While it is only eight words, the query ‘do you have anything that blooms all summer’ is probably the most common question I am asked during the rush of the planting season. As far as individual perennials or shrubs are concerned, the choice is quite limited, but if you expand this to include eye-catching foliar colour, then your options really broaden. You could keep it simple like choosing the evergreen Heuchera or annual Coleus shown in the cover photo of this blog, or you might carefully select a few long-blooming perennials, shrubs or vines to integrate into your garden and ensure that summer-long flower display. With that in mind, here are a few of my favourites.
Daphne ‘Eternal Fragrance’ (Daphne x transatlantica ‘Blafra’)
Here’s a daphne that survives those cold winter spells and then goes on to bloom constantly from May right through to the beginning of the cold weather, often late October to early November. Expect a compact shrub that requires little pruning and very fragrant white blooms emerging from purplish-pink buds. Grows 2-3’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
Phygelius x rectus (Cape Fuchsia)
This native of South Africa often fares quite well in coastal BC gardens and has a flower range of yellow, red, orange, purple and many shades in between. It blooms from late June through to October (with deadheading) and is often frequented by hummingbirds. Grows 3-4’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 7.
📸 MK Lascelle
PeeGee Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)
This species blooms on new wood (so you are guaranteed flowers every year), is very cold hardy, comes in many height options, tolerates part to full sun and can be grown in containers…what more could you ask from a flowering shrub? The blooms emerge lime green in June, shifting to white and finally antique pink to cherry red tones in September. Grows 3-8’ tall (depending upon variety). Hardy to USDA zone 3.
📸 MK Lascelle
Golden Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca ‘Alexandria’)
The bright gold foliage of this runnerless wild strawberry makes a great edging accent in any mixed perennial display. The bonus here is the spring to frost display of white flowers followed by very tasty red rod-shaped fruits that have a distinct bubble gum-strawberry flavour. Grows 6-12” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Newly planted Blanket Flowers can bloom themselves to death if you don’t deadhead them and they are somewhat prone to rotting out in wet soils over winter, but for a bold display of all-summer perennial colour, few plants can touch it. Give them a hot, sunny site with good drainage and just enjoy that continual display of hot yellow, orange, gold and burgundy flowers (also bicolour) from early summer through to late autumn. Grows an average of 12-18” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 3.
📸 MK Lascelle
Raymond Evison Clematis
This resourceful British clematis breeder has created a mind-boggling array of stunning compact cultivars, most of which flower throughout the summer and into September. These are ideal for growing in containers on an obelisk for support and come in just about any colour you could imagine, with the velvety-red (accented by purple stamens) ‘Nubia’ being a real stand-out. Grows 3-6’ tall depending upon cultivar. Hardy to USDA zone 4 on average.
📸 MK Lascelle
Speedwell (Veronica spicata ‘Royal Candles’)
One of my favourite edging perennials as the deep purplish-blue flower spikes really show well at the distance and are borne from June to August with some deadheading. This perennial pairs well with compact yellow lilies or even Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’ blooming right behind it. Grows 12-18” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 3.
📸 MK Lascelle
Hardy Fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica and hybrids)
This group of shrubby perennials is often overlooked for the mixed border, but the variegated (‘Island Sunset’) or gold foliage (‘Aurea’) just pop in a sea of green plants. Then there’s the display of two-tone red and purple flowers all summer long, the cause of many hummingbird aerial battles. Grows 10” to 3’ tall depending upon cultivar. Hardy to USDA zone 7.
📸 MK Lascelle
If you feel you need a few more options, then just revisit my blog 10 Shrubs & Perennials for All-Summer-Long Colour.
Copyright 2026 MK Lascelle
