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Late summer flowers to plant


10 Perennials for Late-Summer and Fall Color

Keep the color show going in your backyard right up until frost. Here’s a peek at 10 of our favorite late-season bloomers. By Doug Jimerson

Nippon Daisy

Often called Montauk Daisy, Nippon Daisy is prized for its late-in-the-season explosion of perky, white flowers. This easy-care plant grows 24 to 36 inches tall, and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Both the leaves and flowers of Nippon daisy are frost tolerant and will retain their color right up until a hard freeze. The nectar-rich blooms will also lure colorful butterflies to your garden. Nippon daisy is deer-resistant, too. Zones 5-9

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Goldenrod

Let the bright, yellow blooms of goldenrod gild your late-season garden with color. Heat- and drought-tolerant, goldenrod is an easy-care native that’s been given a modern makeover. Newer hybrids are a great choice for your garden because they’re more compact and produce more flowers than their roadside cousins. Hybrid goldenrod grows 18 to 24 inches tall and is highly attractive to hungry bees and butterflies. By the way, it’s a myth that goldenrod causes hay fever. Ragweed, which blooms at the same time as goldenrod, is generally the sneeze-inducing culprit.  Zones 3-9

In photo: Solidago 'Little Lemon'

Joe Pye Weed

Perennials don’t get much tougher than Joe Pye weed. In fact, you can probably drive a truck over this rugged native and not phase it a bit. Joe Pye Weed is a big plant (although dwarf varieties that grow 3 feet tall are available) often reaching 6 to 7 feet tall, so give it plenty of room to stretch out. It loves rich, slightly moist soil and produces handsome burgundy-green foliage topped with large showy heads of whitish-purple flowers in the late summer and fall. Butterflies and bees love the nectar rich flowers. Joe Pye weed can be a bit of a bully, so plant it where it won’t encroach on its neighbors. Zones 4-10

In photo: Eupatorium 'Baby Joe'

Discover more top plants to attract butterflies to your garden.

Helenium

For gorgeous fall color you can’t beat helenium. Year after year, this super- easy native perennial produces masses of pretty, daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red, and bi-color. These sun-loving plants grow 3 to 4 feet tall and look terrific even when rainfall is scarce. Occasionally called sneezeweed, helenium does not cause hay fever. It just happens to bloom in the same season as ragweed so it often takes the blame. Helenium will also attract important pollinating insects to your garden. Deer, however, avoid the plant. Zones 3-8

In photo: Helenium 'Coppelia'

Oriental Lily

Enjoy color and fragrance in your fall garden with Oriental lilies. These exotic-looking charmers grow 4 to 6 feet tall and produce magnificent stalks of huge, star-shape blooms. Colors include pink, rose, red, cream, white, yellow, and orange; most flowers are also generously splashed with darker stripes and spots. Oriental lilies need a sunny to partially sunny spot with well-drained soil that has plenty of organic matter mixed in. It may take a year or two to form a big impressive clump, but these super plants are worth the wait. Zones 5-9

In photo: Lilium 'Farolito'

Chrysanthemum

When you think about fall color, chrysanthemums are probably the first plants that come to mind. That’s because these versatile perennials are available in an almost unlimited selection of colors, sizes, and flower forms that look amazing planted by themselves or mixed with other flowers. Use chrysanthemums in containers or directly in the landscape. All they require is a sunny location and a drink whenever the surface of the soil begins to dry. In colder climates cover newly planted chrysanthemums with a few inches of shredded leaves or compost after the foliage dies. This protects them during their first winter in the ground. Zones 4-10

In photo: Orange Chrysanthemum

Japanese anemone

Borne on tall, elegant stems, the pink or white flowers of Japanese anemone are a welcome treat in the late-summer garden. Growing 2 to 4 feet high, Japanese anemone mingles well with other fall bloomers such as asters and chrysanthemums. The plants prefer full sun, but will also bloom in partial shade. They do best in rich, cool, organic soil so mulch the plants with shredded leaves or compost. Japanese anemone spreads by underground runners, so keep an eye on your plants to be sure they aren’t crowding nearby perennials. Zones 4-8

In photo: Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'

Aster

Make asters the backbone of your fall border. These reliable perennials form dense mounds of white, purple, pink, or blue flowers. Asters come in a variety of shapes and sizes and, depending on variety, can grow 1 to 4 feet tall. This makes them versatile enough to be planted anywhere, from a container to the back of the border. These fall beauties are also extremely attractive to butterflies, particularly hungry Monarchs looking for a quick snack while on their fall migration. Asters need full sun and well-drained soil. Zones 4-7

In photo: Aster 'Purple Viking'

Balloon Flower

Take your fall flower garden to new heights with balloon flower. Named for its eye-catching balloon-shape flower buds, balloon flower provides a burst of welcome color in the late-summer garden. An easy-care perennial, balloon flower, which also goes by its genus name platycodon, develops quantities of dark blue, pink, or white flowers. The plants grow 12 to 20 inches tall and thrive in any sunny or partially sunny location. Balloon flower also makes a wonderful cut flower. And, it’s deer resistant, too! Zones 3-8

In photo: Platycodon 'Sentimental Blue'

Sedum

If you’re a “plant it and forget it” style of gardener, you definitely need to put sedum on your shopping list. These rugged plants are virtually indestructible and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Sedums have fleshy foliage that makes them super drought tolerant. Just plant them in a sunny spot and stand back. Taller varieties, that can grow 24 to 36 inches tall, produce large flat heads of pink or red flowers through the late summer and fall. The nectar rich blooms also attract scores of bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Zones 3-8

In photo: Sedum 'Autumn Charm'

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16 best blooms for color into fall |

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

Include plenty of late summer flowers in your planting plans to continue the display of colorful blooms well into fall.

