As the seasons transition into Spring and then into Summer, it’s the perfect time for gardeners to create a beautiful display of in-season Spring flowers within your garden beds, planters, and flowering containers, and also create a pollinator-friendly area of your garden too. The ideal time to plant lots of different types of flowers is in late Spring once the weather has started to warm up and the danger of any late frosts has passed.

Many of the annuals and also the hardy perennials have started to grow their roots deep down into the soil, which will allow them to grow well throughout the remainder of the summer and also to tolerate the heat of the weather as it starts to rise. Many of the warm-season annuals and hardy perennials can be planted after the last frost date when the soil has started to warm up. The roots of these plants will have a chance to establish themselves and the plants will produce more flowers and be able to handle the heat of summer.

These are some of the best flowers to be planted before summer, and why you should add them to your garden this year.

Brightly colored spring flowers in a garden.

Zinnias 

The humble zinnia is one of the best flowers to plant for instant color in your flower beds and borders. A fast-growing annual that thrives in warm weather, these flowers will begin to bloom in early summer and will continue until the first frost. Zinnias are available in every color of the rainbow and are ideal for making a colorful cutting garden, as well as being perfect for making bouquets to take into your home.

The main advantage of Zinnias is that they mature very quickly. The seeds are easily sown and the plants grow very quickly. The Zinnias thrive in full sun with good air circulation. They are a very popular flower with butterflies too, as they are naturally attracted to the vibrant colors of the Zinnias. Many recent gardening guides have proclaimed the zinnia to be one of the best gap-filling flowers for late spring planting. And for good reason. They are easy to grow from seed, produce flowers in a short amount of time, are heat tolerant, and do well in soil with good air circulation. And, as an added bonus, they attract a lot of butterflies.

For best results:

  • Plant in full sun
  • Water at the base to avoid mildew
  • Deadhead regularly to encourage more blooms

Marigolds

Marigolds are one of the most popular annuals to be grown in gardens by both new and experienced gardeners. The bold and bright yellow, orange, and gold flowers are quick-growing and can produce masses of blooms throughout the warmest months of the year.

These flowers are very tolerant and can withstand dry spells of weather, as well as producing great results in full sun. The compact growing habit of the flowers makes them ideal for filling borders, containers and even raised beds.

Marigolds are also planted near many vegetables because they repel certain pests that eat produce. The small plants are compact and are great for flower beds, borders, planters and in raised beds. Even late in the season, when warm-weather annuals are typically planted after the frost has passed, the marigold, because it thrives in hot weather, is rated highly among the best for late-season plantings.

Marigolds perform best when:

  • Planted in full sunlight
  • Given well-draining soil
  • Watered deeply but not excessively

Coneflowers (Echinacea)

Coneflowers are beautiful flowers that are durable and good for pollinators. Echinacea flowers come in many varieties of perennials that come into full bloom in early summer that continue through fall and come back every year. Coneflowers are a favorite among bees, butterflies and birds who enjoy the daisy-like flower with its raised center. The tall flower creates a great contrast in texture in your garden and is drought tolerant making it an ideal flower for gardeners who live in very hot weather. It does best in warm soil and that is why it is recommended to be planted in late spring when the soil has warmed up and will thrive before the heat of summer.

Coneflowers perform best when planted in late spring after the soil has warmed up as the roots grow best in warm soil and this will give the coneflower time to establish itself before summer brings on any stress.

Benefits of coneflowers include:

  • Long bloom season
  • Drought tolerance
  • Excellent pollinator support
  • Low maintenance requirements

Petunias

Petunias are considered to be classic summer flowers. These versatile flowers can cascade down a basket, spill over the edges of a container or fill out a flower bed with an abundance of flowers in a wide array of colors throughout the entire growing season. Most of the newer petunias are heat-tolerant and resistant to disease. These are extremely floral all season long, filling up space quickly to provide a colorful landscape. They can be used in pots on patios as well as in beds. Wait until after the last frost date for your area and when the soil is starting to warm up for planting petunias.

To keep petunias looking their best:

  • Provide at least six hours of sunlight daily
  • Fertilize regularly during bloom season
  • Trim leggy growth midsummer for fuller plants

Black-Eyed Susans 

Black-eyed Susans have bright golden-yellow flowers in the middle of summer. This perennial is one of the flowers that can thrive in a variety of soil types. The long-lasting flowers bring pollinators to the area and make a natural, meadow-like feel to a landscape.

