Late Summer Annual Flowers for Extended Garden Color

Introduction

With planning, annuals can fill gaps left by perennials' limited bloom periods, providing color from spring into late summer and fall. Choose continuous bloomers.

Salvia (Salvia splendens)

Easy, tough, drought-resistant. Good for hot, dry late summer. Colors: red, maroon, pink, purple, salmon, white. Upright spikes over dark green leaves. Blooms continuously spring–fall.

Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana)

Clusters of tubular, star-faced blooms in white, pink, red, pale green. Fragrant at night—delight for late summer evenings. 'Domino Series': 12–15 in, heat/sun tolerant. 'Nicki Series': especially fragrant, wide color range.

Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

Dependable, low-growing. Blooms early summer to frost. Tiny pink, rose, purple, white clusters on trailing mounds with narrow green leaves. Honey-scented. Shear by half one month after first bloom fades to encourage new crop lasting into late summer.

Celosia (Celosia argentea)

Velvety flowers in irregular forms. Heads 4–12+ inches. Plumosa: feathery plumes. Cristata (cockscomb): curled fan-shaped clusters. Colors: yellow, orange, red, cream. Blooms late summer–fall. Excellent dried flowers—colors last indefinitely.

Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)

Fuzzy blue, pink, or white clusters on tidy dark green mounds. Long-lasting blooms for late summer–fall. Traditional edging plant; taller cultivars fill perennial borders. Nice in cut arrangements.

Tip

Deadhead spent flowers regularly to keep annuals blooming into fall.

Warning

Nicotiana is poisonous if ingested. Keep away from children and pets.