Often gardens can start to look a little lacklustre later in the summer months when the riot of late spring and early summer choices have faded. But by including in your flower bed ideas plenty of high and late summer choices that cope well with the weather, you can keep the color going in your garden all summer long.

It is never too early to start planning your late summer flowers as whether they are grown from seed or are summer bulbs, they will need to be planted many months ahead.

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

Late summer flowers to plant

There is a plethora of brilliant late summer flowers to select from.

'Including a handful of ultra-reliable, perennial workhorses is a great starting point,’ advises Richard Wilson, horticulturalist at RHS Garden Rosemoor.  

‘These will keep flowering all summer long and with the application of a few tricks of the trade, such as regular deadheading, will endure well into fall. Don’t forget to tie in and support your taller, late-summer perennials to help prevent them from flopping over or being damaged by the wind,’ he adds.

Here, gardening experts share their favorite flowers that they wouldn’t be without through summer.

1. Canna lily

(Image credit: Leigh clapp)

'Canna are invaluable for late summer pizzazz and before they flower, their leaves are equally eye-catching. They are not hardy, so need protection in winter,' explains award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant .

These tender perennials add color and interest to borders or as container gardening ideas. Water well in dry spells and deadhead to encourage further flowering. 

They are a wonderful choice if you want to create a tropical garden feel.

2. Penstemon

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

‘Penstemons are some of the longest flowering and reliable perennials. There is a wide range of colours. Wait until after the frosts to cut them back to ground level,' explains Juliet Sargeant.

These late summer flowers grow best in fertile, well-drained soil in a fully sunny protected spot. 

If you learn how to divide plants you can multiply the numbers of these popular perennials to fill your garden with more color each summer.

3. Rudbeckia fulgida var. ‘Goldsturm’

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

'Rudbeckias are the late comers to the garden party, bringing their bright yellow disco light to the garden in late summer. These late summer flowers are very tough and help bring one last dance to the garden before fall,' says garden designer Lee Burkhill of The Garden Ninja .  

They are fantastic as flowers that attract bees and pollinators with the pollen they contain. 'They will pretty much grow anywhere and work well to add a pop of color to a prairie style border,' says Lee.

Rudbekias thrive in sun or part shade, in fertile soil that holds moisture.

4. Jacob's ladder – Polemonium caeruleum

(Image credit: RHS/ Graham Titchmarsh)

Polemonium caeruleum, also known as Jacob’s Ladder, 'is one of the true blues of the garden, and another fantastically floriferous flower to add contrast to other borders,' says Lee Burkhill. 

'Rich in pollen, it is a fuss free plant, especially on chalky soils or alkaline heavy gardens. These plate summer flowers are easily grown from seed with a relatively quick time to establish with flowers in year two onwards,' says Lee.

Grow in sun or part shade in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. They can flower from spring up to late summer.

5. Pot marigold – calendula officinalis

(Image credit: Future)

The vibrant flowers of the pot marigold offer great benefits for companion planting alongside certain fruits and vegetables. 'Both plant and flower emit an aroma that I can only describe as surgical iodine, which helps deter pests like green aphids when these late summer flowers are grown next to tomatoes, says garden writer and photographer Rekha Mistry.

The fast growing annual or biennial happily flowers until the first frosts, so make sure you know when to plant marigolds to enjoy a long season of color.

6. Borage

(Image credit: Lucy Kral/Unsplash)

‘This is a beautiful star flower that naturalizes wherever it grows. When you're planning a kitchen garden, grow several plants at either end to allow pollinators to remain in the kitchen garden aiding successful pollination of vegetable flowers as they move from one end to the other. Borage flowers are edible too, with a fresh cucumber flavor when added to salads and cocktail drinks, says Rekha.

Direct sow in spring, as they don’t like their roots disturbed.

7. Cosmos

(Image credit: Thompson & Morgan)

‘Cosmos produces masses of large pink daisy-like flowers and can grow up to 1m,' explains Charlie Bloom, garden designer and kitchen gardener at Riverhill Himalayan Gardens .

When you know how to grow cosmos you will enjoy these pretty annual blooms that form clouds of color. Deadhead spent flowers but leave some to self-seed.

8. Annual mallow – Malope trifida ‘Vulcan’

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

'Malope produces the deepest magenta flowers, off-set by lime green stems. It is easy to produce from seed with no complicated instructions, just dirt, light and water,' explains Charlie Bloom.

