Top 10 Stunning Summer Flowers That Bloom Nonstop
Updated: Jun. 15, 2023
While some summer flowers have brief moments in the spotlight, these beauties keep on blooming right up until fall in most parts of the U.S.
If you want long-blooming flowers that are easy to grow, start with this list! Annual flowers, such as many of these, work well in containers because you plant them and then enjoy the color explosion all season with little maintenance.
Profusion Zinnias
Zinnia, Annual
Zinnias come in all sizes, from ground covers to giant plants that top out at 5 feet or taller. For a shorter plant that does well in pots, try Profusion zinnias that reach 18 inches and bloom nonstop throughout the summer with no need to remove faded blooms. Colors range from white to orange, yellow and red.
Why we love it: It’s easy to start from seeds, or buy plants at a local garden center.
Petunias
Petunia, Annual
These garden favorites pump out blooms in nearly every hue all summer long with little care. Give petunias plenty of sun and keep them well watered. Today’s petunias are bred to be self-cleaning and to bloom without deadheading.
Why we love it: You can brighten your landscape with these fanciful types of flowers that offer vibrant color in spring, summer and fall.
Find out why Wave petunias blow other petunia plants out of the water.
Impatiens
Impatiens, Annual
Breeders created new impatiens varieties such as the Beacon series that resist downy mildew, a disease that almost wiped out many impatiens several years ago.
Why we love it: When planted in the shade and watered regularly, impatiens keep blooming all the way until frost. Colors include white, red, orange, pink and coral. Double-flowering varieties, such as Glimmer, with blooms resembling tiny roses, are perfect for pots.
Backyard Tip: The first sign of downy mildew disease is pale leaves with a fuzzy white layer on the undersides. They might fall off or collapse, and the plant appears stunted with few flowers. If you spot the disease, place plants in a bag and discard.
SunPatiens
Impatiens x hybrida, Annual
A form of impatiens, these hybrid annual flowers relish full sun. They’re easy to grow in well-draining soil and make great container plants.
Why we love it: As with impatiens, you don’t need to cut off old flowers. New blooms will cover these plants all summer long, hiding the old ones.
Grow these edging plants for three seasons of color.
Pentas
Pentas lanceolota, Annual
This tropical plant is a butterfly and hummingbird favorite. Pentas grows up to 2 feet tall and produces flowers in shades of pink, red, white and lavender. The flowers, with five petals in a starlike configuration, grow in clusters.
Why we love it: Deadheading isn’t necessary, but removing spent blooms will ensure more flowers all summer.
Check out the top 10 summer flowering shrubs for full sun.
Fibrous-Rooted Begonias
Begonia semperflorens, Annual
These compact plants generally stay less than a foot tall. Colors range from red to pink to white. They like well-draining soil and can tolerate some drought. As with most annual flowers grown in a container, they appreciate a little extra fertilizer every few weeks.
Why we love it: Grow fibrous-rooted begonias in part shade to full sun, and they’ll flower all summer with no deadheading.
Learn how to overwinter begonias as houseplants.
Madagascar Vinca
Catharanthus roseus, Annual
Unlike the ground cover vinca with the blue flowers, annual vinca blooms in shades of pink, red, white and lavender, and prefers full sun to part shade in well-draining soil.
Why we love it: No need to rush planting these in spring. They really like nighttime temperatures to be 60 degrees or warmer. Once it’s hot, they’ll bloom nonstop.
Grow an Endless Summer hydrangea for weeks of blooms.
Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus, Annual
For a flower that can be planted in early spring and still bloom into late fall, try snapdragons. Varieties range in height from 8 inches to almost 2 feet. Snapdragons like well-draining soil and full sun. Although they may grow more slowly in the hottest part of summer, they’ll take off and start blooming again once it gets cooler.
Why we love it: Despite the intimidating name, snapdragons are a favorite of butterflies.
Coneflower
Echinacea, Zones 4 to 9
The classic purple coneflowers are native to the U.S., but plant breeders have developed new hybrid varieties in a rainbow of colors, such as yellow, orange, white or red. All coneflowers grow well in full sun.
Why we love it: Once established, they need little extra care. To ensure summerlong blooms, cut off spent flowers periodically. As fall approaches, leave some of those seed heads standing— goldfinches love them.
Threadleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis verticillata, Zones 3 to 9
Threadleaf coreopis reaches 18 to 36 inches, with flowers throughout the summer. If blooming slows down, shear them back to encourage more. Moonbeam is sterile and won’t self-sow. And new introductions such as Zesty Zinger (pictured above) expand color options.
Why we love it: It’s a tough, long-blooming plant to fill sunny or dry spots.
Next, see the best late summer and fall flowers for hummingbirds.
