It is a never a problem finding perennial colour during the spring, but once that season is behind us and we are left with the sweltering summer heat and water restrictions, we need to choose more carefully. So, here are ten summer-blooming perennials that enjoy a part to full sun exposure, will tolerate some drought once established and won’t fade in the strong light of the season. 

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ 

A favourite of the hummingbirds, this tall perennial grows from bulbs or corms and is ideal for the back of a mixed border, due to its height and ease of care. The grass-like blades are topped by intensely red gladiola-like flowers for weeks at a time. Blooms July-Sept. Grows 48-60” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5. 

(Crocosmia 'Lucifer' | 📸 MK Lascelle)

Echinacea ‘Sombrero Lemon Yellow’

Here’s a single Coneflower that doesn’t rely on a novelty flower form, but rather intensely yellow petals which surround a golden cone that literally gleams in the sun. Both bees and butterflies will be foraging this delightful perennial and the mature seedheads can be left for wild birds. Blooms June-Sept. Grows 18-24” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 4. 

(Echinacea 'Sombrero Lemon Yellow' | 📸 MK Lascelle)

Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’

A vibrant blue is an unusual colour during any season in the garden, and this Sea Holly really lives up to its cultivar name. The thistle-like, intense azure flowers will reach up to 4 inches across and can also be harvested for dried arrangements. Blooms June-August. Grows 24-36” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 4. 

(Eryngium 'Big Blue' | 📸 MK Lascelle)

Achillea ‘New Vintage Violet’

The newer varieties of Yarrow are much more compact, making them quite useful in our smaller urban gardens. This variety produces vivid umbels of a deep violet-red which won’t fade in the sun but do become more pastel in appearance as they age, creating a distinct two-tone effect. Blooms June-Sept. Grows 24-28” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 4.

(Achillea 'New Vintage Violet' | 📸 MK Lascelle)

Kniphofia ‘Rocket’s Red Glare’ 

This showy native from South Africa always draws attention with its exotic evergreen leaf blades and equally impressive flower display. These are held on tall central spikes with red buds which fade to peach coloured tubular flowers that will definitely draw in the hummingbirds. Blooms June-Sept. Grows 30-36” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6. 

(Kniphofia 'Rocket's Red Glare' | 📸 Proven Winners)

Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’

I consider this Black-Eyed Susan variety one of the bulletproof perennials, as the cluster you are looking at in the photo is in my front yard and has not been divided for over 10 years now. The bright gold daisies are contrasted by a dark brown central cone and definitely live up to their German cultivar name, which translates as ‘Goldstorm’. Blooms July-Sept. Grows 24-36” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 3. 

(Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' | 📸 MK Lascelle)

Coreopsis ‘Route 66’

There are a lot of new Coreopsis verticillata hybrids with intensely coloured blooms that stand up in the summer sun much better than the old-fashioned pale yellow ‘Moonbeam’. ‘Route 66’ is one of these with its chrome yellow daisies accented with an intensely red eye, although ‘Firefly’ and ‘Ruby Frost’ are equally worthy. Blooms June-Sept. Grows 24-28” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 4.

(Coreopsis 'Route66' | 📸 MK Lascelle)

Agastache ‘Golden Jubilee’

One way of doubling up your colour in a perennial border is to utilize a perennial with bright gold foliage to contrast those blooms. This variety of Hummingbird mint features fragrant foliage and intense lavender-blue flowers that will appear all summer with deadheading. Blooms June-October. Grows 24-36” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.

(Agastache 'Golden Jubilee'  | 📸 MK Lascelle) 

Gaillardia ‘Spintop Yellow Touch’

While quite cold-hardy, Gaillardias require excellent drainage to overwinter. This variety rewards us with abundant single blooms with pleated scarlet petals edged with yellow tips and highlighted with a prominent red eye. Blooms June-Sept. Grows 12-14” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 3. 

(Gaillardia 'Spintop Yellow Touch'  | 📸 MK Lascelle) 

Verbena bonariensis 

A tall airy lilac-purple perennial flower that can be difficult to overwinter but readily reseeds. It is best planted as an accent, as represented by this City of Maple Ridge boulevard display which pairs it quite effectively with the Gloriosa daisy, Rudbeckia hirta ‘Prairie Sun’. Blooms July-October. Grows 36-48” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 7.

(Verbena Bonariensis | 📸 MK Lascelle) 

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