48 Summer Flowers to Transform Your Garden
See the best blooms for a dreamy backyard oasis.
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If designing a dreamy garden is at the top of your to-do list this season, it's helpful to know some of the best summer flowers to grow. A beautiful garden doesn't just elevate your home's look—it can boost your overall mood, too. "Nature has a huge impact on health and wellness," says Gwenn Fried, manager of Horticulture Therapy at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation. "We know that people's cortisol levels go down in a calm, green environment."
Whether you're in search of showy blooms to add color to your garden or low-maintenance picks, this list has you covered. You'll spot favorites like geraniums, daisies, and azaleas along with unique choices, including celosia, bee balm, and liatris.
But before you grab your gardening gloves, remember to check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to pick the right flowers for your location. And while you're at it, explore the best ground cover plants for shady areas to complete your setup.
Lavender
This low-maintenance pick isn't just a great option for adding color to your garden—it's a natural pest repellent and attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. Its calming scent is a bonus, too!
Bee Balm (Monarda)
This perennial, which you’ll often spot in colors like white, red, pink, and purple, have spiky blooms that give them a distinct look. Its sweet nectar makes it enticing for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. If you choose to plant it, keep in mind that it thrives with full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
Liatris
Often referred to as blazing star and gayfeather, this striking perennial flourishes with full sun and well-drained soil. They make gorgeous cut flowers and are a good choice for attracting pollinators—think bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Black-eyed Susans
Also known as Rudbeckia, black-eyed Susans are ideal for a summer garden. The sun-loving flower's yellow petals, featuring a black center, would add a dose of personality to your outdoor space. Aim to give them full sun and sufficient space to grow (one to two feet apart is best).
Cardinal Flower
Look no further than this flower if you want to draw hummingbirds and pollinators, like bees and butterflies, to your garden. Cardinal Flowers can grow up to six feet tall. Keep them happy with moist soil and either full or partial shade.
Petunias
You can't go wrong with this classic summer flower, which comes in a wide range of colors from yellow to purple to enhance any garden. They can handle full sun and light, well-drained soil.
Heliotropes
If your goal is to design a fragrant summer garden, go for this bold purple pick that emits a sweet scent. The tiny blooms, which prefer full sun, attract pollinators like butterflies and bees. Try them for containers or garden beds.
Moss Rose
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From sunny yellow to bright pink, this drought-tolerant flower is sure to boost your garden's visual appeal. The easy-to-care for blooms can withstand high temperatures and they're a great choice for ground cover, borders, or containers.
Celosia
Celosia flowers are truly one of a kind and are known for their wild-looking shapes and colors. While this vibrant bloom may look like it could be in a Dr. Seuss book, it should definitely be on your radar for the upcoming summer season. They thrive in heat and dry climates, have a long vase life and even help support the local ecosystem for our buzzing pollinators.
Peace Lilly
As its name suggests, the peace lily is a symbol of tranquility. Their elegant white flowers with glossy leaves shine in the sunlight, adding beauty to any garden. They require low to moderate light and will remain healthy as long as the soil is kept moist.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers, as the name implies, grow best in full sun. Although they're pretty trouble-free, they do require attention once planted. Make sure to protect seeds from birds with mesh bags or cheesecloth.
Anthuriums
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Anthuriums are tropical-looking flowers with heart-shaped leaves. Also known as flamingo flowers, they bloom for a long time in humid climates and add a pop of color to any garden space. They're also known for aiding in relaxation.
Azaleas
Azaleas represent femininity and passion. When they're in full bloom, it's hard not to stare. This vibrant flower flourishes from spring to late fall and spreads like wildfire in its peak. They also happen to attract hummingbirds with their bright pink color and funnel-shaped flowers.
RELATED: 18 Plants That Will Attract Hummingbirds to Your Home Garden
Sea Holly
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Sea holly can flourish with well-drained soil and full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day). Thanks to their long taproot, this striking perennial is drought-resistant. You can find them in pretty shades of blue, purple, white and silver.
Miniature Roses
Regular roses often get all the attention, but miniature varieties shouldn't be left in the shadows. Perfect for any indoor flower gardener, miniature roses have the same gorgeous bloom, but are meant for small spaces. They can bloom repeatedly with the proper care.
Daisies
It's hard not to love daisies. These easy-to-care for flowers bloom for months on end, adding a burst of bright white and yellow to any summer garden.
Delphiniums
This striking perennial enjoys full or partial sun, along with well-drained soil. With more than 300 varieties of the flower, some of which can grow up to 6 feet tall, you can choose from pretty shades of blue, purple, white and pink.
Coreopsis
Bring on the cheer with coreopsis, which favor consistent watering and well-drained, fertile soil. Place them in containers or beds and give them full sun or light shade. They tend to attract pollinators, like bees, too.
Globe Amaranth
Brighten any garden with this bold annual that you can find in a range of shades, from purple to white. Native to Central America, the globe-shaped flowers add visual appeal to garden beds, borders and even containers. They like full sun and a regular watering schedule.
Lantana
This hardy plant prefers full sun and water on a weekly basis once it's mature. You'll find them in a variety of colorful hues, including pink, yellow, red and orange.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
Tori Polizzotto Jones is a writer based in NYC, with a big heart and a passion for storytelling. Growing up in Brooklyn as a dancer, her creative roots have always run deep. After studying Fashion Media at LIM College, she found her way into writing, covering everything from beauty and lifestyle to home decor, food and entertainment. Tori’s work has been featured in Cosmopolitan, Esquire, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Delish, where she brings her unique perspective and love for all things creative to every piece.
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