Learn about some of my favorite long blooming perennials that work well in many garden environments and zones so you can have color in the garden all season long.
Doesn't everyone want plants that bloom for a long time in the garden? Here are some of my favorite garden perennial flowers and one favorite shrub that bloom for months in my garden.
Many come in a variety of colors, are easy to grow, and are low maintenance. They do enjoy full sun but some can grow well in partial shade. Best of all because they are perennials they will come back year after year.
Easy Long Blooming Perennials to Grow
Coreopsis 'Moonbeam'
The first of this wonderful list of long-blooming plants is Coreopsis 'Moonbeam.' This variety has been around for a long time, and there are so many new varieties and hybrids available.
Watch out, you may become addicted. Many are shades of yellow and gold. However, I know of at least one that is a rosy pink, and recently I saw a gorgeous deep burgundy colored one.
Salvia Nemorosa 'May Night' aka Sage
You can grow salvias in a range of colors. The image above is one of my favorites called May Night and was crowned Perennial of the Year in 1997. Not a fan of purple? You can find other salvias with flower spikes in colors of white, pink, and red. It's another deer resistant plant that pollinators love.
Nepeta racmosa aka Catmint
I love the gray-green foliage with lavender purple flowers of catmint. It starts blooming in late spring, and early summer and continues until frost. A hardy perennial, catmint fills a space well and can be cut back mid-season to produce more flowers.
Catmint works well in flower arrangements, and it's deer resistant. This variety is called 'Walker's Low.'
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Monarda didyma 'Blue Stocking' aka Beebalm
Just as the nickname suggests beebalm is loved by bees and other pollinators. It spreads well by runners and smells good too. Beebalm has a long bloom period and comes in a wide range of vibrant colors. The one shown above gets about 2-3 feet tall but there are also many short varieties such as Monarda 'Petite Delight' on the market that looks great in the front of the border or container gardens.
Hardy Geranium 'Sanguineum'
This is a perennial geranium not to be confused with the showy annual geraniums sold in nurseries. I personally have about a dozen different varieties and have written about them in Cuckoo for Cranesbills. They have a beautiful sprawling habit you often see in cottage gardens and many will tolerate partial shade.
This magenta colored one is Geranium Sanguineum, also known as Bloody Cranesbill. As a bonus, this tough guy self-seeds and shows up all over the place in the garden.
Hardy Geranium 'Orion'
Here's another hardy geranium with pretty violet-blue flowers called 'Orion.' So far it has not shown itself as a self-seeder but comes back readily in its spot every year.
Another variety, Geranium Rozanne, is often sold in nurseries and was named Perennial of the Year in 2008.
In addition, I recently wrote about Geranium macrorrhizum aka Big Root Geranium, a true workhorse in the garden. It makes a carpet-like ground cover that can easily be dug up, divided, and placed in different areas of the garden.
Leucanthemum superbum aka Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisies are very common perennials and one of the easiest to grow. Sometimes the foliage starts to look a little ratty in late summer but the flowers keep on going. An obvious choice for cut flowers and one that does well in many soil conditions.
Lavandula angustifolia, 'Hidcote' aka English Lavender
The deep purple foliage of this variety of English lavender is one of my favorites. It grows easily in my garden and is considered a woody shrub. You can cut the blooms and they will come back again during the season and last a long time. Lavender flowers are useful in so many ways and their fragrance cannot be any better.
Lychnis coronaria aka Rose Campion
Rose campion shows up all over the garden. Don't worry it's super easy to pull up, and quite frankly you probably won't want to unless you are growing a formal garden, and then you probably wouldn't plant it anyway. Another great cut flower, so bright and striking with fuchsia blooms and velvety gray-green leaves.
Achillea millefolium aka Yarrow
This white yarrow was here when we purchased the property. I believe it is the original common form and I've moved it all over the place. This one will grow anywhere and the butterflies and bees love it. Yarrow comes in a number of colors including gold and shades of pink. Yarrow flowers also dry well so you can enjoy them all year round in arrangements and wreaths.
Achillea millefolium 'Pretty Woman'
There are many pretty colored yarrows. The is a newer variety called 'Pretty Woman.' They are beautiful but not quite as hardy as the white.
Perovskia atriplicifolia aka Russian Sage
Another good one to dry is this Russian Sage. This pretty perennial with purple flowers is also drought tolerant, but it is not a fan of wet feet. Some varieties can reach upwards of four feet but this one is 'Little Spire,' a dwarf variety, which only grows to around two feet.
Echinacea purpurea aka Purple Coneflower
One of my first loves, this beauty with bright pink flowers is an Eastern North American native perennial. It grows very well for me here in Pennsylvania. That is if I can keep the groundhogs away long enough to get it established. They love to eat new spring growth.
This is the common purple coneflower variety with daisy-like flowers. It's easily grown from seed, however, you would not believe the new hybrids that come out every year. Check out this fabulous gallery from HGTV.
Lady's Mantle
Lady's Mantle is a wonderful long flowering perennial for the front of the border. The bright chartreuse blossoms look really pretty in flower arrangements for your summer entertaining or just to bring a little outside beauty indoors.
Rudbeckia aka Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan daisy-like blooms will last all summer and into the fall. Great as a cut flower, the variety above, American Gold Rush, was named Perennial of the Year for 2023.
