July and August Blooming Perennials

Coneflowers are exemplary butterfly and bird magnets that do best when planted in sunny spaces in the landscape. They start blooming in early July and will continuously bloom throughout the summer. The true native purple coneflower has been improved dramatically over the last decades, providing plants that now bloom prolifically their first year from seed, and come in a variety of colors along with the classic violet-pink.

Often one of the last perennials to emerge each spring, milkweed is a fantastic native plant, perfect for pollinators. It performs best in sunny spaces in the landscape with well-draining soil. Planting milkweed is also the #1 way to help Monarchs in Northeast Ohio as it is essential in all stages of their lifecycle.

Varieties to Look for:
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

A member of the mint family, Bee Balm is a delight in the garden for all pollinators with showy, mint-scented blossoms in shades of lavender, pink, red, white, and purple. Newer varieties possess improved mildew-resistant foliage. Bee balm performs best in full-sun areas with moist soil.

The tallest and most sun tolerant of the phlox family, Garden Phlox produces huge, 10-12″ clusters (panicles) of fragrant flowers in shades of pink, red, purple, blue, and white. They do best when planted with other sun-loving, pollinator-attracting perennials in well-draining soil.

Crocosmia is a gorgeous perennial that produces tall, arched stems of tubular flowers. Even when not in bloom, it’s narrow, sword-shaped foliage adds spiky texture and structure to the landscape. Crocosmia will grow in part shade conditions, but they’ll bloom their best when in full sun — and the hummingbirds love them!

A true show-stopper in the landscape, Hardy Hibiscus produce huge, 8-12″ wide, dinner plate size flowers. From vibrant rose-pink, and plum to deep reds, whites, and even multicolor blooms there’s sure to be one to complement any landscape.

One of our favorite, late-summer Ohio native perennials, Black-Eyed Susans typically bloom mid to late July, putting on a golden yellow show in the landscape. They are vigorous, productive, and reliable, and their long-lasting blooms and daisy-like shape attract butterflies.

Often planted in shade gardens for their foliage color and texture, Hostas are available in various shades of yellow, green, blue, and white with stripes, mottling, and numerous variegated patterns. Hostas are also fantastic pollinator plants. Their large, trumpet-shaped flowers provide an excellent source of nectar for hummingbirds.

Turtleheads are known for their large snapdragon-like flower spikes and lush, deep green to bronze foliage. Their eye-catching, pink or white flowers stand out amongst other shade-loving plants, making it an excellent selection for woodland settings and shady containers.