Research shows that looking at flowers influences peoples' moods and makes them happier. An easy way to get more flowers in your life is to plant them in your landscape or in containers on a porch or patio where they can easily be viewed.
Annual flowers bloom all season but only live one year. Perennial flowers live many years but only bloom for a portion of the year. One way to get season-long color with perennials is to interplant a mix of species that bloom at different times.
Annual flowers bloom all season but only live one year. Perennial flowers live many years but only bloom for a portion of the year. One way to get season-long color with perennials is to interplant a mix of species that bloom at different times.
Use the table for easy reference. Details and pictures provided below. Full sun = 6+ hours per day. Plants may be appropriate for other areas as well.
Looking for shade plants? Follow-up with that topic coming soon.
Looking for shade plants? Follow-up with that topic coming soon.
Perennials for season-long blooms in full sun, Central Midwest
Early to mid-Spring |
Late Spring into Summer |
Mid- to Late Summer |
Late Summer and Fall |
daffodils and tulips March and April |
catmint April to September |
catmint continued from late spring |
milkweed continued from mid-summer |
penstemon April to June, may re-bloom if deadheaded |
coreopsis June to August |
milkweed June to October |
helenium August to October |
cranesbill geranium May to June, sparse sporadic re-bloom through summer |
ornamental allium late May to August depending on variety |
sea holly June to September |
stonecrop August to October |
Early to mid-Spring
Daffodils Daffodils and tulips
Plant these in the fall for early spring color. Daffodils bloom mid-March to mid-April most years, depending on how early it warms up and the variety. Their cheery yellow blossoms are some of the earliest signs of spring and will make you smile on those first sunny 60-degree days.
Tulips come in a variety of colors and flower complexities. The bigger and frillier the flower, the less likely the bulbs are to survive from year to year. That said, there are some that survive long-term, such as Pink Impressions and others in the Darwin hybrid series. (These have survived 15 years in my northeast Kansas landscape).
Daffodil and tulip bulbs perform best in unirrigated garden beds with well-drained soil.
Maintenance: Clean up faded foliage in early summer if desired. If plants get shorter as the years go by, dig them up and replant them at the proper depth.
Plant these in the fall for early spring color. Daffodils bloom mid-March to mid-April most years, depending on how early it warms up and the variety. Their cheery yellow blossoms are some of the earliest signs of spring and will make you smile on those first sunny 60-degree days.
Tulips come in a variety of colors and flower complexities. The bigger and frillier the flower, the less likely the bulbs are to survive from year to year. That said, there are some that survive long-term, such as Pink Impressions and others in the Darwin hybrid series. (These have survived 15 years in my northeast Kansas landscape).
Daffodil and tulip bulbs perform best in unirrigated garden beds with well-drained soil.
Maintenance: Clean up faded foliage in early summer if desired. If plants get shorter as the years go by, dig them up and replant them at the proper depth.
Penstemon, unknown variety Penstemon - Penstemon digitalis
aka Beardtongue
Species is native to the Midwest. Tubular flowers are attractive to hummingbirds. Glossy green foliage looks good throughout the summer. No major pests. Flowers of the species are white. 'Husker Red' is a popular cultivar that has dark red coloration in the leaves and a pink blush in the flowers.
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage. Deadhead after first blooms fade to encourage re-bloom, or leave the attractive seedheads.
aka Beardtongue
Species is native to the Midwest. Tubular flowers are attractive to hummingbirds. Glossy green foliage looks good throughout the summer. No major pests. Flowers of the species are white. 'Husker Red' is a popular cultivar that has dark red coloration in the leaves and a pink blush in the flowers.
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage. Deadhead after first blooms fade to encourage re-bloom, or leave the attractive seedheads.
Cranesbill geranium with perennial salvia Cranesbill geranium - Geranium sanguineum
aka bloody crane's bill, hardy geranium, true geranium
Produces a flush of blooms in May, fills in space between other perennials and creates a sort of creeping but non-aggressive groundcover. No major pests. Tolerates partial shade. The species performs well but there are also hybrid cultivars such as 'Tiny Monster', 'Rozanne' and 'Johnson's Blue'. The flowers of the last two are more blue than the species.