A hardy annual, place in a full sun position in moist, well-drained soil. Encourage lateral growth and further flowering by picking some of the flowers. 

This late summer flower will keep blooming into fall.

9. Dahlias

(Image credit: Dahlia ‘Thomas Edison’ available from sarahraven.com / photograph Jonathan Buckley)

It's worth learning how to grow dahlias as there are so many varieties that you can mix them beautifully with harmonious tones or as a striking contrast. 

‘We have lots of dahlias in our garden but Dahlia 'Thomas Edison' is a stand out favorite. It has a spectacularly intense magenta color and its bloom of nearly 20cm across is carried on strong, dark stems, which makes it a fabulous cut flower for the house,' says award winning garden designer and broadcaster Chris Beardshaw .

Deadhead dahlias to prolong their flowering.

10. Anthemis 'Tetworth'

(Image credit: Beth Chatto Garden and Plants)

‘Carrying daisy flowers all summer long, anthemis makes a great edge of border plant that is tall enough to offer support to other border plants,' explains Chris Beardshaw.

With an upright habit and soft grey cut leaves this useful late summer flower works well as a foil against other colors,  and in a naturalistic planting design. 

It needs full sun, with well-drained soil that doesn’t get waterlogged.

11. Astrantia

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

'There are so many wonderful astrantia that it is hard to single out just one,' says renowned garden designer, author and founder of the English Gardening School Rosemary Alexander.

'Astrantia ‘Large White’ is a strong grower with rayed greenish-pink flowers reaching about 75cm, and flowers from June to September. I usually cut mine back after flowering and it performs again until the first frosts,' Rosemary adds.

These late summer flowers grow best in moisture retentive soil and light shade. Keep deadheading to encourage more flowering.

12. Mexican sunflower – Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Red Torch’

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

The Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifolia is a superb plant reaching 3 to 4 feet (1-1.2m). 

'Forming large, compact plants with orange-scarlet flowers, it flowers freely from July to October and prefers full sun,' says Rosemary Alexander. 

It's worth knowing when to plant sunflower seeds so that you can enjoy these versatile late summer flowers in many styles of garden, from tropical to cottage garden borders. 

13. Agastache ‘Black Adder’

(Image credit: RHS)

'A member of the hyssop family, this dark, giant cultivar is the most hardy and has edible flowers that go on for months and are always covered in bees. This perennial is resistant to drought and also happy in clay, it makes a great vertical accent,' says award-winning landscape architect Marian Boswell .

Plant in moist but well-drained soil in full sun, and avoid shade and wet soil. As well as being a favorite of bees, these are wonderful flowers to attract butterflies.

14. Milk parsley – Selinum wallichianum

(Image credit: Selinum wallichianum available from sarahraven.com photograph Jonathan Buckley)

‘With masses of starry parsley heads above pretty, fern-like, cut leaves, Selinum wallichianum is a delightful froth of bee fodder for any border. Its red stems look wonderful with Sanguisorba ‘Tanna’ bobbing through. A medicinal plant for permaculture gardening,' says Marian Boswell.

This late summer flower, which is in bloom from mid summer to fall, likes moist, well-drained soil in full sun. 

15. Salvia 'Blue Monday'

(Image credit: salvia blue monday available from sarahraven. com photograph Jonathan Buckley)

'Salvias are excellent to grow as a foliage-flower, to form the backdrop and foil to a flamboyant crew of dahlias and cosmos,' explains plantswoman Sarah Raven .

'Salvia viridis ‘Blue Monday’ is a brilliantly colored and invaluable foliage annual, which can be used like lavender for edging paths,' she adds.

'Salvias are easy to grow from seed scattered into a seed tray or just direct into the soil for flowers within eight weeks.'

16. Turkish sage – Phlomis russeliana

(Image credit: RHS)

'This sage has soft yellow flowers all summer and spreads to form a large clump of soft silvery leaves. Be prepared to reduce the clump in size each year as otherwise it can become quite invasive,' advises award-winning garden designer and nurseryman, Roger Platts .

'The soft color combination works well with many summer planting garden color schemes and the dead flower heads remain attractive on the top of the foliage all winter. A very useful and underrated plant,' says Roger.

What flowers are good for late summer/ early fall?

There are many flowers that are good for late summer into early fall.

Horticulturist Richard Wilson lists some of his favorites:

'The coneflower is a veritable ray of sunshine in your border with dark eyes and stunning yellow petals. No garden is complete without a sunflower, space allowing. Verbena bonariensis is at its best dotted throughout a planted area, providing beacons of clustered purple. 

'Sedum is not always on gardeners’ radars, but Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' is an amazing late season burst of nectar rich, heavy pink pom-poms. No late season color list would be complete without the ever-favorite Michaelmas daisies, or aster,' Richard adds.

Which flowers last longest in summer?

'A champion among the many hundreds of hardy geranium cultivars, Geranium ‘Rozanne’ will fill a border frontage with clouds of iridescent blue, and a late summer trim will encourage regrowth and flowers afresh,' horticulturalist Richard Wilson says.

