Sprucing up your Summer Garden

If you're looking for a way to make your summer garden pop year after year, perennials are the perfect solution. Luckily, there is a perennial to suit almost every climate, condition and soil type. Here are some summer-blooming perennials to spruce up your outdoor space!

Edited by Moe Godat

Photography courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden

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Sun-loving perennials:

Sea Thrift:

Bloom time: Sporadic throughout the summer

Location + light: Full sun

Soil requirements: Sandy soil

Delphinium:

Bloom time: Early through late summer

Location + light: Full sun

Soil requirements: Rich with compost

Baby's Breath:

Bloom time: Mid to late summer

Location + light: Full sunlight

Soil requirements: Free-draining soil

Perennial Phlox:

Bloom time: Summer into early fall

Location + light: Full sunlight

Soil requirements: Well-drained, enriched with

organic matter

Peony:

Bloom time: Early summer

Location + light: Full sun or semi-shade

Soil requirements: Well-drained, enriched with compost

Semi-shade to shade-loving perennials:

Oakleaf hydrangeas:

Bloom time: Late spring to mid-summer

Location + light: Semi-shade

Soil requirements: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil

Columbine:

Bloom time: Mid-spring to mid-summer

Location + light: Semi-shade to full sun

Soil requirements: Well-drained, plenty of organic matter

Astilbe:

Bloom time: Late spring through summer

Location+ light: Dappled shade to bright sunlight

Soil requirements: Rich in organic matter, heavy applications of mulch

Bleeding Heart

Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Location + light: Filtered sunlight

Soil requirements: Well-drained, rich with organic matter

Liriope:

Bloom time: Early fall

Location + light: Shade or dappled sunlight

Soil requirements: Rich with organic matter