A fresh cup of coffee on your green balcony, or breathing in the scent of blooming flowers in your garden: whatever your favourite outdoor moment is this summer, you can make it last even longer by surrounding yourself with plants that keep flowering for months! Read on and discover 5 annuals and 5 perennials that flower all summer long (and well into autumn)!
Top 5 long-flowering summer annuals
We’ve selected 5 annual summer bloomers that flower throughout summer and keep going well into autumn!
- Mandevilla (flowering period May-October): this elegant climber treats you to an abundance of white, pink or red trumpet-shaped flowers. Give it a sunny spot against a wall, fence or pergola and it will often keep flowering well into autumn!
- Cosmos (flowering period June-October): with its airy, cheerful flowers, Cosmos creates a playful, natural feel in your outdoor space. This flower loves a sunny border, but also looks beautiful as a cut flower in a vase. So you can enjoy its blooms both indoors and out!
- Geranium (flowering period May-October): this colourful classic turns any balcony or terrace into a floral celebration for months on end. Give the plant a sunny spot and mix different shades for a playful, exuberant effect.
- Busy Lizzie (flowering period May-October): this tireless bloomer just keeps going. Busy Lizzie produces cheerful, brightly coloured flowers for months and is also perfectly happy in partial shade. Ideal for adding a splash of colour to less sunny spots.
- Petunia (flowering period May-October): looking for a compact, colourful plant that flowers abundantly? Go for Petunia! Choose a trailing variety for a waterfall of flowers from a window box, or opt for a compact variety in a pot.
Remove faded flowers regularly. This encourages the plant to put its energy into producing new flower buds.
Top 5 long-flowering summer perennials
Want to see the same perennial come back into flower in your border or pot year after year? We’ve rounded up 5 perennials and shrubs you can enjoy season after season. From summer until (well) into autumn!
- Verbena (flowering period June-October): this fantastic bloomer loves a sunny spot in the border. Its long, slender flower stems make the purple blooms appear to float above the border, so the plant takes up very little space.
- Hydrangea (flowering period June-September): Hydrangea is a real showstopper and flowers beautifully even in a slightly shady spot. Its large flower heads often stay attractive for months and frequently change colour as the season progresses. Even the faded flowers are decorative!
- Persicaria (flowering period July-October): from summer onwards, this strong perennial produces long, slender flower spikes covered in tiny red flowers. They bring colour to the garden well into autumn and are highly attractive to bees and butterflies.
- Gaura (flowering period June-October): Gaura gives borders and pots a natural, airy look. It almost looks as though a little white or pink cloud of flowers is floating above the plant! Give the plant a sunny spot and you can enjoy its flowers for months!
- Repeat-flowering Rose (flowering period June-October): the name says it all: this Rose keeps producing new flowers throughout the summer. Give it a sunny spot and enjoy a touch of romance in your garden or on your balcony well into autumn.
With perennials such as Verbena, Persicaria and Gaura, you can enjoy a garden full of flowers, bees and butterflies every summer!
Garden plants that attract bees and butterflies
Want to know more about garden plants that attract bees and butterflies? And help make a positive contribution to biodiversity at the same time? Discover the top 15 garden plants for butterflies and the top 20 garden plants for bees. Get inspired and get growing! And if you’d like to help not only happy bees and cheerful butterflies, but other animals too, read this article about creating a wildlife-friendly garden.
More inspiration
Inspired by these long-flowering favourites? Then discover which colourful garden plants will make your outdoor space shine in autumn. Got a balcony? Create your own little outdoor paradise up high with these fantastic balcony plants. Another lovely idea: head into the kitchen and make a summery sharing platter, best enjoyed outside, of course, surrounded by your summer bloomers.
