Best Plants For Summer Color To Add To Your Landscape

A vibrant landscape doesn't happen by accident. Choosing the right plants can provide months of color, texture, and curb appeal throughout the summer season. Whether you're creating a new flower bed or updating an existing landscape, selecting long-blooming perennials and shrubs can keep your property looking beautiful from early summer through fall.

At Brass Lawn Care, we often recommend a combination of flowering perennials, ornamental grasses, and colorful shrubs to create a low-maintenance landscape that delivers season-long interest.

Why Summer Color Matters

Summer is when homeowners spend the most time outdoors enjoying patios, gardens, and outdoor living spaces. A thoughtfully designed landscape creates an inviting environment while boosting property value and curb appeal.

By selecting plants with staggered bloom times, your landscape can maintain continuous color throughout the growing season rather than peaking for only a few weeks.

1. Daylilies

Daylilies are one of the most reliable summer perennials for Wisconsin landscapes. Available in countless colors and sizes, they provide vibrant blooms while requiring very little maintenance.

Benefits:

• Drought tolerant

• Long blooming season

• Deer resistant

• Available in many colors

2. Coneflowers (Echinacea)

Coneflowers produce bold blooms that attract butterflies and pollinators throughout the summer. Their sturdy stems and drought tolerance make them ideal for sunny landscape beds.

Benefits:

• Pollinator friendly

• Long bloom period

• Winter interest from seed heads

• Easy to maintain

3. Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas provide massive blooms that become the focal point of any landscape. Varieties such as Bobo®, Limelight®, and Little Lime® offer dependable summer color and excellent cold hardiness.

Benefits:

• Large showy flowers

• Excellent foundation plant

• Long-lasting blooms

• Great for borders and focal points

4. Black-Eyed Susans

These cheerful yellow flowers thrive in Wisconsin landscapes and bloom from midsummer into fall. Their bright color pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses and purple flowering perennials.

Benefits:

• Long bloom season

• Attracts pollinators

• Low maintenance

• Excellent mass planting option

5. Salvia

Salvia produces vibrant blue and purple flower spikes that add contrast to summer landscapes. It is one of the best options for attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Benefits:

• Repeat blooming

• Drought tolerant

• Pollinator favorite

• Excellent border plant

6. Catmint

Catmint provides soft blue-purple blooms for months and creates a beautiful flowing effect in landscape beds. It pairs exceptionally well with roses, hydrangeas, and ornamental grasses.

Benefits:

• Long blooming season

• Deer resistant

• Low maintenance

• Soft texture and color

7. Ornamental Grasses

While not known for flowers, ornamental grasses add movement, texture, and seasonal interest throughout summer and fall. Varieties such as Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass and Little Bluestem are excellent additions to Wisconsin landscapes.

Benefits:

• Low maintenance

• Four-season interest

• Drought tolerant

• Adds texture and movement

Creating a Landscape with Continuous Summer Color

The best landscapes combine multiple plant varieties that bloom at different times throughout the season. Mixing flowering shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses creates a balanced design that looks attractive from spring through fall.

Professional landscape design ensures proper plant spacing, sunlight requirements, bloom timing, and long-term maintenance needs are all considered before installation.

Ready to Upgrade Your Landscape?

If you're looking to add vibrant summer color to your property, Brass Lawn Care can help design and install a custom landscape tailored to your home and maintenance preferences. Our team specializes in creating beautiful, low-maintenance landscapes that provide season-long color and lasting curb appeal.

Contact Brass Lawn Care today to schedule a landscape consultation and start planning your summer landscape transformation.