Hemerocallis aka Daylilies
Who can resist the showy look of daylilies? They come in so many colors, sizes, and petal shapes. Daylilies can be grown in just about any zone from the coldest north to the hot and steamy south. Daylilies are also drought-resistant and are considered low maintenance. The biggest problem I have with daylilies is that the deer love them too.
More long blooming plants not pictured here:
Here are some more perennial plants that have a long bloom period from June through September.
- Penstemon
- Campanula aka Bellflower
- Gaillardia aka Blanket Flower
- Veronica aka Speedwell
- Astilbe
- Betony
- Lupin
- Garden Phlox
This list of long blooming perennials is great for beginning gardeners and will allow you to enjoy colorful flowers year after year from the beginning of the gardening season until frost.
More Garden Flower Ideas
Lynn B Spencer
I've always loved Hardy Geranium! One of my favs!
Thanks for this list! Excited about incorporating several into my garden this year.
Patti Estep
Me too Lynn! I'm always on the hunt for new varieties.
Leanna
We went from a 60 foot by 120 ft yard in the city to a small town with a whole acre. Thank you for the suggestions, I will look up their hardiness for frozen Canada but I bet the russian variety will work here.
Patti Estep
Leanna, what fun. I'm sure you'll find a few that will work in your area.I read that you can compare Canada's zones to US by adding one zone. For example, a plant that is hardy to zone 4 in the US should be hardy to zone 5 in Canada. Here's a link that helps determine your zone in Canada. https://empressofdirt.net/canadian-plant-hardiness-zones/
Leanna
Thats very helpful and appreciated Patti. I pinned it and yours as well. Hubs says thank you.
Susan Cottler
Hi Lisa,
I love your blog!!! I really enjoy gardening and just get so excited to see spring approaching. Thank you for the great information.
Patti Estep
Thank you Susan for such a lovely comment. I'm so excited for spring too.
Lisa Hansen
Hi I love your content And my favourite bulb is the star gazer lily so pretty and fragrant. I have a monkey tree and I was wondering what I could do to help it get bushy and strong? Thank you for your help. Lisa Hansen soccer86lover@yahoo.ca
Cheers!
Patti Estep
Lisa the stargazer lily is a beauty. I had them in my wedding many years ago. Unfortunately, I have never grown a monkey tree so I have no idea how to help you with it. Sometimes top pruning can encourage a plant to bush out but since I have never grown this plant I would suggest that you search for another source before pruning.
Patti Estep
Lisa, the stargazer lily is a beauty. I had them in my wedding many years ago. Unfortunately, I have never grown a monkey tree so I have no idea how to help you with it. Sometimes top pruning can encourage a plant to bush out but since I have never grown this plant I would suggest that you search for another source before pruning.
Meg Fisher
Pictures are great. What are the names of the flowers?
Patti Estep
Hi Meg,
There is a description of each plant below the picture. Let me know if there is a specific one (you can describe it) that you want to know more about.
Betty
What are some good perennials for shady areas?
Patti Estep
Hi Betty,
I did a post called 7 out of the ordinary shade perennials that you may like. Most of them bloom either in the spring or late summer. I also like hellebore and begonia grandis for shady spots. Some hardy geraniums will bloom in partial shade and they are long bloomers. You may want to try finding some good shade lovers with pretty foliage that will last all season long such as coral bells or foam flowers.
Hope this helps,
Patti
Maureen
This year I hope to embrace my "inner gardener"! This list is the first place I am going to start!
Rosemary Burritt
I was without my perennial gardens for 2 years because of a move from NJ to PA. But this year I have it back and LOVE IT! I look out the front and my spirits are instantly lifted. The Butterflies and the bird visitors are wonderful. Love this site! came upon it via http://www.pinterest and so so glad I did. I am having a great time reading! I think the secret to perennials is raised beds with great soil. I tried half heartedly and my success with poor clay soil was not good. A lot of money waisted! I am busy cleaning out old beds of Boston and English ivy. What a mess. When cleaned out it will have a big load of good soil placed on top and it will be fun to garden. Thanks again for the great site!
Patti Estep
Hi Rosemary,
I agree raised beds are a big help for any gardening. Glad that you are enjoying you new place and found this site.
Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by,
Patti
Laura
So ironic that I found this post today as I was just at the garden shop buying several of these perennials for a new front garden bed at my hose! I got Russian sage, cone flower, Shasta daisy and lavender. If my budget allowed, I would have gotten rose campion too! I've bookmarked this article for next year's planting season! Cheers!
Patti Estep
Hi Laura,
How fun! Perennials can be addicting but since they come back every year I always feel justified in spending money on them.
Thanks for stopping by!
Patti
Lesley
Ya know! I've had fun this year collecting seeds for next year from. This years fallen flowers, Cosmos is a good one! The place in the flower that holds the seed are always SO amazing looking! To me lol I may be just odd! 🌸🌺
Patti Estep
Hi Lesley,
You are not odd at all. Collecting seeds it a great way to save money and grow flowers that you love the next season. My sister-in-law has the most beautiful spot of zinnias that she re-grows from seed every year.
Cosmos are really pretty airy flowers. In fact, there is a beautiful chocolate one that I have my eye on.
Enjoy your flowers and thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Karen
Great list, Patti! When I was younger I always wanted to grow annuals because they tend to be so much showier than perennials. Fast forward a few years and I so appreciate the stability of a great perennial. There's some new-to-me varieties on this list so I've got fresh inspiration. Thanks!