Many gardeners dream of perennial beds that are in bloom all season long. Unfortunately, most perennials have a short bloom season. Below are some varieties that produce flowers for an especially long time:

Bellflower

  • Campanula carpatica, Zones 4 to 7
  • Plants have heart-shaped leaves and bell-shaped blue or white flowers.
  • Grow in full sun with moist, but well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Throughout the summer
  • Tip: Keep plants watered well to prolong bloom season.
  • Cultivars of this species-including ‘Blue Clips' and ‘White Clips' have long bloom periods, too.


Black-eyed Susan

  • Rudbeckia fulgida, Zones 4 to 9
  • Plants have bristly foliage and yellow daisy-shaped flowers.
  • Grow in full sun and moist, but well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Summer to autumn
  • Tip: Deadhead to encourage greater flower production and to keep the plants from self-seeding too much.


Blanket flower

  • Gaillardia x grandiflora, Zones 3 to 8
  • Plants have furry foliage and yellow or red flowers.
  • Grow in full sun with well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Throughout the summer
  • Tip: Deadhead to encourage more blooms.
  • Cultivars such as ‘Goblin' also have long bloom cycles.


Catmint

  • Nepeta x faassenii, Zones 4 to 8
  • Plants have gray-green foliage and fragrant blue flowers.
  • Grow in full sun with well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Summer to autumn
  • Tip: Shear the plants back after a major flush of blooms to promote new growth.


Coreopsis

  • Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam', Zones 4 to 9
  • Plants have fine foliage and yellow daisylike flowers.
  • Grow in full sun with moist, but well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Summer to autumn.
  • Tip: Shear the plants back after a major flush of blooms to encourage new growth and more flowers.
  • Other cultivars, such as ‘Zagreb' have long bloom periods, too.


Corydalis

  • Corydalis lutea, Zones 5 to 8
  • Plants have fernlike foliage and yellow flowers.
  • Grow in full sun or partial shade with moist, but well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Late spring to early autumn
  • Tip: Doesn't bloom as well in full shade.

Gaura

  • Gaura lindheimeri, Zones 6 to 9
  • Plants have fine foliage and pink, red, or white flowers that look like butterflies.
  • Grow in full sun and moist, but well drained soil.
  • Bloom: Late spring to autumn
  • Tip: Tolerates drought but doesn't bloom as well in droughty conditions.

Mallow

  • Malva sylvestris, Zones 5 to 8
  • Plants have lobed foliage and pinkish or purplish flowers that resemble small hollyhocks.
  • Grow in full sun and moist, but well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Late spring to autumn
  • Tip: Blooms longest if deadheaded regularly.


Pincushion flower

  • Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue', Zones 3 to 8
  • Plants have gray-green foliage and lavender-blue flowers.
  • Grow in full sun with moist, but well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Summer to autumn
  • Tip: Deadhead or cut flowers and bring indoors to lengthen the bloom season.


Red coreopsis

  • Coreopsis ‘Limerock Ruby', Zones 4 to 9
  • Plants have fine foliage and flowers that look like red daisies.
  • Grow in full sun with moist, but well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Summer to autumn
  • Tip: Shear the plants back after a major flush of blooms to encourage new growth and more flowers.


Russian sage

  • Perovskia atriplicifolia, Zones 5 to 9
  • Plants have silvery foliage and blue flowers.
  • Grow in full sun and well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Late summer to autumn
  • Tip: Ensure the soil drains well, especially in winter.


Shasta daisy

  • Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky', Zones 5 to 8
  • Plants have glossy green foliage and white flowers.
  • Grow in full sun with well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Summer to autumn
  • Tip: Deadhead the plants to keep them blooming.


Spiderwort

  • Tradescantia Andersoniana Group, Zones 5 to 9
  • Plants have grassy foliage and three-petaled flowers.
  • Grow in full sun with moist, but well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Summer to autumn (but note: flowers are only open in the morning hours)
  • Tip: Deadhead periodically to encourage more blooms.


Sundrops

  • Oenothera macrocarpa, Zones 5 to 8
  • Plants have glossy green foliage and yellow cup-shaped flowers.
  • Grow in full sun and well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Late spring to autumn
  • Tip: Deadhead plants to encourage more blooms and to keep from self-seeding too much.


Threadleafed bleeding heart

  • Dicentra ‘Zestful', Zones 4 to 8
  • Plants have fernlike foliage and heart-shaped flowers.
  • Grow in partial shade with moist, but well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Spring to early autumn
  • Tip: Plants bloom longest if given plenty of moisture throughout the summer.
  • Other cultivars, such as ‘Luxuriant' have long bloom periods, too.

Veronica

  • Veronica ‘Sunny Border Blue', Zones 4 to 8
  • Plants have dark green leaves and spikes of purple-blue flowers.
  • Grow in full sun with moist, but well-drained soil.
  • Bloom: Summer to autumn
  • Tip: Keep the foliage dry and mulch the soil to help prevent powdery mildew (a disease).
  • Other cultivars have long bloom periods, too.