Summer is fast approaching. I picked 5 great summer flowers that are all a treat to grow in your house or garden.
Let’s find out what flowers they are!
Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a very elegant flower and one of the symbols of summer flowers; it looks like the tropical flower on Hawaiian t-shirts. This beautiful plant comes from the tropics around south east Asia and the pacific islands. It grows well in warm climates and would benefit from a good dose water and humidity.
Hibiscus will flower and grow best between 60 and 90 ºF (16 and 32 ºC). It will die if it falls below freezing so it must be brought in if it gets that cold. The hibiscus will need to be watered every day during summer but won’t need as much during winter. During flowering season, you will need to give it a high potassium liquid fertilizer every week or use a potassium rich soil in winter. Hibiscus is often used for a type of tea which is very beneficial, but some side effects are also reported.
You might be interested in my other articles under Health Benefits.
Plant facts
| Genus | Hibiscus |
| Light | full sun, part sun |
| Soil type | clay, loam, sand, chalk |
| Soil drainage | moist but well drained |
| Height x Width | 3~4 x 4~5 feet (90 ~120 x 120~150 cm) |
| Flowering seasons | Summer |
| Life span | perennial |
| Plant hardiness zones | 4 – 9 |
Catmint
This plant grows very easily and produces bunches of lavender colored flowers and green leaves. You should plant seeds in spring and make sure they are spaced out: overcrowding can cause mildew formation. Catmint is a very beneficial companion plant for fruit and vegetables as it deters some insects. You should water once a week. Mulch can help retain the water.
You should deadhead the old flowers to promote new ones. The plant will flower in summer and autumn. After the last flower bloom, you should cut back foliage by around half. The leaves and flowers and shoots can be picked and dried for use in cooking and tea.
Plant facts
| Genus | Nepeta |
| Light | part sun, full sun |
| Soil type | clay, loam, clay |
| Soil drainage | moist but well drained |
| Height x Width | 8~10 x 12 inches (20 ~25 x 27 cm) |
| Flowering seasons | late spring to fall/autumn |
| Life span | perennial |
| Plant hardiness zones | 4 – 8 |
Foxglove
Foxglove is a magnificent flower that grows very tall and has little bell shaped colorful flowers. Foxglove grows best in acidic soil and partial shade to full shade. Plant foxglove seeds in summer and they will flower the next year. The first year you won’t have any flowers but the plant will get established. Foxgloves are self-seeding and if you have lots of space you might like to just have the plants go to seed and start new plants or you can pick the seed pods before the seeds fall. It needs a good bit of water but don’t let it get waterlogged. Don’t ingest any part of the plat as it is highly toxic to eat.
Plant facts
| Genus | Digitalis |
| Light | full sun, part shade |
| Soil type | clay, loam, sand, chalk |
| Soil drainage | moist but well drained |
| Height x Width | 3~4 x 1~2 feet (90 ~120 x 30~60 cm) |
| Flowering seasons | Summer |
| Life span | perennial |
| Plant hardiness zones | 5 – 9 |
Lantana
Lantanas are very colorful and grow well. They need well-draining soil and should have a slightly acidic soil for best growth in sunny spots. Lantanas come from the tropics of America and Africa and grow well in warm temperatures. They are resistant and handle the heat well. They will need to be watered every day. The plants are low maintenance and too much fertilizer can stunt flowers.
They will tolerate some cold sub-zero temperatures but should not be exposed to consecutive cold temperatures. The plants will do best if they’re in temperatures above 53ºF (12 ºC). You should cut back the lantana in winter to about 0.5 – 1 feet (15 to 30cm) especially if the plant has lots of dead foliage. Technically, it’s edible, but it’s not advisable as it can be very hard to tell when the plant can be used.
Plant facts
| Genus | Lantana |
| Light | full sun |
| Soil type | clay, loam, sand |
| Soil drainage | moist but well drained |
| Height x Width | 10~12 x 10~12 inches (25 ~27 x 25~27 cm) |
| Flowering seasons | late spring to Summer |
| Life span | perennial |
| Plant hardiness zones | 10 – 12 |
Coreopsis
Coreopsis is a very varied and drought resistant and requires a small amount of maintenance. The first year the flowers need to be watered regularly but after that you can water it less as it will become sturdy and drought resistant. They like warm weather and will not survive if they are in standing water. The plants won’t last more than 3 to 5 years. In damp weather the plants can be prone to damage from snails and slugs and fungal disease.
You can grow coreopsis from seeds but some varieties need to be bought already started. The flowers don’t need any particular soil type. They grow to be around 1.5 – 4 feet (46 – 120cm) tall. Coreopsis that is still growing can be cut back by a third in summer to promote new growth. You can also pick dead flowers to again promote new flowers.
This should help you grow some super summer flowers for your house and garden.
Plant facts
| Genus | Coreopsis |
| Light | full sun |
| Soil type | chalk, loam, sand |
| Soil drainage | well drained |
| Height x Width | 2~4 x 1~2 feet (60 ~120 x 30~60 cm) |
| Flowering seasons | Summer, fall/autumn |
| Life span | perennial |
| Plant hardiness zones | 6 – 9 |
What to Do For June Gardening