Maintenance: If plants spread beyond their limits, shear them back.
aka bloody crane's bill, hardy geranium, true geranium
Produces a flush of blooms in May, fills in space between other perennials and creates a sort of creeping but non-aggressive groundcover. No major pests. Tolerates partial shade. The species performs well but there are also hybrid cultivars such as 'Tiny Monster', 'Rozanne' and 'Johnson's Blue'. The flowers of the last two are more blue than the species.
Maintenance: If plants spread beyond their limits, shear them back.
Late Spring into Summer
Catmint 'Walker's Low' Catmint - Nepeta racemosa or N. faassenii
Blooms all summer, excellent drought tolerance, no major pests, tolerates some shade. 'Walker's Low' is a proven performer that has a sprawling habit. Newer introductions 'Cat's Meow' and 'Cat's Pajamas' are more compact and have flowers that are more blue-purple.
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage, deadhead/shear after first bloom to encourage re-bloom.
Blooms all summer, excellent drought tolerance, no major pests, tolerates some shade. 'Walker's Low' is a proven performer that has a sprawling habit. Newer introductions 'Cat's Meow' and 'Cat's Pajamas' are more compact and have flowers that are more blue-purple.
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage, deadhead/shear after first bloom to encourage re-bloom.
Coreopsis, unknown variety Coreopsis - Coreopsis spp. and various hybrids
aka Tickseed
Cheery blooms attract butterflies and other pollinators, excellent drought tolerance, no major pests. C. grandiflora, C. tinctoria, and a couple of others are native to the Midwest. Typically look best interspersed with other plants or planted in clusters. Flowers of species plants may re-seed and need to be thinned/removed over time. For more compact growth habit and sterile flowers, look for improved hybrids such as 'Early Sunrise', 'Tequila Sunrise', 'Jethro Tull', and others.
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage. May deadhead or shear in mid-summer to encourage re-bloom.
aka Tickseed
Cheery blooms attract butterflies and other pollinators, excellent drought tolerance, no major pests. C. grandiflora, C. tinctoria, and a couple of others are native to the Midwest. Typically look best interspersed with other plants or planted in clusters. Flowers of species plants may re-seed and need to be thinned/removed over time. For more compact growth habit and sterile flowers, look for improved hybrids such as 'Early Sunrise', 'Tequila Sunrise', 'Jethro Tull', and others.
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage. May deadhead or shear in mid-summer to encourage re-bloom.
Ornamental allium, large-headed type, species/variety unknown Ornamental allium
aka ornamental onion
There are two distinct groups of ornamental alliums - large-headed types and small-headed types. Blooms of the large/tall varieties look like something out of a fairy tale with a big pop of color. Blooms of the small varieties offer the same color in a smaller package.
Both types have excellent drought tolerance and no major pests.
Large-headed alliums include giant allium, Persian allium, hybrids Gladiator and Globemaster and others. These typically bloom in late May and June.
aka ornamental onion
There are two distinct groups of ornamental alliums - large-headed types and small-headed types. Blooms of the large/tall varieties look like something out of a fairy tale with a big pop of color. Blooms of the small varieties offer the same color in a smaller package.
Both types have excellent drought tolerance and no major pests.
Large-headed alliums include giant allium, Persian allium, hybrids Gladiator and Globemaster and others. These typically bloom in late May and June.
Millenium ornamental allium For small-headed alliums, try the hybrid Millenium. It is a compact perennial with sterile flowers (no extra plants from re-seeding), or try one of the native varieties such as nodding onions. These typically bloom in July and August.
Maintenance needed: none
Maintenance needed: none
Mid- to late Summer
Common milkweed Milkweeds - Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), and Butterfly weed (A. tuberosa), Tropical milkweed (A. curassavica)
Excellent drought tolerance, food source for monarch butterfly larvae, nectar source for other butterflies and pollinators
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage
Excellent drought tolerance, food source for monarch butterfly larvae, nectar source for other butterflies and pollinators
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage
Sea holly - Eryngium planum
Unique texture and flower shape. Interplant closely with other perennials to support this sometimes leggy plant. Excellent drought tolerance. Prone to root rot in poorly drained soil, but no other serious pests.