Many of the late summer flowers listed above will also last through summer, including milk parsley, malope, borage, as well as common myrtle, Turkish sage to name but a few.

Leigh Clapp is a professional photographer with over 25 years experience, primarily as a garden specialist photojournalist but also with food and travel. She delights in exploring gardens, discovering the tiny elements to their overall essence and meeting lots of enthusiastic gardeners along the way. Leigh’s work appears in magazines, newspapers and books, both in the UK and abroad, including Period Living, Country Life, and Gardens Illustrated; as well as being sole photographer for a number of books, including Garden Details, Feng Shui in the Garden, Vertical Gardens and From the Garden – fresh seasonal cooking.

Unpretentious flowers for summer cottages and garden beds, photos and names - Top 10 most beautiful and unpretentious flowers

The most unpretentious flowers for summer cottages - will they really grow "by themselves"? Let's look at the example of sun-loving people

Most amateur gardeners go out of town to "just relax". But in fact, two long-awaited weekends at the dacha turn into a continuous “weed and water the flowerbed, mow the lawn, cut fruit trees”. What about rest time? nine0005

We advise you to choose the most beautiful and unpretentious flowers for the garden for the next season, blooming all summer - and let them grow by themselves. Well, okay, we are cunning: with your minimal intervention.

jonathan alderson landscape architects, inc.

Polyana "new wave"
When we talk about easy-care flower beds, we think of "new wave" flower beds, which were invented by the Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf. Perennial grasses, airy cereals and undemanding flowers play a special role in them. nine0005

Tatyana Koisman

New wave plants are planted in such a way that there is no need to constantly trim bushes, cut branches, regularly weed the garden or remove faded inflorescences.

Minus one - the plants have a pronounced meadow physiognomic type, that is, they resemble a Russian meadow of the middle zone. And the “small” decorative effect does not suit all gardeners. What is the point of wasting time on a clearing that nature will create without our participation? Such plants “grow behind the fence”, and are unacceptable on the site, many say. nine0005

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Garden for the Lazy: Perennials, easy to care for

a Blade of Grass

“Beautiful flower garden”
As a result, gardeners prefer more difficult plants to maintain. Or they choose simple ones, but combine them into mixborders or flower beds that require regular maintenance.

To minimize the physical and time costs of caring for a flower garden, you need to choose the right plants, decide on a “sufficient” number and plant them successfully. nine0005

RELATED…
Good Question: Little Care Garden – Is it a Fairytale? To suppress the growth of weeds in subsequent seasons, mulch the free space between plants. Mulch made from organic material (wood chips, pine needles, straw), breaking down, fertilizes plants, maintains moisture (and therefore helps save on irrigation), and stabilizes soil temperature. Mulch does not require much maintenance, except that it needs to be replaced in the spring. nine0005

Focus on the existing, natural "style" of the garden
You will have to adapt to the existing natural conditions of the area anyway. And even if you run your flower garden a little, it will look in the English style: it is just for him that deliberate unkemptness, the lack of clear forms, and a free layout are characteristic.

Mierop Design, FAPLD

Combine "friendly" plants
It's not enough for plants to be unpretentious and undemanding - they still have to be combined with each other. Only those flowers that prefer the same or similar growing conditions can be combined with each other: in terms of soil, humidity, light. Let's say, if you break a flower garden in a shady corner of the garden, "the whole flower bed" should be shade-loving. If your site is low-lying, wet, swampy, plant moisture-loving plants. On sandy or rocky soils - those flowers that naturally grow on dry rocky areas. Then the flower beds will require minimal care - after all, the plants fall into their usual environment. nine0005

Westover Landscape Design

Properly distribute plants by height
Divide unpretentious garden flowers that you have selected for similar growing conditions into groups of approximately the same height. So plant in tiers so that the tallest plants serve as a backdrop for the lower ones.

Fact: similar growing conditions are responsible for the "survival" of the flower garden; the general timing of flowering - for beauty, and the criterion for the size of an adult plant - for the compositional integrity of the flower bed. nine0005

Van Zelst Inc

Appreciate that when it blooms
In a properly organized flower garden, flowering plants alternate one after another. Those that are at the peak of flowering draw attention away from wilted flowers and hide the imperfections of faded plants.

Each "height" group should have plants that bloom at different times - then your flower garden will be continuously blooming from spring to late autumn. The main thing is to correctly group flower crops in it, based on the seasonality of flowering. nine0005

We offer 10 undemanding garden flowers (see photos and names below), which can be planted in tiers in a sunny, well-lit area. These are all beautifully flowering perennials.

