9 Easy-Care Summer Perennials for Nonstop Color

A Foolproof Palette for Heat and Humidity

These tough perennials bloom from June into fall with minimal fuss — just deadhead spent flowers to keep the show going. Find them at nurseries in 1-gallon cans (except dahlias, best planted from tubers in spring).

The Design Recipe

Sunset's test garden (8×10 ft) combines three roles:

• Showy centerpieces: Yellow gloriosa daisies, pink & orange dahlias, lavender-pink coneflowers.
• Team players: Yellow yarrow, purple penstemon, golden coreopsis.
• Airy fillers: White gaura, white & lavender-pink asters.

Extras for more space: Ornamental oregano, butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) for pollinators.

Foliage framework: Mounding green Pittosporum tobira, silvery English lavender, purple fountain grass.

Growing Tips

• Sun: Full sun; afternoon shade in hottest climates.
• Soil: Amend with compost before planting.
• Water: Deep soak at planting, then frequent watering until established.

Designer Credit

Bud Stuckey, Gardens by Design, Felton, CA (831/335-7090)