9 Classic Summer Flowers: Summer Flowers for Planting and to Pot

Summer: when the smell of suncream mixes with the perfume of flowers. Every day (barring showers) the hazy sun rises over the beautiful flower arrangement on our garden table, and at the weekends we build our flower crowns, ready for garden parties. It is that time of the year when your garden gets lively with a host of flowers unleashing a riot of colors and attracting beautiful birds, butterflies, and even bees.

In summer, nature comes alive in a burst of vibrant colors, and the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers fills the air, and like a beautiful bouquet, each flower is unique and adds its own touch of grace. How else would you rather celebrate the coming of this season than embrace the beauty of life and cherish the moment of warmth that summer brings?

Summer Flowers Are Classical Beauties

Everyone knows that summer is a time of warmth, sunshine, and happiness. It's a season in which we can bask in the beauty of nature. And what better way to do so than by enjoying the classic summer flowers that bloom during this time of year?

Check out the 9 most common summer flowers:

1. Celosia;
2. Gladiolus;
3. Flame Lily, aka Gloriosa;
4. Sweet Pea, aka Lathyrus;
5. Allium;
6. Delphinium;
7. Sunflower, aka Helianthus;
8. Sweet William, aka Dianthus Barbatus;
9. Campanula.

 

 

From the vibrant sunflowers to the delicate daisies, summer flowers bring cheerful energy to any outdoor space. Their bright colors and lovely fragrances that they ooze make them the perfect addition to any garden, patio, or windowsill. 

While classic summer flowers may oftentimes steal the spotlight with their extravagant showiness, there are many common summer flowers that deserve recognition too. These summer flowers are often overlooked because of their subtle blooms.

 

 

They may not be as showy as some of their counterparts, but they are just as essential to creating a beautiful summer garden as their more showy peers.

If you're looking for flowers that bloom all summer, here's a list of nine classic summer flowers that you can include in your flower arrangements, making the most of the season's splendors.

 

Celosia

The surprising curls and plumes of Celosia bring a feeling of festivity. Combine this unusual bloom with other flowers in a bouquet to create a high-end design aesthetic that's both 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.

 

Gladiolus

With about 260 different species, there are many different bouquet possibilities for gladiolus and lots of flower symbolism to explore. Soldiers were buried with the flower after a victory.

 

 

And it is also given at a funeral as a way to say the person will be missed. It's 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. 

 

Flame Lily

This delicate, feminine summer flower, with its wide fan of petals, 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's a beautiful flower to spotlight in 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 garden displays during summer.

 

Sweet Pea

This summer flower, which also goes by its botanical name Lathyrus, has a sweet, natural fragrance that no bottled perfume can match. Its blooms are plentiful and come in many colors, so there's always a 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. For a bouquet of these summer flowers in their true summer colors, choose white, red, pink, cream, cream-yellow, or orange shades.

 

Allium

This globe of flowers is a bouncing ball of summer. The season wouldn't be complete without these beautiful stems. Allium is available in a series of beautiful colors and it flowers for a long time.

 

 

The dried summer flowers also make wonderful sculptural shapes, prolonging the summer even after the clouds close over in September. Be careful not to damage the stems and leaves, because then this ornamental onion will release a strong smell of scallions.

 

Delphinium

These long stems are filled with cheery little flowers that will bring joy and laughter to a summer bouquet. Delphinium is a favorite of bees and butterflies, who will spend all day feasting on the nectar if they happen to locate the plant.

 

 

The summer flowers each have from three to seven petals, and the common name larkspur derives from the backward-pointing cap behind each one. Delphiniums come in blue, purple, red, yellow, or white.

 

Sunflower

There is perhaps no flower more synonymous with summer than the sunflower. This bright golden flower with its huge dark heart will turn any bouquet into a burst of sunshine.

 

 

Made famous in the painting by Vincent Van Gogh that hangs in the National Gallery, the scientific name for sunflower is Helianthus — a combination of the Ancient Greek word helios, meaning sun, and anthos, meaning flower.

 

Sweet William

Sweet William is the most beautiful summer flower of the bunch. A favorite of many, it pairs up well with most other summer flowers in a bouquet. This garden and cut flower classic comes in bright, bold colors and sweetly spicy perfume, making it the quintessential summer flower you would want to have in your garden.

 

 

No one knows the original William from whom this eccentric summer flower got its name, although several 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.  Whoever the handsome fellow was, we're pleased to announce we enjoy his summer flowers all summer long.

 

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 is unexpectedly pretty as well, when presented as a cut flower. There are hundreds of varieties of this summer flower, all coming in blue, purple, or white flower colors.

 

 

You can follow the lead of bumblebees and butterflies, and place it in a relaxed-looking field bouquet for a more showy spectacle. There is a good chance that you will also get a campanula at home this summer.

 

Which Are the Flowers for Summer Planting?

With their vibrant colors, ability to thrive in warm weather and attractive blooms, summer flowers are definitely a popular choice for everyone’s garden. To plant flowers that bloom all summer, there are qualities that you have to have 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 period.

These Are Some Varieties to Pick When Planting Summer Flowers

Additionally, bright colors such as reds, yellows, oranges, and pinks are ideal for summer flowering plants since they add a pop of color to your garden. Summer flowers, similarly need to be low maintenance and shouldn’t require an excess of effort and resources such as watering or pruning.

 

 

The summer flowers to plant should also have attractive foliage, including flowers with interesting or textured foliage, which can add visual interest to your garden even when they are not in bloom.

Some interesting flowers for summer planting to enhance the look of your garden with their burst of color include the black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), gloriosa daisies, Shasta daisies, bougainvillea, peonies, coneflower (Echinacea), zinnias, marigold, sunflower, salvia, verbena, petunia, cosmos, and dahlia.

Which Are the Best Summer Flowering Plants for Pots?

Summer flowers that can be planted in pots are 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 the water needs of some of your summer flowers.

 

 

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 the environment of your pots.

These Are the Best Summer Flowers to Pot

Also, consider the size of your pots and choose summer flowers that will fit well and not overcrowd the space, given that different summer flowers have different growth habits. While some flowers grow tall and upright, others tend to spread out or trail down. Therefore, consider these qualities and choose those summer flowers 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 in your pots throughout the summer season.

There are numerous types of flowers that do well in pots during the summer months. Such include petunias, geraniums, zinnias, marigolds, begonias, lobelia, salvia, verbena, portulaca, and calibrachoa (million bells).

Summer is a season for joy and liveliness, so flow with the tide and let these colorful blooms enliven your garden with their beautiful colors and sweet fragrances.

 

Feature photo by JillWellington on Pixabay and header image by Magnus D'Great M on Pexels.