Barbara Pintozzi

The photo: Japanese peony (Peonia) varieties Port Royal

unpretentious flowers for flower beds, flowering all summer

1. Pion
For beautiful thick, for the sake and early summer: its huge buds bloom in May-June. Peony bushes grow up to 60-80 cm tall and can delight with flowers for many years in a row. Growing peonies is easy. Their care involves winter mulching in those cold climatic zones where snow does not cover the ground enough. The main part of the care work takes place in the spring, when it is necessary to prepare the plants for growth and flowering. nine0005

Olga Shangina | Photography

What to do? First, clear the peony shoots of mulch and debris so that they soak up much-needed sunlight. Second, help the stems. Stems are a structural weakness of peonies: they are often not strong enough to support giant flowers. In early spring, while the plant is small, surround the peony bush with metal rings or install supports that will prevent the stems from falling and breaking. To obtain large flower caps, it is better to remove early lateral buds and leave one bud. nine0005

Snowmelt and spring rains sometimes leach valuable nutrients from the soil. In early summer, after the peonies have bloomed, apply a fertilizer: mineral, low nitrogen, compost or well-rotted manure (fresh manure cannot be used due to too much nitrogen). Fertilizer should never be sprayed or poured too close to the roots as this can cause burns and root rot.

Peonies are susceptible to the fungal disease botrytis (gray rot). Fungal spores may overwinter at the base of plants or among garden debris. In spring, temperatures and humidity increase and the fungus spreads rapidly. Spring care for peonies should include treating the plant with a copper fungicide or lime sulphur. nine0005

On the project with photo ...
Garden of the week: Pionois under the vigilant Oka Dragon

Ginkgo LEAF Studio

in the photo: unpretentious lilya (Hemerocallis) Red Volunter





perennial for giving, blooming in the very middle of summer, in July. It blooms for a long time: a three-year-old plant can bloom an average of 50 flowers within 1-1.5 months. The growth of an adult plant varies from 30-50 cm (dwarf varieties) to 80-100 cm (tall varieties). Daylilies look best in solitary (single) plantings. They are winter-hardy (however, some varieties cover with spruce branches or insulate the base of plants with peat compost), drought-resistant, viable. nine0005

Daylilies grow and bloom best in fertile clay soils. If your site is sandy or heavy clay, fertilizer will require a large amount of organic matter. The daylily prefers slightly acidic soil but adapts easily. Choose a location where the plants will receive at least six hours of sun per day. They can grow in partial shade, but will bloom less. Seed pods are best removed - if left, the flowering of the next shoot will slow down. Early spring care consists of removing dead leaves and weeding. It is not necessary to mulch the soil around the daylily - when the plant reaches full growth, the leaves become so thick that they shade the surrounding weeds. nine0005

Diseases are rare among daylily varieties. However, care must be taken when dealing with aphids or thrips. Usually the problem starts with other garden plants: apply a complex insecticide, organic or chemical, or spray with a strong stream of water.

Joanne Dale

Pictured: catnip, catnip0012
Flowering perennial, edible herb, reaching a height of about 60 cm. Flowering usually occurs in late June or very early July and lasts a little over a month. The flowers of the catnip are small, white-violet or white, sometimes purple-violet with speckles, collected in false whorls. From these whorls at the top of the shoots, both main and lateral, oblong inflorescences are formed.

Catnip, planted to cut fragrant greens, needs extra care. Be sure to loosen the row spacing at least twice a season, and after each cut, feed the plants with mineral fertilizers: for every square meter you will need 10 grams of superphosphate and the same amount of ammonium nitrate. The catnip is able to winter without any shelter. But in especially cold winters it can die if it was weakened by summer drought or intense cutting. Therefore, in the second half of summer it is not recommended to cut it too low. nine0005

Otherwise, the plant does not require special care and special fertilizers. It is not subject to serious diseases, is not afraid of pests. Unless you protect it from the encroachments of the cat family, which, as the name of the plant implies, is very attracted to its smell.

Paintbox Garden

In the photo: oak sage (Salvia nemorosa) variety Caradonna

4. Salvia
Behind this gentle name lies an ordinary sage. In Russia, spicy and medicinal species of this plant are called sage, and decorative species are called salvia. nine0005

Depending on the species and variety, salvia can reach a height of 30 cm to 1.5 m. Dense, spiky inflorescences almost completely obscure the leaves. The flowers themselves can be of different shapes and colors: red, lilac, blue, yellow, purple, white or pink. Blooming in June, salvia continues to bloom until the first frost.

For sage, choose a sunny location with very well-drained soil of medium fertility. In partially shaded areas, the plant may grow too large. Watering sage is minimal. It does not tolerate stagnant moisture and rarely needs watering (mostly only after planting). The soil prefers rich in humus, loamy, moisture-intensive. Salvia gravitates towards an acidic environment. The best soil composition for it is light earth fertilized with peat, with the addition of sand. nine0005

During the growing season, salvia should be fed several times, making complex and mineral fertilizers. The first time feeding is given at the beginning of seedling growth (growth stimulants are used), the second time - during the budding period.

Spring and summer salvia care consists mainly of shaping pruning. When new spring growth emerges, cut back the old stems to the lowest leaf. If the plant is starting to grow, cut back the top third of the stems in late spring or early summer to encourage upright growth. Remove the top half of the stems at the end of the summer bloom to encourage new shoots to grow and new flowers to appear. During the entire flowering season, wilted flowers should be removed in a timely manner. nine0005

Terra Nova® Nurseries, Inc

Pictured: Sedum ( Sedum) Thunderhead cultivars

). It forms rather large (up to 50 cm high) bushes with creeping rooting shoots and small flowers of white, yellow, pink, red and purple colors collected in a corymbose inflorescence. Stonecrop is best planted in sunny areas with dry, stony, poor soil. But he also feels good in sandy soils. It does not need fertilizers and dressings. Not all types of sedum are drought-resistant, there are also moisture-loving ones that need good nutrition. nine0005

The only thing you will have to face in the care is the rapid growth of shoots and its regular containment with pruning. Many gardeners do not spend time on this at all, on the contrary, they use this plant as a “live mulch”.

