Late Summer Color: Five Flowers to Keep your Garden Glowing

Though it’s been quite cool in the Pacific Northwest, summer has officially switched into high gear with beginning of August. The sun is scorching, the ground is dry, and things are probably looking and feeling a little crispy in your garden.

As the old adage says, “April showers bring May flowers.” But what about August? September? Not to fear! Here are five favorite flowering plants to that bloom long and strong, and will bring beautiful late summer color to your garden.

Five Flowers for Late Summer Color

1. Coneflower
   Echanacea purpurea, paradoxa, etc
   This perennial is easy to grow and comes back year after year. Flowers appear atop tall stalks, with bright red pointy centers and petals that range from pale cream and rich yellow, to deep red, purple, orange and pink depending on the species. The purpurea species is commonly used in folk medicine.
   
   
   
   
2. Salvia ‘Black and Blue’
   Salvia guaranitica
   The genus Salvia is the largest in the mint species, with nearly 1000 species. We haven’t met one that we don’t like, but the ‘Black and Blue’ is a standout, with (you guessed it) deep, dark blue-black flowers that shoot out dramatically on spikes with bright green leaves. Bees and hummingbirds delight in this plant, which provides prolific flowers all through summer and beyond.
3. Russian Sage
   Perovskia atriplicifolia
   Russian sage adds hieght and texture as well as late summer color. The lavender-colored flowers are spread along long, feathery blossom spikes that bend and sway in the summer breeze. Hardy and perfect for full sun, this perennial makes a bold statement in the garden.
   
   
   
   
4. Fleabane
   Erigeron glaucus, Erigeron peregrinus
   Fleabane is our own northwest native daisy. Great for attracting butterflies and other beneficial insects, this sweet little perennial has lovely lavender, pink, white or yellow flowers that bloom for days and days. Late summer color galore in your rock garden or well-draining container! This flower has gotten a lot of attention in the garden design world as of late.
5. Geranium ‘Rozanne’
   This hardy member of the geranium family is a favorite in our landscape design projects. A prolific grower, this beauty flowers deep purple from late spring well into fall. One of the longest blooming plants we’ve found, you can count on this one as a low-maintenance late summer color spot in your garden.
   
   

Honestly, it was very challenging to pick just five flowers for late summer color in the garden. Honorable mention goes to: Dahlias, Helenium, Rudbeckia, Sedum and Coreopsis.

What’s blooming in your garden right now? What plants are you counting on for your late summer color spots? Share your favorites with us in the comments, and happy gardening!