The Colorful Perennials in This Easy-Care Summer Garden Plan Bloom All Season Long

Overlapping bloom times is the secret to nearly nonstop color in this easy-care summer garden plan. The low-maintenance perennials in this design produce a palette of pink, purple, yellow, and white flowers from spring to fall, but shine brightest during the warmest months. And when one variety finishes flowering, another takes its place. Plants with staying power such as yarrow and daylily help bridge any bloom gaps. You’ll even get an encore from the reblooming iris when it produces a second flush of pristine white flowers in late summer after its first show in spring. Site this plan in full sun for maximum blooms.

• 3 Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii): Zones 4-9
• 2 Daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Johnny One Note’): Zones 3-10
• 1 Bearded iris (Iris ‘Immortality’): Zones 4-9
• 2 Perennial geranium (Geranium Rozanne): Zones 5-9
• 2 Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘Merlot’): Zones 3-9
• 2 Blazing star (Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’): Zones 4-9
• 1 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium ‘Summerwine’): Zones 3-10
• 3 Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicfolia): Zones 4-9
•  2 Perennial sunflower (Helianthus multiflorus 'Flore Pleno'): Zones 4-9
• 2 Feather reedgrass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora): Zones 4-9

If you aren't able to find the exact cultivars listed above, substitute with others that have similar colors, shapes, and sizes. And because some plants can become overly aggressive and spread out of control in certain climates, always check which species are considered invasive in your area before planting.

The garden plan for this design includes an illustrated version of the planted garden, a detailed layout diagram, a list of plants for the garden as shown, and complete instructions for installing the garden. Free, one-time registration allows unlimited access to all garden plans, available as printable PDFs.

• Clay Soil Garden Plan
• Easy-Care Butterfly Garden Plan
• Prairie Garden Plan