August Blossoms to Enhance Your Garden with Late-Summer Sparkle and Charm
In the hottest months of the year, many annuals and typical bedding plants may seem exhausted. But fear not, for getting your garden exciting again starts with a selection of plants that bloom in August. This month is a great entry point for summer bloomers, especially if you are planting now.
One such plant is Swamp Milkweed, a pretty native plant that thrives in poor soil and produces large clusters of purple-rose flowers, favored by pollinators. Swamp Milkweed live plants can still be found at NatureHills. Another native perennial, Goldenrod, boasts intense yellow flowers that bloom from July to October, attracting late-season pollinators. Both Swamp Milkweed and Goldenrod are suitable for USDA zones 3-9.
For those seeking a taller option, Rose Mallow, also known as swamp hibiscus, has large exotic flowers that bloom until the first frost and can grow 2-5ft tall. Crocosmia, also known as montbretia, is a flamboyant bulb that naturalizes over time and blooms in various colors from August to October, reaching heights of 2-3ft.
If you're looking for something more dwarf, 'Dwarf Little Lemon Golden Rod' from Nature Hills is a dwarf variety of goldenrod that thrives in USDA zones 5-8. Coneflowers, such as the 'Pow Wow Berry' variety available at Daylily Nursery at Walmart, produce dazzling bubblegum pink flowers and are a great choice for adding bright colors to your garden.
Cosmos, Zinnias, Rudbeckia triloba (Brown-Eyed Susan), Anise Hyssop, Purple Coneflower, Tickseed, and New England Aster are other flowers that bloom in August to extend summer flower production and attract pollinators. These flowers help maintain garden color later into the summer and support pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds with nectar and seeds while extending your garden’s flowering season from August well into fall.
Coneflower, or Echinacea, is an outstanding native plant that blooms early and keeps going until first frost, and is sensational in containers. Spotted Bee Balm, a North American native with unusual markings and tubular flowers that last well into fall, attracting pollinators, is another great addition to your August garden.
The Cardinal Flower, with its tall stature and vibrant red flowers on long spikes, favored by hummingbirds, can be found in rich soil with full or partial sun. The Leopard Plant, grown for its golden flowers and leathery foliage, has a clumping habit that adds height and structure to a summer border.
By selecting repeat bloomers and flowers that are actively in season during August, you can ensure a garden with loads of bright colors in the hotter months. These dazzling floral selections will not only keep your garden looking beautiful but also help keep pollinators and other wildlife visiting your garden well into the fall.
- To maintain garden color later into the summer and support pollinators, consider planting flowers such as Cosmos, Zinnias, Rudbeckia triloba (Brown-Eyed Susan), Anise Hyssop, Purple Coneflower, Tickseed, and New England Aster, all of which bloom in August.
- For a taller option in your home-and-garden that blooms until the first frost, Rose Mallow, also known as swamp hibiscus, is a great choice, reaching heights of 2-5ft and producing large exotic flowers.