So that the stonecrop flower garden is not overgrown with weeds, it must be treated with herbicides (roundup) before planting.

Whitmores Landscaping

In the photo: panicled phlox (Phlox paniculata)

6. Panicled phlox
A tall shrub with erect stems that blooms from late summer to mid-autumn. Late varieties of phlox bloom in September-October. An ideal perennial for a flower garden in the sun. It reaches a height of 70-180 cm.

This hardy plant with a lot of vitality can grow and bloom in various soils. But it reaches its maximum development and flowering peak in a loose nutrient moist environment. Phlox prefers flower beds in the sun or partial shade. The main thing is that the place chosen for planting should not be in a lowland, where in spring (or during summer showers) water accumulates and stagnates for a long time. Phloxes do not tolerate waterlogging. They have a superficial root system (the main root mass of phloxes is located in the surface soil layer at a depth of 3-15 cm), so they need a high place for planting, where the roots will receive enough oxygen in moderately moist soil. nine0005

Caring for phlox in the garden includes pruning the flower stems after flowering. Timely pruning will give the plant a neat appearance, and also prevent the flowers from dropping seeds. Since garden phloxes are usually hybrids, the plants from the seeds that fall out will not resemble the parent plants.

Growing hardy phlox in the garden is a problem in hot, humid areas because the plant is susceptible to powdery mildew. Affected foliage looks like it has been dusted with talcum powder. In severe cases, the plant should be treated with a fungicide. Powdery mildew can be avoided by choosing varieties labeled "mold resistant". nine0005

The New York Botanical Garden

Pictured: hybrid aster (Aster) cultivar Mönch

Asters bring a rich palette of bright colors and pastels to the garden in late summer and early fall, when many of the summer flowers have withered. Asters can reach a height of 90-120 cm.

Perennial asters are grown in sunny, well-moistened (but not damp) areas. It can also be grown in partial shade. In one place, the aster can grow up to 6 years. nine0005

Caring for a perennial is simple: loosening the soil layer (try not to affect the root system) and treatment with drugs for diseases - gray rot and powdery mildew. Gray mold can be controlled with insecticidal sprays and soap (soap will help if treated early and applied throughout the growing season). Gray mold does not usually damage aster flowers, but should be controlled. In a hot dry summer, the aster will require care: watering at the base of the stems. In no case do not spray water over the foliage! The ingress of water or fertilizer on the leaves contributes to the appearance of powdery mildew and other fungal diseases. If the plant receives too much moisture or, on the contrary, does not receive it enough, it will lose the lower foliage or will not bloom well. Watch for any stress manifestations in the aster. Try a different watering method if the plant is shedding flowers. nine0005

Every spring, add a thin layer of compost with a 5 cm layer of mulch around the asters. The organic mulch will retain moisture, and the aster will be nourished by the nutrients released into the soil from the breaking mulch.

Asters care also includes pruning tall shoots for denser and more compact growth.

Le jardinet

Pictured: Delta Dawn Heuchera

8. Heuchera
Thanks to its colorful foliage, geuchera graces the garden throughout the growing season. It is planted in the flower garden as an accent plant. Reaches 20-30 cm in height and 30-60 cm in width. Most species do not flower. Nevertheless, geyhera is one of the most commonly used plants in the design of mixborders and flower beds. It's all about the rich palette of leaf colors. It varies by variety, but mostly includes various shades of amber, bronze green, green, gold, pink, purple, deep purple and silver. In many cases, the color of the leaves changes depending on the environment and over the years. Many varieties retain their decorative effect from spring to late autumn, leaving under the snow with foliage. nine0005

Growing conditions for geyhera are quite simple: deep drainage, diffused shade and permeable fertile soil. Excessive wet conditions during the winter months can cause the plant to rot. Bark mulching done before winter will prevent the problem. By the way, in the summer months, mulching will also help maintain soil moisture and avoid injury to the root system from high temperatures. For the winter, geyhera leaves are by no means cut off, otherwise the plant will die. After all, geykhera retains heat with the help of foliage. Dried inflorescences and leaves are best removed in the spring. nine0005

The only drawback of geyhera is its short life. If the flower is not divided every 3-4 years, its crown becomes completely woody and ceases to produce decorative rosettes of leaves.

