Homeowners and gardening pros agree: Full-sun perennials that bloom throughout the summer are treasured additions to any landscape. That’s why Breck’s makes sure to stock plenty of our favourite varieties that meet this very specific criteria. But don’t worry—just because the bloom time narrows the field a bit, there are still plenty of options from which to choose. Below are 12 of our most popular perennials for sun that deliver tons of colour, beauty and interest all summer long.
Most Popular Sun-Loving Perennial Flowers
A fantastic seasonal bloomer, daylilies produce abundant flowers that make spectacular showings in sun-splashed borders, mixed cutting gardens, and throughout the summertime landscape. We love to see large plantings of hardy, multi-coloured daylilies, either alone or interplanted alongside low-growing annuals. Not only are blooms a welcome sight during the hot days of summer, the tall, waving strap-like foliage offers a cooling effect to area. Daylilies are drought tolerant, come in a variety of sizes and colours, and can be scented or reblooming, too.
For a blast of fragrant beauty that can be enjoyed both indoors and out, consider a generous planting of tall phlox. These beautiful full sun perennials come in a range of bright colours, some with a modern bicolour palette, and make excellent plants for decorative gardens and containers, window boxes or fresh arrangements. Our garden experts have created some wonderful displays using hardy tall phlox with taller perennials above or flowering ground covers below. Sited along sunny borders or in entryway beds, tall phlox usher visitors into your home with their glorious perfume and pretty, colourful bloom clusters.
Also known as echinacea, coneflowers are the ultimate in summertime sun lovers. These sun perennials stand straight and tall to face the heated rays all season long. They are a favourite of pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and left to die back naturally, the seed-filled cones become a tasty treat for the backyard birds. Available in fabulous colours and forms—some single, some double—coneflowers give a cheerful look to back borders, seasonal perennial gardens and even fresh cut floral arrangements. Like other summer bloomers, they are drought tolerant and hardy.
Striking and statuesque, hollyhocks have a wonderfully unique form and come in lots of vibrant colours. They can grow up to 7 ft. tall, making these gorgeous sun perennials the perfect selection for adding beauty and texture to foundation plantings or areas along fence lines or outbuildings. These full-sun perennial flowers draw plenty of attention from passersby as well as from beneficial pollinators — they provide nourishing nectar to butterflies and bees, making them a valuable asset in the garden. They are deer resistant, winter hardy and drought tolerant.
For flowers galore, consider often overlooked hardy geraniums. Deer resistant and drought tolerant, these low growers make a fantastic ground cover or garden accent from late spring until the middle part of fall—that means they offer three seasons of colour. Available in a range of hues, including blue, purple, pink, and white with purple splashes. Hardy geraniums require virtually no special care or maintenance and look amazing in along a sunny border, tucked into a rugged rock garden, or as a trailing perennial in containers, hanging baskets or window boxes.
Attract beneficial bees and beautiful butterflies to your landscape with the bright colours and daisylike features of coreopsis. Whether you choose to plant these beauties on the property as a border accent or cutting garden variety, or add them to a collection of decorative pots, you will be enchanted by the bold colours of the joyful blooms as they appear from early to late summer. They make sensational cut flowers that round out summery arrangements nicely. Hardy, deer resistant and drought tolerant.
A favourite of gardeners, landscape pros and floral designers, the clustered blooms of astrantia are sure to set your summer gardens ablaze with sizzling hues and unusual flower form. Hardy perennials for sun and warm days, these plants burst onto the scene in the early days of summer and continue to bloom steadily until the final days of the season. The blooms are unique—1½” wide umbels have a starry look that gives them a glittery appearance in the full sun garden.
You could say that there are better, more vibrant blooms for the summer garden, but you’d be mistaken. Helenium is a seasonal powerhouse, churning out fiery flowers by the hundreds from early summer to late fall. With a daisylike form and a moderate height, they give an outstanding pop of colour to summer borders, decorative pots, cutting gardens and mixed perennial beds. The stems are quite sturdy, keeping the hardy, drought tolerant blooms upright in the landscape or the vase.
Often found in seasonal flower arrangements, alstroemeria are summer perennial favourites that you are sure to love. Also known as Peruvian Lily, it is one of the most long-blooming perennials in the garden. Just a regular deadheading keeps these uniquely exotic blooms in abundance all summer and throughout the fall. You will love how much style and flair these petite flowers give to decorative pots or garden beds. Though they look like a tender tropical, alstroemeria can be left in the ground in growing zones 5 to 9.
For a different kind of garden display, plant a liberal number of red hot
pokers in your landscape. This herbaceous perennial is an exotic beauty that has a long blooming period—from early to late summer—and gives borders, beds and bouquets a unique look that neighbours, friends and family will envy. Bring some of the tubular flower clusters indoors to enjoy in a cut flower arrangement like no other. Hummingbirds and butterflies love to visit the blooms spikes, while the blue-green foliage remains impervious to hungry deer and rabbits.
Though a favourite in traditional perennial borders and old-fashioned cottage gardens, Shasta daisy gives a thoroughly modern look to contemporary landscapes. Yes, the humble daisy has been enjoyed for hundreds of years, but when judiciously planted amid other white summer bloomers, the sunny yellow centres add a warm pop of colour to an otherwise cool floral display. Pollinators love them, too!
If you want butterflies and bees to call your landscape home, consider adding Cinquefoil (also known as Potentilla) to the scene! These drought-resistant plants are perennial flowers that bloom all summer long with dense mounds of foliage accentuated by the abundant, saucer shaped flowers. Perfect for full sun sites, such as borders or cutting gardens, the hardy cinquefoil delivers reliably year after year.
We hope you’ve found some full sun perennials to enjoy in your summer-long display. Don’t forget—with Breck’s No-Risk Guarantee, you can shop with total confidence that your garden or landscape will be loaded with gorgeous colour and textural beauty that can’t be beat.
