9/10
Coneflowers
Looking for a perennial that blooms all summer? Try coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea). These purple-flowered plants, native to the U.S., are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 4 to 9. Plant breeders have developed new hybrid varieties of coneflowers in a rainbow of colors, like yellow, orange, white or red.
All coneflowers grow well in full sun. Once established, they need little extra care. To ensure summer-long blooms, cut off spent flowers periodically. As fall approaches, leave some of those seed heads standing. Goldfinches love the seeds.
10/10
Threadleaf Coreopsis
Need a tough little long-blooming plant to fill in a sunny spot where the soil tends to be dry? Try threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata), hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9.
Plants grow to about 18 inches, with yellow flowers that appear throughout the summer. If blooming slows down, shear them back to encourage more blooms. Choose the variety ‘Moonbeam,’ which is sterile and won’t self-sow like other varieties of threadleaf coreopsis.
For a pink flower, try Coreopsis rosea. It grows where threadleaf coreopsis grows, offering pink flowers with yellow centers.
