Gardening Central Mass.: Summer-Blooming Perennials You’ll Love
Perennials, plants that return each year but lack the woody stems of trees and shrubs, are some of my favorite ornamental plants in the summer garden. Unlike their counterparts that bloom earlier in the season, summer-blooming perennials tend to have a long ornamental season. Many bloom for several weeks, providing consistent color as well as pollen and nectar for beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies. They can also provide interesting foliage and structure in the summer garden.
When choosing plants for your garden, consider not only bloom time and flower color, but also the plant’s cultural requirements. Is your garden in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day)? Is your garden soil moist and rich in organic matter, or dry and sandy? Once you know your garden’s cultural conditions, you can begin to select plants based on your particular aesthetic or ecological preferences. The following short list of outstanding summer-blooming perennials includes descriptions of each plant’s ornamental qualities and cultural requirements, as well as a note or two about ecological characteristics, such as whether they are host plants for beneficial insects such as pollinators.
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)The cardinal flower is a perennial that blooms in midsummer and has bright red flowers. It grows naturally in moist areas, along streams and rivers, and in sunny marshes. In the garden, it grows best in soil with plenty of moisture and in full sun. The bloom is distinctive for its brightness and attracts hummingbirds and many species of butterflies. Gardeners have crossed red and blue cardinal flowers, resulting in many cultivars of flowering plants that have characteristics of both species. Unfortunately, research conducted by Dr. Annie White has shown that hybrids can have reduced nectar quality, making them potentially less helpful to hummingbirds than the natural species. Therefore, avoid cultivars when planting cardinal flowers to support hummingbirds.
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Purple agrimony (Eutrochium purpureum)Purple agrimony is a towering perennial in the daisy family with large clusters of pink-purple flowers in late summer on stems that can reach up to 6 feet tall. Like the cardinal flower, it naturally grows on the edges of wetlands but tolerates a range of soil moisture and soil types. Purple agrimony is a great addition to a perennial border because of its long-lasting late summer blooms. Its fragrant flowers attract dozens of species of butterflies and bees.
Rozanne Geranium (geranium ‘Gerwat’)The Rozanne geranium is a fantastic ground cover with a sprawling habit and almost iridescent purple-blue flowers that last all summer. There are many different types of geraniums, including a wildflower native to New England called Spotted Cranesbill (Geranium maculatum). In contrast to the usual annual “geraniums” (which are not actually geraniums, but belong to a related plant genus called Pelargonium), Rozanne Cranesbill and Spotted Cranesbill are perennials and return every year after a winter rest period.
Rose silk plant (Asclepias incarnata)Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) has a well-deserved reputation as a weed in all but the wildest gardens. It is highly adaptable, spreads easily by seed, and is difficult to remove once established. However, like all milkweeds, it is the only food source for monarch caterpillars. Fortunately, there are a number of other milkweed species that are better suited for use in traditional gardens. In the wild, rose milkweed is found in moist soils, from lake shores to damp meadows. It is considered an obligate wetland species, meaning its presence indicates that an area is indeed a wetland. Despite its natural habitat, it thrives quite well in average garden soil with good moisture. It has beautiful pink to light purple flowers that are very fragrant.
Broad-leaved mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticatum)Broadleaf calamari is one of six species of calamari found in New England. A member of the mint family, its leaves and stems emit a minty scent when touched. It also attracts pollinators and is an important source of nectar for native insect species in mid- and late summer. The flowers are white with flecks of color and grow in clusters on tall stems about two feet tall. Just below the flowers is a silvery bract that looks light and dusty and stands out brightly at the tip of a stem covered with light green leaves.
Gardening Central Mass. is written by Grace Elton, CEO of the New England Botanic Garden in Tower Hill, and other gardening experts. Located on 500 acres in Boylston, the New England Botanic Garden offers plant-based experiences that inspire people and improve the world. Learn more at www.nebg.orgThe column always appears on the third Sunday of the month.
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