These popular summer plants do more than just add a splash of color to your backyard—they bring a whole host of benefits to your garden ecosystem. Here’s a look at what these favorites can do for your outdoor space.
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++Nasturtium (Tropaeolum)
Nasturtiums are a real treat, offering lush, circular green leaves and vibrant, punchy flowers. These plants love to climb, making them a fantastic choice for sprucing up balconies or fences with a trellis. In a single season, they can easily grow up to ten feet! If you don’t give them something to climb, they’ll happily carpet the ground, acting as a beautiful, flowering groundcover.
++Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula is an absolute classic in the gardening world. Throughout the summer, it rewards you with cheerful yellow or orange blooms that brighten up any flower bed. It has a lovely bushy growth habit and tends to spread out nicely. While usually grown as an annual, it’s a breeze to save the seeds and replant them next year so you can enjoy that golden glow all over again.
++Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
If you’re looking for a unique shape in your garden, you can’t go wrong with snapdragons. They get their name from the flower’s “mouth” that pops open when squeezed. These plants are incredibly hardy and even grow wild in many temperate climates. This means they’re very low-maintenance once established. You can sow snapdragons in full sun or partial shade, and they’ll be perfectly happy.
++Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
The intense, fiery red of the corn poppy creates stunning pops of color all summer long. Their delicate petals look almost like crinkled tissue paper. Once you’ve sown these beauties and they feel at home, they’ll often self-seed and come back on their own. Poppies love warmth and plenty of sunlight, and they prefer sandy soil. If your garden soil is a bit heavy, just mix in a little sand before planting.
++Dahlia (Dahlia)
Few plants offer as much variety in color and shape as the dahlia. They are just as popular as cut flowers for your kitchen table as they are in a well-planned garden bed. Whether you want a subtle accent or a bold statement piece, there’s a dahlia for every taste. They also play very well with other flowers. To keep them looking their best, make sure to fertilize your dahlias regularly to give them the nutrients they need to bloom.
++Hydrangea (Hydrangea)
Hydrangeas are a staple of the summer garden for a reason. These bushy shrubs feature large green leaves and massive flower heads that are hard to beat. Fun fact: with some varieties, you can actually change the flower color by adjusting the pH level of your soil! Just be sure to pick the right spot for them; most hydrangeas have sensitive leaves that can scorch in the harsh midday sun, so a bit of afternoon shade is usually best.
++Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
No summer garden list is complete without the sunflower. With their massive yellow faces, they are the ultimate symbol of the season. They aren’t just named for their looks, though—the young flower heads actually track the sun across the sky during the day. For the best results, plant your sunflowers in the sunniest spot you have.
++Four O’Clock (Mirabilis jalapa)
The “Marvel of Peru” (or Four O’Clock) is a total wonder because a single plant can produce flowers in several different colors at once! It grows upright and dense, filling your garden with plenty of greenery and a spectacular show of blooms. They flower from June all the way through October, meaning they’ll keep your garden looking lively through the very best months of the year.