Summer. This is a time when the smell of suncream mixes with the perfume of flowers. Every day (even amid occasional summer rains), the sun often rises over beautiful flowers and arrangements on the garden table. On weekends, people build flower crowns, ready for garden parties. Summer is that time when gardens get lively, flowers unfurl in a riot of colors that, in turn, attract birds, butterflies, bees, and others you can name.
Summer is when nature comes alive. The sweet fragrance of blooming flowers fills the air. And like a beautiful bouquet, each flower is unique and offers its own grace. So, how else would you rather celebrate the return of this season than by embracing the (floral) beauty of life and cherishing the warmth of the moment this season brings?
Summer Flowers Are Classical Beauties
Stage set. Everyone knows that summer is a time of warmth, blue skies, plenty of sunshine, and delightful happiness. It is a season when people can freely bask outdoors in the beauty of nature. Is there any better way to do so than by enjoying the classic summer flowers that come into bloom during this time of year? Definitely not!
There are several flowers perfect for this time of the year. Your garden (and you, by extension) definitely yearns for them. But which are some of the best, easily available flower ideas for your home? Go ahead, check out these 10 most common summer flowers:
There is quite a range, from the vibrant sunflowers to the delicate daisies; summer flowers carry a cheerful energy into an outdoor space. Their bright colors and lovely fragrances make them the perfect addition to a garden, patio, balcony, or windowsill. While there are the classic summer flowers that oftentimes steal the spotlight with their extravagant showiness, numerous other common summer flowers deserve recognition, too.
These common summer flowers are often overlooked because of their subtle flowers. They may not be as showy as some of their more vibrant counterparts, but they are just as essential to creating a beautiful summer garden.
So, if you're looking for flowers that bloom all summer, here's a list of ten classic summer flowers that you can try in your flower and garden arrangement or design, potted flower collection, and even vases, making the most of the season's colorfulness.
1. Celosia
The surprising curls and plumes of Celosia bring a summertime festive feel. Grown in your garden, it stands out. You can even use it as a cut flower. Combine it with others in a bouquet to create a high-end design aesthetic that is stylish and seasonal.
Also known as cockscomb, the brightly-colored fan grows on the stem, and the flowers arrange themselves on each side, often hundreds at a time. Celosia originally came from the tropical climes of Asia and Africa, and the colors match perfectly with the sun: red, orange, yellow, and pink. You can read more about this beauty in the summer
2. Gladiolus
With about 260 different species, there are many different gardening and bouquet possibilities for Gladiolus and lots of flower symbolism to explore. Soldiers were buried with flowers after a victory. And it is also given at a funeral as a way to say the person will be missed.
It is also a flower for lovers: like Cupid's arrow, it pierces the heart. Choose white, red, yellow, pink, purple, orange, or cream for the perfect bouquet of summer colors.
3. Flame Lily
This delicate, feminine summer flower features a wide fan of petals and fits right in with your summer mood. The flame lily, so-called because the petals look like tongue-licks of fire, has the Latin name Gloriosa. It is also known as the glory lily or crown of honor and is the national flower of Zimbabwe.
It is a beautiful flower in a garden, but also to spotlight a summer flower arrangement: from Japanese ikebana to Art Nouveau. It suits a range of floral styles. This summer flower’s unique, fiery blooms make it a popular choice for adding color and interest to not just floral arrangements but also summer garden displays.
4. Sweet Pea
The sweet pea is a summer flower that also goes by its botanical name Lathyrus. It has a sweet, natural fragrance that nearly rivals that of bottled perfume. Its flowers are plentiful and come in many colors, so there's always the right shade to slot in a buttonhole, perfect for carrying the scent around with you.
The beautiful sweet pea, which symbolizes mildness, was discovered in Sicily in the late 17th century. When not used as a garden flower, you can incorporate it in a bouquet where these summer flowers are perfect in their true summer colors. Ideally, choose white, red, pink, cream, cream-yellow, or orange shades.
5. Allium
This globe of flowers is a bouncing ball of summer delight. The season, one would say, wouldn't be complete without these beautiful flowers. Allium is available in a series of beautiful colors, and when grown in a summer-themed garden, it flowers for a long time.
The dried summer flowers of the Allium also make wonderful sculptural shapes, prolonging the summertime delight even after the autumn clouds close over in September. But be careful not to damage the stems and leaves, because then this ornamental onion will release a strong smell of scallions.
6. Delphinium
These long stems are filled with cheery little flowers that will bring joy and laughter to a summer garden gathering. They are just graceful! Cut from the garden, they can be used in arrangements and bouquets as well.
Delphinium is a favorite of bees and butterflies. They spend all day feasting on the nectar if they happen to locate the flowers. These summer flowers have between three and seven petals, and the common name larkspur derives from the backward-pointing cap behind each. Delphiniums come in blue, purple, red, yellow, or white.
