Perennials for the Sun

 

 

Salvia nemorosa (perennial sage)

A great plant for your summer sun garden is the Salvia Nemorosa which is also known as perennial sage. It grows 18” to 24” tall with incredible spike flowers that create waves of purple when the wind passes through them. It’s a must have if you are creating a butterfly or hummingbird garden and is also deer resistant. You’l l enjoy the blooms from June through September.

 

 

 

 

Vernonica spicata (spike speedwell)

Veronica spicata, spike speedwell, is another great perennial for the summer garden. It blooms from late spring into late summer and grows 14″ to 18″ tall. This deer resistant plant attracts butterflies and likes to grow in full to partial sun. The beautiful spike flowers are excellent as cut flowers. The plant likes to be deadheaded to increase its bloom. It can be grown in containers: A perfect addition for your patio garden.

 

 

 

Daylily (Hemerocallis)

Daylilies, one of the easiest perennials to grow, need at least six hours of sun or more. They are admired for their beautiful flowers and foliage. They grow between one to four feet tall, depending on the cultivar. They are not true lilies but belong to the Hemerocallidaceae family which really describes them. Hemera is Greek for day and kallos is Greek for beauty. While the flower lasts only one day, the plant gets so many buds on it that one plant can bloom up to six weeks during the summer months.

 

 

 

 

 

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Echinacea (Coneflower) is a popular summer perennial for the sun and partial-sun garden. The spectacular flowers towering 4 feet tall are deer resistant and attract butterflies. Once established they are drought tolerant and will bloom until frost. If you want to attract goldfinches in the winter months, leave the seed heads on the stems as they provide much needed food. And, thank the seed head for the plant’s name. Echinos is the Greek word for hedgehog and a reminder that the center of the flower is prickly. While the Purple Coneflower is still the most popular, you’ll find flowers in a wide variety of colors, such as cranberry, orange, and white.