a ton to learn about hydrangeas and so many amazing varieties to incorporate into your planting beds. Luckily, we’ve found a guide that will teach you all you need to know here: Hydrangea Guide.
above: Hydrangea macrophylla “Let’s Dance Blue Jangles”
Have Questions About Plants?
We may be a wholesale grower, but our staff are experts in the field. What’s more, is we love helping people learn more and understand more about plants. We grow healthy plants, and we want our plants (and any plants really) to be successful in the landscapes they are planted in. Feel free to email us at sales@lomavistanursery.com or call us at (785) 229-7200 if you ever have plant-related questions.
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