7. Sunflower
There is perhaps no flower more synonymous with summer than the sunflower (Helianthus). This bright golden flower brings the sunshine right to your garden. Still, it has a huge dark heart that will stand out when the flower is used in a bouquet or summer arrangement.
Symbolically, the sunflower is full of meaning, more so due to its positive energy. Made famous in the painting by Vincent Van Gogh that hangs in the National Gallery, the scientific name for sunflower, Helianthus, is a combination of the Ancient Greek word helios, meaning sun, and anthos, meaning flower.
8. Sweet William
Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is perhaps the most beautiful summer flower of the bunch. A favorite of many, it looks good in the garden and also pairs well with most other summer flowers in a bouquet. This garden and cut flower classic comes in bold colors and a sweetly spicy scent, making it the quintessential summer flower you would want to have.
While it is difficult to exactly tell the original William from whom this eccentric summer flower got its name, several names have been suggested, from William the Conqueror to William Shakespeare, or even Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland, who defeated the Scots at the Battle of Culloden in 1745. But whoever the handsome fellow was, everyone now enjoys his summer flower namesake.
9. Campanula
The bell-shaped flowers of campanula ring in the summer season, right on time. Well-known as a garden plant, this summer flower, which also goes by the name bellflower, looks good even when presented as a cut flower.
There are hundreds of varieties of this summer flower, all coming in colors like blue, purple, or white. When used as a cut flower, place them in a relaxed-looking field bouquet for a more showy spectacle.
10. Petunia
Petunias come in a dazzling array of colors, from classic bright pinks and purples to subtler shades of white, yellow, and even black. Their trumpet-shaped flowers usually cascade when planted in hanging baskets or window boxes, which adds the perfect feel to an outdoor space.
The Surfinia series is an example, consisting of petunias from Suntory, a floral plant breeder known for developing, testing, selecting, and introducing new innovative bedding plants of the highest quality in Europe. Surfinia® Trailing Big Pink, Surfinia® Trailing Blue Ocean, and Surfinia® Trailing Violet are just some of the exquisite varieties perfect for that summer feel.
These flowers are not just pleasing to the eye; their sweet, subtle fragrance also makes them a delight as summer flowers. One of the biggest advantages of these flowering plants is their resilience and low-maintenance nature.
Unlike many summer flowers that require constant deadheading and watering, petunias are resilient, able to thrive in full sun and partial shade, and easily tolerate periods of drought. Their versatility, beauty, and carefree nature make them a winning choice for adding color and life to any outdoor summer space.
Which Are the Best Flowers for Summer Planting?
Vibrant colors, ability to thrive in warm weather, and attractive blooms make summer flowers a popular choice for everyone’s garden. To plant these flowers that bloom all summer, there are qualities that you have to keep in mind to get a better spectacle in your summer garden.
Some qualities to look out for when identifying which are the best summer flowers for planting include their ability to withstand the high temperatures and dry conditions of the season. These flowers for summer planting also need to have a long blooming season. They should be able to bloom for an extended period to provide color throughout the summer.
Additionally, bright hues such as reds, yellows, oranges, and pinks are ideal for summer flowering plants since they add color to your garden. These summer flowers, similarly, need to be low maintenance and shouldn’t require great effort and resources, such as watering or pruning.
Even still, the summer flowers to plant should have attractive foliage, including flowers with interesting or textured foliage, which add visual interest to your garden even when they are not in bloom.
Some more interesting flowers for summer planting to enhance the look of your garden with their color include the black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Gloriosa daisies, Shasta daisies, bougainvillea, peonies, coneflower (Echinacea), zinnia, marigold, salvia, verbena, cosmos, and Dahlia.
Which Are the Best Summer-Flowering Plants for Pots?
Summer flowers that can be planted in pots are also a great way to add color and beauty not just to your outdoor space and garden, but also to your indoor spaces. The best summer flowers to pot possess some key attributes like heat tolerance, since summers bring hot temperatures.
You would, therefore, want flowers that bloom all summer long and can handle the heat without wilting or dying. Depending on the location of your pots, you may also want flowers that thrive in full sun or partial shade, as well as identify their water needs.
Choosing the best flowers for summer planting in pots also requires you to note that some require more water than others. So, it is wise to choose those that are suitable for your watering schedule and your pot environment.
Also, consider the size of your pots and choose flowers that will fit well and not overcrowd the space, given that different types of summer flowers have different growth habits. While some grow tall and upright, others tend to spread out or trail down. Consider these qualities and choose those that complement the style and design of your pots.
It is also important to choose flowers that bloom all summer long to provide color and interest throughout the season. Numerous flowers do well in pots during the summer months. Such include petunias, geraniums, zinnias, marigolds, begonias, lobelia, salvia, verbena, portulaca, and calibrachoa.
Featured image by @wanderesskriti. Header image by @bigjulians.