Elliott Brundage Landscape Design

In the photo: Order Order, or Popper (Leucanthemum Vulgare)

DIRECTIONAL EXPLOSED The young stems are eaten. Nivyanik is similar to the meadow chamomile we are used to, but it has larger and stronger flowers with a diameter of up to 6 cm. The height of an adult plant reaches 15-80 cm. Flowering begins in May-June and continues until early autumn. nine0005

Nivyanik prefers well-drained, fairly fertile soils. Hardy: endures both long periods of drought and waterlogging of the soil. And yet, in hot and dry summers, the plant needs frequent watering. To avoid damage to delicate petals and leaves by sunburn and mold spores, do not water it from top to bottom, on flowers, preferably at the base of the stems. Trim stems with faded flowers - this encourages the growth of new shoots and long flowering. Thus, you also prevent the plant from being affected by mold, which often appears on the dead parts of the plant. nine0005

Nivyanik can be subject to frostbite and death with the first autumn frosts. In this case, cut the stems at a height of 3-6 cm. It often needs support. A wire ring (as for peonies) or a low net, installed when the plant is still very young, will help fragile stems not to break under the weight of flowers or in heavy rain.

Nivyanik is a perennial, but it needs to be updated every 3-4 years. It can be planted in early spring or late summer.

Paintbox Garden

Pictured: Alchemilla (Alchemílla)

10. Manzhetka
This plant has many common names, including "forest horseradish", "breast" and "rabbit cabbage". We are accustomed to consider a perennial plant with creeping stems a "weed", although it does an excellent job with a decorative role in flower beds and flower beds. In height, the cuff bush reaches 15-30 cm. It is planted as a ground cover for a flower garden. The cuff provides a good edging to any mixborder, denoting its borders. Flowering cuff begins in early summer and lasts the entire summer period. The flowers at the cuff at first glance are unremarkable: small, greenish-yellow. But dense inflorescences, rising above the bushes on high (up to 50-60 cm) peduncles, look very elegant in the mass. nine0005

The cuff does not create problems with care and does not require complex manipulations from you. This plant feels great in the sun, and in partial shade, and even in shady places. The soil she prefers clay-humus, well-moistened, but grows on almost any. Surprisingly, the cuff adapts to growing conditions. If there is a lot of moisture, and the soil is well fertilized, the bush will be large, lush, blooming profusely. If there is little moisture, and the soil is poor, a modest but pretty bush will grow, practically a ground cover (the cuff does not so much grow in height as it “spreads” along the ground). nine0005

Regular watering is only necessary during extreme heat or when the plant is in full sun. However, it will be enough just to slightly moisten the soil. When watering, it is important not to soak the cuff, as this will lead to the death of the plant.

The cuff grows rapidly, so its growth must be carefully monitored and flower stalks removed in time - it reproduces quite readily by seeds. During the winter, the foliage of the plant remains semi-evergreen, but you need to remove the old, turned brown leaves. nine0005

The New York Botanical Garden

As you can see, flowering plants chosen for a mixborder or flower garden require at least minimal care. Plant and forget - will not work. Once a week, you still have to make time for your flower bed if you want it to look bright and inspiring, rather than dull and lifeless. Without watering, weeding and top dressing is still not enough. But resistant plants are not afraid of pests, they are not afraid of disease and cold, and they need minimal pruning. nine0005

Various means can be used to prolong the flowering period of plants. Twice during the growing season carry out measures to fertilize the flower garden: in May - with a complex mineral fertilizer of prolonged action, in July - with liquid organic fertilizer plus mineral fertilizer with trace elements for flowering perennial plants.

YOUR TURN…
Which flower bed do you consider low maintenance? What grows on it? Show unpretentious plants and flowers growing in your country house - photo

List of hardy flowers

Perennials

  • Colchicum
  • Crocuses
  • Muscari
  • Lilies of the valley
  • Periwinkle
  • Astilba
  • Aquilegia
  • Geranium
  • Cornflower
  • Loosestrife
  • Garden chamomile
  • Meadowsweet
  • Phlox

Annuals, biennials

  • Marigold
  • Nasturtium
  • Kosmeya
  • Alyssum
  • Calendula
  • Viola
  • Daisies
  • Rudbeckia
  • Petunias
  • Phacelia

Let's start with undemanding but beautiful bulbs that don't need constant care.

Colchicum (Colchicum)

Delicate-looking but hardy colchicum blooms at the time when all other garden beauties are already withering. Some of its species fade only in November. Of the conditions - sun or partial shade, permeable light and dry soil for all varieties, except autumn colchicum. He needs moist soil. Colchicum is planted in rabatki, hanging containers, rock gardens, lawns. It is poisonous, so it is better to work with gloves. nine0005

Instagram @newadventure__

Instagram @xoxocticgreens

Crocuses

This name is known to everyone who is fond of plants. Low crocuses are the first to appear in city flower beds and disappear only in May. Some species are autumnal. Grows well in full sun and partial shade. There are almost no requirements for the soil - the main thing is that water does not stagnate in it. nine0005

Instagram @ppolishka

Instagram @rastenia_ot_kateriny

Muscari

Mouse hyacinth is another unpretentious flower for giving. It blooms in April and pleases with its appearance and aroma until June (depending on the variety). Muscari can be planted in a warm, sunny place or in slight shading in late summer and early autumn.

nine0006 Instagram @perm.persona

Instagram @nero_olga

Lily of the valley

We are used to seeing these beautiful perennials in the forest, but you can also create a snow-white clearing on your site. Lilies of the valley bloom in May. Then poisonous, red berries appear. Partial shade is best for primrose. Bluebells will bloom in full sun as well, but will require good watering. The soil needs to be fertile.

nine0006 Instagram @ulyaninsad

Instagram @nadezhdaviktoriay

Periwinkle

If you need shade-loving, unpretentious perennial flowers for your dacha that will grow quickly, plant periwinkles. This is a low-growing plant that blooms in April-May.

