Summer perennials add color to the garden

By: 
Rob Zimmer
Columnist

The rush of May is over, and now the colors of June begin to greet gardeners with their beauty and grace. June begins the abundance of color and bloom that will last into July, August and September. Each month, the colors will grow stronger. Each month, the variety of blooms will increase. For now, we enjoy the colors of June.

Columbine, in all of its forms and colors, is one of my favorites of the June perennials that now put on a spectacular show in gardens and even in our woodlands. Wild native columbine is colored red and yellow and does exceptionally well here in our area where it grows abundantly among the Navarino sand hills. There are many excellent varieties of garden hybrid columbine that come in practically every color. Striking combinations and massive flower spikes make this a favorite among spring and early summer blooms.

Many of the unique columbines bloom in down-facing form, perfect for hummingbirds to feast upon the rich nectar. Other columbines, especially some of the newer hybrids, bloom facing upward, showcasing the unique, star-shaped pattern of their petals. Other columbines bloom wide open and flat, like a clematis. The colors of columbine make them a favorite among gardeners. Each bloom may be bi-colored in red and white or purple and white or blue and white or solid bright yellow or alpine blue. There are so many wonderful colors to choose from.

Canada anemone is another great early spring summer wildflower, blooming in snow white. These are commonly grown as garden plants for the rich flush of color they give early in the summer. Unlike Japanese anemone that bloom late in fall, these provide an instant burst of brightness early in summer.

Delphinium is another wonderful perennial for late spring and early summer. Tall spires of blooms in shades of blue, purple, pink and white make delphinium a favorite among gardeners, as well as hummingbirds and butterflies that visit our garden beds.

Lupine, both the wild native version as well as garden hybrids, blooms profusely in June. Dense spikes of colorful blooms, solid colors or bi-colors, make this a favorite. These spikes may reach 18 inches in height or more, making them a striking presence in the garden.

A wide variety of penstemons, or beardtongues, also make their show-stopping appearance during June. There are native penstemons, as well as garden hybrids that do wonderfully in our area. Many are pink or purple or red in color, while the native tends to be white or light lavender. Like all of these blooms, hummingbirds feast upon the spikes of flowers produced by these perennial plants.

It wouldn’t be June without the massive, sweet-scented blooms of bearded iris. Sugary in scent and profuse in bloom, bearded iris do well here in our area especially in sandy soils. The colors of bearded iris vary from near black to pure white and everything in between.

Oriental poppies are another showpiece plant for June bloom. Often, these may reach 6 inches across in the good hybrids and feature blooms in bright orange, pink, purple, watermelon, white and red.

The baptisias, or false indigo, are another exceptional group of perennial plants for June. Many of these are quite large, as large as any bush, growing 4-5 feet high and wide when in full spike. Baptisias have colorful blooms that are available in shades of yellow, blue, pink, purple — even a series of fancy, chocolate-colored baptisias.

Visit your local garden center and add some of these beautiful early summer perennials to your landscape. While we wait for the prairie plants of July and August, these colorful beauties offer ornamental value, as well as great value to birds, butterflies and pollinators.


Rob Zimmer is a nature and garden author, public speaker and radio show host on WHBY. Readers can find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RobZimmerOutdoors.