Rose verbena forms a cascading groundcover that spruces up a slope with season-long bloom. It flowers best in the cooler weather of spring and fall, but it is seldom without some splashes of color.
The orange tubular flowers of Commotion Tizzy blanket flower give the impression of exploding fireworks. This sizzling sun-lover blooms all season, especially if spent flowers are removed.
As you might guess from its name, May Night perennial salvia puts on a spectacular show of deep purple spires in late spring. However, if you cut off the flowers as they begin to fade, it blooms again later in summer.
Most hydrangeas bloom once and are done for the season. But ‘Endless Summer’ bears blossoms on new growth — so you can enjoy the flowers several times each summer. For gardeners in cold climates where winter damage prevents other hydrangeas from flowering, ‘Endless Summer’ ensures a spectacular show.
Sunny gold Stella d’Oro daylily lights up the garden with its trumpet-shape yellow flowers all summer long. This tough plant scoffs at hot, dry conditions. Here it creates a spectacular combination with blue ornamental onion (Allium azureum).
An unsung hero of the perennial garden, speedwell comes in a variety of shades of blue, pink, or white. All produce upright flower spikes on mounded plants. After the first set of blooms begins to fade, shear the plant to encourage branching and rebloom. This combination of spike speedwell, Knock Out rose, and Six Hills Giant catmint creates a spectacular season-long show.
Images and text courtesy of Better Gardens: http://www.bhg.com/gardening
