Hot Summer Color: Perennials That Bring Color to Your Landscape Beyond Spring

By the time August rolls around in Wisconsin, spring blooms may be long gone, but that doesn’t mean your garden has to lose its color! Choosing perennials with mid-to-late summer bloom times can help keep your landscape looking vibrant now while providing you with plants to enjoy year after year.

Here are a few summer favorites that are well-suited to gardens in the Chippewa Valley area:

Echinacea

Also known as coneflower, echinacea is a hardy perennial that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Its daisy-like blooms provide beautiful summer color and are also a valuable nectar source for pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Once established, many varieties are also relatively drought-tolerant.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are a summertime showstopper! For western Wisconsin, cold-hardy types such as panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) and smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) are excellent choices. Depending on the variety, blooms can continue from summer well into fall, and many change color as they mature.

Black-Eyed Susans

Bright yellow petals and dark centers make black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) a classic choice for late-summer color. They perform best in plenty of sun and can handle a range of soil conditions once established. Their flowers are also attractive to pollinators.

Sedum

When many other perennials are beginning to wind down, upright sedums are just getting started. Their clusters of tiny flowers typically develop in late summer and fall, providing both garden color and a late-season food source for pollinators. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil and are drought-tolerant once established.

Plant Now, Enjoy for Years

One of the best parts about planting perennials is knowing they can return each spring when they're suited to our climate and planted in the right conditions. By mixing plants with different bloom times, you can create a landscape that transitions from spring through summer and into fall.

Stop by Down to Earth and explore our selection of perennials for adding a little more color to your late-summer landscape. Our team can help you find options that work with your sun, soil, space, and garden goals!