Summer blooming shrubs and perennials can add significant interest to your landscape beds if the proper plants are chosen. In zone 5 which covers a good portion of Iowa, there are quite a few plants to choose from. When selecting plants for your project there are a few things to first consider. Determine the amount of light that your planting area will receive. Not enough light can result in poor blooming performance. Soil conditions are also important because some plants require a specific soil type in order to maximize their performance. Some summer blooming shrubs and perennials peak during the summer while others continuously bloom throughout the summer. Many of the shrubs and perennials listed below will have continual summer blooming flowers. The varieties listed below are relatively hardy and require minimal maintenance.
Summer blooming perennials.
Stella De Oro Day Lily– This compact plants displays bright yellow flowers all summer long.
Shasta Daisy– This daisy showcases bright white flower petals with a rich yellow center.
Salvia– The long floral blooms of this perennial display small dark purple flowers.
Russian Sage– The small lavender flowers of this perennial complement the mint green leaves of this perennial.
Magnus Purple Coneflower– The dark pink to purple petals extend off large orange cone center.
Yellow Moon Beam– The small bright yellow flowers are abundant on the delicate stems of this perennial.
Summer blooming shrubs.
Butterfly Bush– This shrub displays small purple flower clusters.
Limelight Hydrangea– The creamy white flower balls cover this summer blooming favorite.
Potentilla- The small yellow flowers are abundant on small leafed shrub.
Rose of Sharon– This shrub has large fragrant flower blooms.
Knock Out Rose– This continuously blooming rose does well all summer long. This variety comes in several different flower colors as well.
Spirea– There are many varieties of this commonly planted shrub. Most spirea have pinkish or white blooms.