Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by April
Annual Flowers That Bloom All Summer
Looking to add curb appeal to your home? Maybe you are looking to spruce up your backyard for mid-day lounging. Choosing flowers that will reliably bloom during specific seasons will help you create a garden that is colorful year-round. Conveniently, summer flowers are very easy to find, making gardening a breeze.
Before we get started, be sure to check out these flower bed designs for inspiration.
Drought-Resistant Annuals
Living in a dry climate doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful and colorful garden. These drought-tolerant annual flowers will give you gorgeous summer blossoms in even the driest weather.
Alyssum
Scientific Name: Lobularia Maritima
Size: 4 to 8 inches
Zones: 7-11
Marigold
Scientific Name: Tagetes
Size: 6-12 inches
Zones: 2-11
Verbena
Scientific Name:Verbena Officinalis
Size: 38 to 40 inches
Zones: 4-8
Zinnia
Scientific Name: Zinnia Elegans
Size: 1 to 3 feet
Zones: 3-10
Lantana
Scientific Name: Lantana Camara
Size: 2 to 6 feet
Zones: 7+
Cleome (Spider Flower)
Scientific Name: Cleome Hassleriana
Size: 4 to 59 inches
Zones: 10 and 11
Cosmos
Scientific Name: Cosmos Bipinnatus
Size:3 to 5 inches
Zones: 2 to 11
Centaurea
Scientific Name: Centaurea Montana
Size: 12 to 28 inches
Zones: 3 to 8
Blanket Flowers
Scientific Name: Gaillardia
Size: 12 to 18 inches
Zones: 3 to 9
Petunias
Scientific Name: Petunia Juss.
Size: 6 to 12 inches
Zones: 10 and 11
Deer Resistant Annuals
Deer are absolutely adorable but can wreak havoc on your flower garden. If you have an abundance of deer in your area, you will have a less stressful time planting these deer-resistant summer annual flowers.
Lobularia
Scientific Name: Lobularia Maritima
Size: 4 to 6 inches
Zones: 7 to 11
Vinca
Scientific Name: Catharanthus Roseus
Size: 6 to 18 inches
Zones: 7 to 9
Brazilian Jasmine
Scientific Name: Mandevilla Sanderi
Size: 20 feet
Zones: 9+
Heliotrope
Scientific Name: Heliotropium
Size: 1 to 4 feet
Zones: 11 and 11
Dahlia
Scientific Name: Dahlia Pinnata
Size: 4 to 5 feet
Zones: 8 to 11
Verbena
Scientific Name:Verbena Officinalis
Size: 38 to 40 inches
Zones: 4-8
Snapdragon
Scientific Name: Antirrhinum
Size: 16-24 inches
Zones: 8 to 9
Marigold
Scientific Name: Tagetes
Size: 6 to 12 inches
Zones: 2 to 11
Wax Begonia
Scientific Name: Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum
Size: 6 to 18 inches
Zones: 9 to 11
Bluemink
Scientific Name: Ageratum houstonianum
Size: A few inches to three feet
Zones: 9 to 10
Poppy
Scientific Name: Papaver
Size: 3 to 5 feet
Zones: 6 to 8
Geranium
Scientific Name: Pelargonium
Size: 4 to 48 inches
Zones: 7 to 8
Common Sage
Scientific Name: Salvia officinalis
Size: 18 inches to 5 feet
Zones: 5 to 10
FAQs About Annual Summer Flowers
What is the Difference Between Annuals and Perennials?
Knowing the difference between annual and perennial flowers will help you decide which type works better for your gardening needs. Annuals are plants that grow for just one season and that’s it. To get more of that plant, you will need to replant it each year.
Perennials will save you that extra trip to the home improvement store/nursery. This is because perennials will grow back for several years before replanting is required.
While this may make it seem like perennials are the obvious choice, there are benefits of annuals worth considering. One major upside of annuals is the extended blooming season. If you take excellent care of your annuals, you can prolong their life into the fall season.
For the best results, try planting both to find out which flowers are worth your time. There are so many to try out and it can be a very fun gardening experiment.
What is my Hardiness Zone?
For annual flowers that bloom all summer, it is best to find out what grows in your area. To find out what hardiness zone you live in, check out the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. This will give you an idea of what will easily grow and what will take more effort.
Quick List of Annual Summer Flowers
Alyssum
Marigold
Verbena
Zinnia
Lantana
Cleome
Cosmos
Centaurea
Blanket Flowers
Petunias
Lobularia
Vinca
Brazilian Jasmine
Heliotrope
Dahlia
Snapdragon
Wax Begonia
Bluemink
Poppy
Geranium
Common Sage
