These plants sail through the dog days of summer with vibrant color and pollinator power
As we head into the utter hotness of summer , parts of the garden can set out expect a slight well-worn . Fortunately , there are several perennial that flourish in the oestrus and intense sun we live in the Mountain West in mid to recent summertime , adding pop of vivacious color to the landscape . In addition to love the heat and sunshine , the following perennial also hap to be deer and lapin resistant , have cover bloom periods , and require minimal aid . What ’s not to hump ?
‘Blue Boa’ agastache
Agastache‘Blue Boa ’ , Zones 5–10
I have a fondness for genus Agastache in general ; they are easy to care for , come in a wide-eyed variety of flower gloss , foliage textures , and colors , and they have a endearing light licorice smell . I love ‘ Blue Boa ’ for its spikes of moody purplish - aristocratical flowers that seem to bloom forever . The butterflies and hummingbird that visit my garden are particularly fond of it as well . It starts bloom in mid to late June and keeps decent on going through the repose of the summertime . It reaches 2 to 2½ understructure tall and 1½ to 2 foot wide in full sun . I lightly deadhead spent flowers on occasion to encourage reblooming and keep it looking tidy .
Prairie zinnia
Zinnia grandiflora , Zones 4–9
The promising yellowed efflorescence that blanket this ground cover scream “ summer . ” The thin , needle - alike leaves cut through woody stems , urinate it seem like a little bush , similar to common thyme ( Thymus vulgaris , Zones 5–9 ) . It reaches 4 to 6 inches tall and 15 inches wide . This small stone favor hot , sunny fleck and works in xeric designs . peak bloom from late summertime into tumble . It also attracts bee and butterfly stroke .
Kismet®Raspberry coneflower
Echinacea‘TNECHKR ’ , Zones 4–9
Of course , I ca n’t stand adding coneflowers to this list . There are so many varieties to choose from , and I ’ve grow and written about many of them over the years . This particular variety has more of a wine or Charles Edward Berry color , hence the name . The Kismet ® series is known for coneflowers with long bloom periods . Plants attain 1½ metrical foot magniloquent and 1½ to 2 feet full in full sun . As with other coneflowers , the blossoms pull butterfly . If seeded player heads are left through the wintertime , you will find finch and other humble birds feast on them .
Blue globe thistle
genus Echinops bannaticus , Zones 3–8
While the word “ thistle ” may make you shudder , relaxation assured that earth thistles are not invasive weeds . The foliation is similar , with dark green , deeply lobed leaves that are fuzzy and splenetic . But patrician earth thistle has ornamental blossom that rise above the foliage , seeming to shine , especially at evenfall . In blossom , it will progress to 3 to 4 ft grandiloquent and 1½ to 2 foot all-embracing . Once the flowers fade , the come heads keep to provide interest into the fall . During bloom , this works is breed with bees and butterflies of all kinds . It ’s drought tolerant and requires minimum care . It also makes for a prissy stinger flower , overbold or dried .
— Michelle Provaznik is executive director of the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins , Colorado .
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Kismet® Raspberry coneflower provides a splash of color in late summer when much of the garden has faded away.Photo: courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc.
‘Blue Boa’ agastache blooms all summer long with large, fuzzy flowers.Photo: Michelle Provaznik
Prairie zinnia is a Mountain West native that forms a spreading ground cover of bright yellow flowers.Photo: Michelle Provaznik
Kismet®Raspberry coneflower has magenta flowers with a long bloom period.Photo: courtesy of TERRA NOVA®Nurseries, Inc.
Blue globe thistle’s spherical flowers are eye-catching, with white edges that seem to glow.Photo: Michelle Provaznik