Once they are established, the black-eyed Susans have very low maintenance and can even spread on their own over time. They produce bright yellow flowers with dark centers that last the entire season. They naturally bring pollinators to the area and provide a beautiful, natural meadow look to any landscape. These flowers are low maintenance once established and they grow so quickly and so large that they actually spread on their own in no time at all.

Black-eyed Susans are a new perennial that are ideal for late spring plantings because they quickly establish themselves and then proceed to bloom heavily throughout late summer. These flowers are especially useful for:

  • Cottage gardens
  • Native plant gardens
  • Pollinator landscapes
  • Drought-prone areas

Cosmos

These flowers are made up of delicate flowers and stems that are mixed with fern-like foliage. Cosmos attract butterflies and other beneficial insects. They grow to be tall and add a delicate look to any garden. Cosmos prefer to grow in full sun. Cosmos can grow in a variety of different soils but they actually produce the most flowers when they are in average to fertile of of a soil.

Many different garden experts choose to recommend the Cosmos as one of the easiest flowers to plant in late spring because they grow fast and produce flowers throughout the summer. Some of the most common colors for Cosmos are Pink, White, Magenta, Orange, and Deep crimson.

Cosmos prefer to grow in full sun and do best in average to poor soil. If the soil is too rich with fertilizer, the plant will produce excessive amounts of foliage and few flowers. Many gardening experts suggest to plant Cosmos in late spring because of their fast growth and their continued production of flowers throughout the summer. Popular cosmos colors include:

  • Pink
  • White
  • Magenta
  • Orange
  • Deep crimson

Sunflowers

For a taste of Summer, there is no better flower to grow than the sunflower. These tall, stunning plants are instantly recognizable and add height, drama and color to even the smallest of gardens. With a wide range of varieties to choose from the towering plants that stretch to the sky to the compact, shorter versions that are perfect for growing in pots and containers on a balcony or in a courtyard, there really is a sunflower for every gardener. Sunflowers prefer to be direct sown into warm soil in late spring. They love to be in full sun and consistently watered while they are establishing their roots.

Many gardening resources suggest planting sunflowers early in the season to allow the flower to develop a strong stem to support the tall flower head and to get the biggest bloom possible before summer’s hot weather.

Sunflowers also:

  • Attract pollinators
  • Produce seeds for birds
  • Create excellent cut flowers
  • Add vertical interest to landscapes

Lantana

Lantana is one of the best flowers to plant for gardeners in warmer climates just before summer. This perennial flower is a heat loving flower that will thrive in temperatures and continue to bloom when most other flowers have stopped due to dry spells. Lantana produces loads of flowers in clusters that are made up of tiny individual blooms in a mix of colors such as, orange, orange, yellow, pink, purple and red. They are particularly popular with butterflies.

The most recent articles within the gardening community highlight the lantana as one of the best and top low-maintenance flowers for your summer garden because of its incredible ability to survive and do well in very hot weather as well as in dry weather and continue to produce long lasting flowers.

Lantana grows best when:

  • Planted in full sunlight
  • Allowed good air circulation
  •  Watered moderately once established

Tips for Successful Summer Flower Planting 

Before you put in the flowers, get your flower bed ready by loosening up the soil and mixing in some compost or other organic material. This will help create healthy soil that has good drainage, and allows roots to grow well. It will also allow your flowers to handle the stresses of the summer.

Adding a layer of mulch to flowers can help keep moisture in the soil as well as to stifle weeds and keep soil temperature consistent throughout the seasons. Most gardeners agree that deep watering (dousing roots with large amounts of water as opposed to sprinkling a small amount daily) is one of the most effective methods for creating robust roots in flowers.

Additionally:

  • Plant early in the morning or evening
  • Avoid overcrowding plants
  • Water newly planted flowers consistently
  • Remove spent blooms to encourage reblooming

Final Thoughts

Planting flowers at the start of the season is the best way to have a garden full of flowers all season long. There are many annuals and perennials that are easy to care for and do well in heat. Zinnias and marigolds are two examples of annuals that are easy to care for and do well in heat.

If you are looking for perennials that do well in heat then coneflowers and black-eyed Susans are two examples of flowers that do well in heat and come back year after year. By planting these types of flowers at the start of the season, they will have time to get a good root system before the peak of summer and will continue to bloom throughout the season. By planting flowers now your blooms will have time to establish strong roots before the peak of summer temperature arrives. With the proper amount of sunlight, water and care your flowers will continue to add color and interest to your yard, patio or garden beds all season long.