This Late-Summer Garden Plan Is Packed with Long-Lasting Perennials

Keep the color coming on strong all the way through the end of the growing season with this no-fuss garden plan. It's packed with sun-loving, summer-blooming perennials that generally have brighter-hued flowers than those of spring, with warm reds, oranges, and golden yellows taking center stage. These long-lasting blooms often don't quit until the first frost, and their seed heads hold up well into winter, providing a source of food for birds that don't fly away to warmer climates. Add a decorative bird bath to further encourage wildlife to visit, plus it will serve as a focal point in the design.

Plants for Creating the Simple, Late-Summer Perennial Garden Plan

• 1 Monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii): Zones 3-7
• 1 Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’: Zones 3-10
• 1 Fountaingrass (Pennisetum spp.): Zones 6-10, depending on species
• 3 Red-hot poker (Kniphofia spp.): Zones 4-9, depending on species
• 5 Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’): Zones 4-9
• 1 Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Zones 3-9
• 1 Feather reedgrass (Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’): Zones 5-9
• 6 Romneya poppy (Romneya coulteri): Zones 7-11

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.

Get the Free Simple, Late-Summer Perennial Garden Plan

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.

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