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage
Another option is sea holly's native cousin:
Rattlesnake master - Eryngium yuccifolium
Rattlesnake master is taller than sea holly, lacks the purple-blue coloration and its flowers only have the ball that is the center of the sea holly flower. The plant provides great visual interest with texture though. It is also attractive to native bee species and other pollinators. Rattlesnake master is native to the tallgrass prairie which spanned a portion of the Midwest and Great Plains.
Unique texture and flower shape. Interplant closely with other perennials to support this sometimes leggy plant. Excellent drought tolerance. Prone to root rot in poorly drained soil, but no other serious pests.
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage
Another option is sea holly's native cousin:
Rattlesnake master - Eryngium yuccifolium
Rattlesnake master is taller than sea holly, lacks the purple-blue coloration and its flowers only have the ball that is the center of the sea holly flower. The plant provides great visual interest with texture though. It is also attractive to native bee species and other pollinators. Rattlesnake master is native to the tallgrass prairie which spanned a portion of the Midwest and Great Plains.
Late Summer and Fall
Helen's flower, Helenium autumnale and various hybrids
aka sneezeweed (falsely accused)
Picture coming soon!
This beautiful Midwest native was given an unfortunate common name, perhaps because it blooms around the same time as ragweed. Whatever the case, don't let the name scare you.
Helenium is closely related to coneflower and coreopsis and is distinguished from the other two by it's late season blooms typically beginning in August. Flowers may be yellow, gold, red, or a mix of colors. Drought tolerant. Leaves may get powdery mildew and other fungal leaf spots. Avoid overhead irrigation and select a site with good air circulation to reduce likelihood of plant disease. If leaf spots do occur, they may reduce vigor of the plant but won't kill it.
The species can get leggy. Pinch/cut back around the first of July to reduce size if desired, plant amongst other perennials for support, or select compact hybrids.
Maintenance needed: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage. Pinch/cut back species if desired.
aka sneezeweed (falsely accused)
Picture coming soon!
This beautiful Midwest native was given an unfortunate common name, perhaps because it blooms around the same time as ragweed. Whatever the case, don't let the name scare you.
Helenium is closely related to coneflower and coreopsis and is distinguished from the other two by it's late season blooms typically beginning in August. Flowers may be yellow, gold, red, or a mix of colors. Drought tolerant. Leaves may get powdery mildew and other fungal leaf spots. Avoid overhead irrigation and select a site with good air circulation to reduce likelihood of plant disease. If leaf spots do occur, they may reduce vigor of the plant but won't kill it.
The species can get leggy. Pinch/cut back around the first of July to reduce size if desired, plant amongst other perennials for support, or select compact hybrids.
Maintenance needed: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage. Pinch/cut back species if desired.
Tall redleaf sedum, pre-flowering Stonecrop Hylotelephium spp. and various hybrids
aka sedum, live-forever
The genus of this group of plants recently changed from sedum to hylotelephium, but they may still be sold as sedums.
Lovely fall color, drought tolerant, provides nectar for butterflies and other pollinators late in the season, no major pests. Thick, succulent-like, silvery-green foliage adds texture and color variation. 'Autumn Joy', 'Matrona' and 'Vera Jameson' are classic cultivars. There are many newer introductions as well.
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage.
aka sedum, live-forever
The genus of this group of plants recently changed from sedum to hylotelephium, but they may still be sold as sedums.
Lovely fall color, drought tolerant, provides nectar for butterflies and other pollinators late in the season, no major pests. Thick, succulent-like, silvery-green foliage adds texture and color variation. 'Autumn Joy', 'Matrona' and 'Vera Jameson' are classic cultivars. There are many newer introductions as well.
Maintenance: Spring clean-up of previous year's foliage.