9 Perennials to Plant in June for Beautiful Blooms Year After Year

Hardy Hibiscus

“This large, herbaceous perennial is slow to emerge from the ground each year,” says horticulture expert and author Charlie Nardozzi. “Mine just started coming up.” But by late summer, the plant stands 3 feet tall and wide, and is loaded with white, pink, red, or multi-color blooms. So planting them in June gives them the best chance at growing strong roots for next year’s re-emergence. 

Nardozzi says caring for hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) is rather straightforward. “Plant them in full sun on well-drained soil, and they will return each spring reliably.” 

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Size: 3 to 7 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun; fertile, loamy soil with a slightly acidic and neutral pH; consistent moisture

Butterfly Weed

A slower-to-emerge perennial, butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a strong alternative to milkweed. Like its close relative, it attracts many of the same butterflies, says Nardozzi, “but without the habit of spreading and trying to take over the world like milkweed.” It can be planted in mid to late summer, with its blooms arriving right on time for migrating monarchs.

It produces bright orange or yellow blooms depending on the variety, and forms tidy clumps, rather than sprawling colonies.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 1.5 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun; sandy, well-draining (even rocky) soil; moderate moisture; occasional pruning

Russian Sage

Russian sage (Salvia yangii) is a reliable, late-season bloomer that's slow to get going in spring, which makes it well-suited for planting in June. “Before you know it, it's 3 to 4 feet tall and wide with an abundance of blue flowers,” says Nardozzi.

Once established, Nardozzi says it’s highly drought-tolerant and attracts bees and other pollinators. It's also typically left alone by deer and rabbits.

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Size: 3 to 5 feet tall x 3 to 5 feet wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun; partial shade; regular but minimal watering; pruning in early spring

Blanket Flower

The blanket flower (Gaillardia) thrives when transplanted in summer, making it ideal to plant in June. This pollinator magnet checks all the boxes. It thrives in hot, dry weather, is impressively drought-tolerant, and is naturally unbothered by most pests and deer. Blanket flower requires at least six hours of sunlight daily in sandy or rocky soil. Water them moderately. 

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 2 to 4 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun; moisture-retentive soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH; consistent moisture; very little, if any, fertilizer

Daylilies

Because daylilies (Hemerocallis) adapt exceptionally well to container production, they're ideal candidates for summer planting, says Matt Mattus, a horticulturist with the American Horticultural Society. They transplant easily, even when actively growing, and settle into the garden quickly.

“There are real advantages to planting them while they are in bloom,” he says. “You can see exactly what the flowers look like before purchasing.” As for care requirements, daylilies are true plant-it-and-forget-it perennials, requiring little more than adequate sunlight, an inch of water each week, and a slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring. 

• Zones: 3 to 9 
• Size: 1 to 5 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wide 
• Care Requirements: Full sun; slightly acidic soil; 1 inch of water per week; a balanced fertilizer in early spring

Asters

Asters (Symphyotrichum) are often overlooked in June because they are not yet blooming, but this is actually the perfect time to plant them. Mattus notes that asters are a smart investment for September and October color when the rest of the garden fades. For reliable, permanent borders, gardeners should buy asters early in summer when they have time to establish deep roots. By autumn, they will reach their full, natural height.

To care for asters, plant them in a sunny location with well-draining soil and give them a weekly watering to keep the soil evenly moist. In the spring, apply a balanced fertilizer to support healthy development, and after winter, cut the stems back to the ground, dividing the root clumps every three years.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 2 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 4 feet wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun; slightly acidic to neutral soil that is loamy and well-draining; water consistently; fertilize twice a month starting in spring until August

Turtlehead

Turtlehead (Chelone spp.) is another late-flowering perennial that begins appearing on nursery benches in early to mid-summer, according to Mattus. “These are the plants that give a garden personality in September and October. They create the sort of unexpected moments that make visitors stop and ask, ‘What is that?’” he says.

This resilient perennial is wonderfully low-maintenance and thrives in continuously moist, even boggy, soil. In warmer climates, it prefers partial shade. Pinch its stems in the late spring for a bushier look. 

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2.5 feet wide
• Care Requirements: Dappled shade; moist, well-draining soil

Zinnias

Zinnias are native to Mexico and thrive in the heat, requiring soil temperatures around 70 degrees. So June provides the ideal environment for quick germination and continuous summer blooms. Their vibrant, lasting flowers bloom more heavily the more you cut them, making them a favorite for people who enjoy recurring tabletop bouquets.

To care for them, plant seeds directly in the ground, spacing them about 6 to 9 inches apart, and they will bloom in six to eight weeks. Avoid overhead watering and water deeply once or twice a week. 

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Size: Varies from 6 inches to 6 feet tall, spreading 6 to 12 inches wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun; much heat; rich, well-draining soil that is slightly acidic; continuous deep watering

Sunflowers

These cheery flowers need no introduction. Their signature yellow blooms and edible seeds make this flower an easy favorite for gardeners. If you’ve missed your spring planting window, sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) also thrive when planted in June. Warm soil conditions support quick, reliable germination and fast growth.

Depending on the variety, blooms typically appear within 50 to 90 days. When planting, place seeds about 1 inch deep, spaced 6 inches apart, in full sun in well-drained soil. Water regularly during establishment, then more sparingly as plants mature. Taller varieties may need staking in windy spots.

• Zones: 1 to 10
• Size: 1 to 16 feet tall x 3 to 18 inches wide
• Care Requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil, regular deep watering