Instagram @on_the_west_coast

Instagram @solovy.sad

Astilba

Likes rarefied lighting and moisture. Some varieties reach 120 cm in height. It looks beautiful and successfully takes root in the shade of trees, next to water bodies, in flower beds. Low-growing species are grown in containers.

Instagram @uspex_dachnika

Instagram @dacha_blog

Aquilegia

Grows in any light from May to August. True, in the sun she will need moist soil. Aquilegia is planted in rockeries, in ordinary flower beds, on the shore. nine0005

Instagram @landscapedesignspb

Instagram @landscapedesignspb

Instagram @ugogunova94

Geranium

Grows well in shady areas. Can be used in border compositions, rockeries, rock gardens, along shrubs. Depending on the variety, it blooms from May to September.

Instagram @elena.andromeda5

Instagram @mashakasan

Cornflower

They grow well in the sun and in partial shade all summer. There are no special requirements for the soil. Perfectly coexist in flower beds with other plants. They are combined with peonies, decorative leafy, nivyanik.

Instagram @galabondianka

Instagram @irina.savina.design

Loosestrife

Loosestrife will bloom from July to September. The ideal place for him is a lowland, a bank of a reservoir, shaded in the afternoon. It tolerates even heavy loam. The only requirement is soil moisture. nine0005

Instagram @nataalya_s

Instagram @sibiryjachka_v_podmoskovje

Garden chamomile (leafflower)

Long flowering plant. Decorates the cottage from June until frost, if planted in a sunny, dry area. Nivyanik needs periodic, moderate watering, loosening and spraying from ants.

nine0006 Instagram @nataliya_shtonda

Instagram @vlasova1474

Meadowsweet (meadowsweet)

Meadowsweet has beautiful cream or pink panicle flowers and a strong honey smell. She loves damp places with any kind of lighting. Meadowsweet will take root well on heavy clay soil.

Instagram @sad_chita2019

Instagram @kuzminsu

Phloxes

Another incredibly fragrant, beautiful flowers. They bloom around mid-summer and can stand all early autumn.

Instagram @xe_tru_13

Instagram @olga_lv____

There are a few more picky perennials in the photo.

12 nine0005

Instagram @nurzida_x

Instagram @valera_sad_ogorod

Nasturtium

Climbing plant that blooms from early summer to the first frost. Nasturtium loves lighted, calm places and light soil in which water does not linger.

nine0006 Instagram @orhidei.lav

Instagram @orhidei.lav

Kosmeya

One of the most unpretentious annuals. It will grow in the shade and in the sun, on any land. The soil needs to be loosened occasionally. To have more inflorescences - plant cosmea tightly to each other and in a lighted place.

Instagram @natali290669

Instagram @pekareval

Alyssum

Honey plant, blooms in early summer and fades by autumn. It suits light, dry areas.

Instagram @floristrykas

Instagram @floristrykas

Calendula

Perhaps one of the most unpretentious flowers to give. Marigolds - as the people call calendula - are good both in a flower bed and simply scattered islands throughout the territory. They begin to bloom in June-July and end in September-October. nine0005

Instagram @s. olesya.vladimirovna

Instagram @s.olesya.vladimirovna

Viola

Depending on the variety, it can be an annual, biennial or perennial plant. Blooms from mid-spring to frost, very fast sprout. The only requirements for growing are permeable, nutritious soil, sun or partial shade.

nine0006 Instagram @tvorchestvo_marina

Instagram @amika_3

Daisies

Blooms in late summer and withers after the first frost. Perennial species can bloom all season. Both of them will require a lot of light, well-drained soil.

Pexels

Rudbeckia

A beautiful flower resembling a chamomile, only with a bright yellow color and a red-brown center. Can be planted in full sun or partial shade. nine0005

Instagram @home_gardens

Instagram @olga_lv____

Petunias

Annual ampelous flowers growing all summer season. Petunias love well-lit places.

Instagram @rutavargana

Instagram @irinka_yalovik_

Phacelia

Sun or partial shade, light soil - everything you need to grow phacelia. Flowering begins in June, ends in September.

Instagram @lorazaborei

Instagram @galiaxmetov_albert

Now you know what unpretentious flowers to plant in the country. But ornamental plants are not the only option for decorating a site. Perhaps you want to combine the beautiful with the useful? Then break a small medicinal flower bed with mint, lemon balm, catnip, monarda, pharmacy chamomile. These herbs do not bloom brightly, but you are provided with a delicious aroma and tasty additions to tea for the winter. Just first find out if you have any contraindications to taking these herbs.

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