Perennial Flowers That Bloom All Summer in Pots

Container gardening is an excellent way to add pops of color and life to patios, porches, and small outdoor spaces. When selecting plants for container gardens, it’s important to choose varieties that will continue blooming through the hottest days of summer Perennial flowers that bloom continuously from early summer into fall are ideal choices for pots and planters They provide ongoing beauty without having to be replanted every year.

In this article, we will look at some of the best perennial flowers for all-summer color in containers. We’ll consider factors like heat and drought tolerance, bloom time, growth habit, and more. With the right selections, you can have stunning pots overflowing with blossoms from the first days of summer until autumn’s chill.

Choosing the Best Perennial Flowers for Pots

When picking perennials for nonstop summer blooms in containers keep these factors in mind

• Hardiness – Select varieties hardy enough for your area that can withstand summer heat. Check the USDA Hardiness Zone rating.

• Bloom time – Look for flowers that bloom continuously without deadheading. Many perennials bloom heavily in spring or fall but less midsummer.

• Growth habit – Compact, mounding perennials are best suited for pots. Avoid large, sprawling varieties that require frequent pruning.

• Sun exposure – Make sure to match the plant’s light needs with the container’s location Most summer-blooming perennials need full sun

• Water needs – Drought-tolerant varieties handle dry spells better if pots don’t get watered regularly. But most perennials need consistent moisture.

• Maintenance – Lower maintenance perennials simplify container care. Avoid fussy plants that need frequent intervention.

By selecting perennials with these factors in mind, you can create stunning containers that shine all season long.

Top Perennial Flowers for Summer-Long Color

Here are some excellent perennial flowers for nonstop bloom in patio pots and planters from early summer through fall:

Sedums

Sedums are popular succulent perennials that thrive in containers. Their thick, fleshy leaves need minimal watering once established. Sedums bloom reliably through hot, dry conditions that make other plants wilt. There are many great varieties including:

• Autumn Joy – Large pink flower heads transitioning to coppery bronze. Grows 18-24 inches.

• Brilliant – Trailing stems with bright pink blooms. Perfect for hanging pots.

• Angelina – Chartreuse foliage with yellow flowers. Grows 6-8 inches tall.

Verbena

Verbenas are heat loving perennials that produce colorful clusters of tiny blooms all season. The taller varieties add vibrant color and fragrance to containers. Good options include:

• Homestead Purple – Rich purple blossoms on 10-12 inch plants.

• Quartz Scarlet – Bright red blooms on 14-16 inch stems.

• Superbena Whiteout – Pure white flowers on compact 12 inch plants.

Geranium

Also called hardy geraniums or cranesbill, these mounding perennials give months of cheery color in containers. Popular varieties include:

• Rozanne – Vivid violet-blue blooms with white centers. Spreads 18-24 inches wide.

• Biokovo – White flowers with pink veins and fuzzy foliage. Grows 12 inches tall.

• Jolly Jewel Lilac – Lavender blooms on low 10-12 inch wide plants.

Lavender

Compact English lavender varieties flourish with fragrant purple flower spikes and attractive gray-green foliage. They make great additions to patio pots.

• Munstead – Lavender-blue blooms on tidy 10-12 inch plants.

• Hidcote – Deep violet blossoms on compact 10-14 inch plants.

• Thumbelina Leigh – Dwarf variety under 6 inches tall with violet flowers.

Coreopsis

Coreopsis produce cheerful, daisy-like blooms in sunset shades of yellow, gold, red and bi-colors. Deadheading prolongs bloom time. Good upright varieties for containers include:

• Moonbeam – Pale yellow flowers on 18 inch plants.

• Early Sunrise – Vibrant golden yellow blooms reach 15 inches tall.

• Mercury Rising – Red and yellow bicolor blooms on 15 inch stems.

Dianthus

Commonly called Pinks, dianthus produce frilly, colorful blooms in white, pink, red, and purple hues. The short, compact varieties are ideal for pot culture.

• Firestar – Bright crimson red flowers on 6-8 inch plants.

• Neon Star – Vivid neon pink blooms on 8-10 inch stems.

• Starry Eyes – White blooms with deep pink centers on 6-8 inch plants.

Yarrow

Yarrow handles heat and drought while pumping out flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers on lacy foliage. It adds texture and color to containers all season. Popular varieties include:

• ‘Paprika’ – Smoky orange-red blooms with ferny gray foliage. Grows 18-24 inches tall.

• ‘Moonshine’ – Luminous yellow blossoms with chartreuse leaves. Reaches 24 inches tall.

Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses like maiden grass, fountain grass, and Japanese blood grass provide graceful movement and texture contrast to pots. Many also produce plume-like blooms or seed heads by mid to late summer.

Gaillardia

Also called blanket flowers, Gaillardia produce bold, daisy-like blooms from early summer into fall. The short varieties work well in containers.

• ‘Fanfare’ – Fluted golden yellow petals. Grows 14 inches tall.

• ‘Arizona Sun’ – Yellow flowers with red rings. Stays under 12 inches tall.

• ‘Commotion Frenzy’ – Rusty-red petals tipped in yellow on 18 inch plants.

Veronica

Also called speedwell, veronica offers graceful tapered flower spikes in blue, purple and pink hues from early summer until frost. Good container types include:

• ‘Sunny Border Blue’ – Vibrant blue blooms on 18 inch stems.

• ‘Whitewater’ – Elegant white plumes on 15 inch tall plants.

• ‘Red Fox’ – Rosy-pink flower spikes on 24 inch tall plants.

With the right selections, perennial flowers will keep patio pots and planters brimming with blossoms from early summer through the autumn chill. Just be sure to match plants to site conditions and provide basic care like sun exposure, adequate water and good drainage.

Caring for Perennial Container Gardens

Perennials thrive over many gardening seasons but need a little care and attention in containers. Here are some tips for success:

• Use a quality potting mix made for perennials. This ensures proper drainage.

• Include slow release fertilizer at planting for steady nutrients all season.

• Group plants with similar needs like sun exposure and watering requirements.

• Combine early, mid and late season bloomers for nonstop color.

• Turn pots occasionally for even sunlight on all sides.

• Water thoroughly until it drains out the bottom of pots.

With the right selections and care, perennial container gardens will bloom abundantly from the first days of summer through the autumn chill.

Perennial flowers that bloom all summer are perfect choices for low maintenance, high impact container plantings. Heat and drought tolerant varieties like sedums, verbena, lavender, coreopsis and gaillardia thrive in patio pots and planters. Combine bloomers with different colors and seasons of interest for stunning nonstop color from early summer into fall. With a little planning, perennial flowers can keep container gardens looking fresh and vibrant even during the hottest days of summer.

For long-blooming perennials in containers, consider options like Salvia, Geranium, Dianthus, Lavender, Yarrow, and Dahlia, according to garden sites.

Several perennials are known for their long-blooming nature, offering color in the garden for extended periods. Coreopsis, Salvia, Buddleia, and Hardy Geraniums are excellent choices for continuous blooms.

Yes, many perennials can be grown successfully in pots and will come back year after year, but it depends on the specific plant and the growing conditions.