These easy-care perennials will breathe new life and energy into your garden in the dead heat of summer
Summertime in Northern California bring long years , hotter temperatures , minimal rainfall , and with any fortune , a great vacation or two . We ’re otiose nurseryman now that the spring rush is over , yet we still want our gardens to enthral us with a change of color , fragrance , and textures . And of class , we want a cornucopia of gorgeous peak . At their very best during summertime ’s warm day , these authentic , easy - precaution , hot - hued perennial are guaranteed to effortlessly brighten up your summer borders and to reward you twelvemonth after year with their copiousness of eye - catching , colourful blossom .
‘Magenta’ Cape fuchsia
Phygelius capensis‘Magenta ’ , Zones 7–9
bountiful , loose clustering of vibrant , bell - corresponding blooms are deport high up on burgundy stems of ‘ Magenta ’ Cape fuchsia . bloom from summertime until fall ’s first rime , this South African native is adore by hummingbird and works attractively in container or in the border combined with other Lord’s Day - loving summer bloomers . cervid repellent and drought tolerant , this beauty require very little care once show , yet it adds stunning , vivid fusillade of gloss to the landscape all season long . Plant this long - lived , semi - evergreen perennial in well - drained , enriched soil in a full - sunlight fix , and water light but regularly during the summer calendar month . slew to 6 inches eminent in previous wintertime to freshen and tidy .
‘Paprika’ yarrow
Achillea millefolium‘Paprika ’ , Zones 3–9
Fine - textured , fragrant , and ferny , ‘ Paprika ’ yarrow ’s gray - green leafage makes a endearing backdrop for a generous summertime display of savourless , 3 - column inch - wide blossom heads that mature through shades of coral , ruby , and resurrect as they senesce . brave and easy to grow , ‘ Paprika ’ mix well with other estrus lovers and is an first-class habitat plant that attracts raspberry , bees , and butterflies to your sunny border . Vigorous , drouth tolerant , and blooming all summer long , this outstanding easy - aid perennial is not fussy about soil and grows 3 feet in high spirits and 2 feet wide-eyed with only periodic summer water system . It looks lovely in saucy or dried arrangement . Be sure to hack back faded flowers to refresh , renew , and encourage even more flush .
‘Mystic Sparkler’ dahlia
Dahlia‘Mystic Sparkler ’ , Zones 7–11
There is nothing insidious about this dahlia ! mass of hot - garden pink , star - mold peak with brilliant yellow-bellied halos of colour sit around above dark chocolate nub . These flowers flower nonstop from summer through fall on this heavyset bushy perennial . The flush contrast beautifully with the mass of glossy black , o.k. - cut foliage below . This dahlia is loved by butterfly stroke , honeybees , and native bees likewise and makes a really delicious deletion flower . grow to 30 column inch mellow ( in bloom ) and 20 inches wide , sun - loving ‘ Mystic Sparkler ’ ferment as well in a container as it does in the repeated border . It ask no staking and will reward you with a farseeing , bloom - filled time of year when planted in rich , well - drain grunge . Be sure to give it even water system plus a springtime side - dressing with organic compost . There ’s no need to lift this herbaceous , perennial genus Tuber except in the chilliest of NorCal zones .
‘Tangerine Dream’ coneflower
Echinacea‘Tangerine Dream ’ , zone 4–9
This heat- and sun - loving perennial is a kayo in any summer border or container , with multiple impregnable , branching stems carrying glowing , bouquet - suitable flower above profuse green foliage . The flower ’s color is truly intense , with shiny tangerine - colourize , slightly overlapping petals radiating out from dark key cones . Delicately fragrant with a odorous love smell , ‘ Tangerine Dream ’ reaches 30 inch tall when efflorescence and 24 inches wide and will draw in bees , birds , and butterflies to your garden . Stunning when mass - planted and almost as lovely in assorted combinations , this smart and colorful herbaceous perennial does good in full sun and rich , well - drain grease and with regular moisture . For optimum outcome , side - apparel in spring with organic compost .
— Fionuala Campion is the proprietor and manager of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma , California .
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‘Tangerine Dream’ will be the centerpiece of your midsummer garden with its knockout bright orange color.Photo: courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries Inc.
The tubular flowers of ‘Magenta’ Cape fuchsia are hummingbird favorites.Photo: Fionuala Campion
This vividly colored yarrow is perfect for dry soils.Photo: Fionuala Campion
The blending colors of yellow and pink on these petals might remind you of starbursts of tie dye.Photo: courtesy of Kiwi Flora
‘Tangerine Dream’ wows with sunny orange blooms.Photo: courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries Inc.
