15 Best Perennial Plants to Plant in June for Continuous Summer Blooms
Enjoy long-lasting summer blooms and wildlife-friendly landscapes all season long.
15 Popular Perennial Plants You Can Plant in June
When June arrives, spring blooms wane and summer perennials step onto the garden stage. Planting perennials in June ensures an extended bloom period, vibrant color displays, and pollinator appeal that continues right into the late summer months. Below, we spotlight 15 favorite perennial choices with planting advice and care tips to maximize your gardenâs potential this season.
Why Choose Perennials for June Planting?
- Long-lasting blooms: Perennials return each year and often actively grow through the summer.
- Low maintenance: Once established, perennials require less work than annuals.
- Wildlife friendly: Many attract bees, butterflies, and birds.
- Soil improvement: Deep roots help structure and enrich garden soil.
Even in Juneâs warmth, there are plenty of great perennial options to plantâwhether by seed or through nursery starts. Letâs dig into the top picks, each with growing requirements, landscape uses, and bonus care tips.
1. Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum)
- Plant Size: Up to 8 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Hardiness Zone: 4-8
This North American native wildflower features clusters of pink-purple flowers atop tall stems, making it a striking choice for privacy hedges or rain gardens. Joe Pye weed thrives near ponds, streams, and damp spots, attracting butterflies throughout the summer. Allow plants space to growâthese can become large focal points.
2. Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro)
- Plant Size: 2-4 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Globe thistle produces blue spherical blooms on upright stems, contrasting beautifully with silver-green foliage. Fast-growing and drought tolerant, these perennials flower 6-8 weeks after sowing, making them perfect for planting in June. Their spiky blooms attract bees and butterflies.
3. Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)
- Plant Size: 1-3 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Shasta daisies offer classic white-petaled flowers with yellow centers, thriving in sunny borders and cottage gardens. They bloom prolifically from June through August and prefer well-drained soil. Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering.
4. Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- Plant Size: 2-4 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Renowned for resilience, coneflowers display daisy-like flowers in purple, pink, or white. These tough perennials tolerate drought and poor soil, attracting pollinators while serving as a low-maintenance staple. Plant in groups for standout color blocks.
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5. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
- Plant Size: 2-3 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Black-eyed Susans burst with gold petals and dark centers from midsummer onward. Dependable and cheerful, these perennials look great in mixed borders and are resistant to many garden pests. Remove spent flowers for repeat blooms.
6. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Plant Size: 1-2 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
This vibrant orange-flowering perennial is essential for supporting monarch butterflies. Butterfly weed tolerates poor soils and dry conditions, offering clusters of blooms and attractive seed pods late into the summer.
7. Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata)
- Plant Size: 1-3 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Coreopsis delights with masses of yellow daisy-like flowers on airy, upright stems. These tough perennials handle heat and drought, making them ideal for rock gardens or sunny beds. Their long-blooming nature ensures summer color.
8. Salvia (Salvia nemorosa)
- Plant Size: 1-2 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Salvia offers spiky blooms in blue, purple, pink, or white and is loved for attracting hummingbirds and bees. Deadheading will trigger repeat flowering. Plant salvias in masses for a lively pollinator haven.
9. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
- Plant Size: 2-4 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Yarrow brings both beauty and medicinal heritage, featuring clusters of white, yellow, pink, or red flowers. It tolerates heat and poor soils, thrives in wildlife gardens, and is an excellent cut flower choice.
10. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
- Plant Size: 3-5 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Russian sage makes an elegant statement with misty lavender blooms and silvery aromatic foliage. It is highly drought tolerant and delivers color late into the summerâa perfect plant for hot, sunny spots.
11. Catmint (Nepeta faassenii)
- Plant Size: 1-2 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Catmint blooms with lavender-blue flowers above silvery foliage, offering a soft look and enticing pollinators. This easy-care perennial spreads via creeping roots and makes an excellent edging plant.
12. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora)
- Plant Size: 1-3 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness Zone: 3-10
This cheerful, daisy-like flower shows warm tones of red, orange, and yellow, thriving in heat and poor soils. Blanket flowers keep blooming when other perennials fadeâideal for xeriscapes or wildflower meadows.
13. Hardy Geranium (Geranium sanguineum)
- Plant Size: 0.5-2 feet
- Sun Exposure: Sun to partial shade
- Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Hardy geraniums offer delicate pink, purple, or violet flowers and lush foliage. These low-growing perennials are perfect for edging paths, borders, or filling bare spots in semi-shade. Deadhead for extra blooms.
14. Sedum (Sedum spectabile)
- Plant Size: 1-2 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sedum (or stonecrop) is a drought-hardy succulent with fleshy foliage and star-shaped flowers in pink, red, or yellow. Sedums are vital late-summer bloomers and look particularly striking in containers and rock gardens.
15. Astilbe (Astilbe x arendsii)
- Plant Size: 1-3 feet
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade
- Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Astilbe features feathery plumes of white, pink, red, or lavender atop divided foliage. Perfect for shade, moist woodland beds, or borders, these long-lasting flowers create a lush, textured display.
Table: June Perennial Planting Cheat Sheet
| Plant Name | Size | Sun Exposure | Zone | Bloom Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Pye Weed | Up to 8 ft | Full to partial | 4-8 | Purple/Pink |
| Globe Thistle | 2-4 ft | Full | 3-9 | Blue |
| Shasta Daisy | 1-3 ft | Full | 5-9 | White |
| Coneflower | 2-4 ft | Full | 3-9 | Purple/Pink |
| Black-Eyed Susan | 2-3 ft | Full | 3-9 | Yellow |
| Butterfly Weed | 1-2 ft | Full | 3-9 | Orange |
| Coreopsis | 1-3 ft | Full | 4-9 | Yellow |
| Salvia | 1-2 ft | Full | 4-8 | Blue/Purple |
| Yarrow | 2-4 ft | Full | 3-9 | White/Yellow/Red |
| Russian Sage | 3-5 ft | Full | 5-9 | Lavender |
| Catmint | 1-2 ft | Full/Part | 4-8 | Lavender |
| Blanket Flower | 1-3 ft | Full | 3-10 | Red/Yellow/Orange |
| Hardy Geranium | 0.5-2 ft | Full/Part | 3-8 | Pink/Purple |
| Sedum | 1-2 ft | Full | 3-9 | Pink/Red/Yellow |
| Astilbe | 1-3 ft | Shade | 4-9 | White/Pink/Red |
Planting and Care Tips
- Soil Preparation: Add compost or aged manure to garden beds before planting to improve fertility and drainage.
- Moisture Management: Water thoroughly after transplanting, especially during dry spells. Mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
- Spacing: Give each perennial room according to mature size to avoid overcrowding and ensure best air circulation.
- Deadheading: Remove spent flowers regularly to stimulate new blooms and keep plants tidy.
- Fertilization: Most perennials do well with a spring application of a balanced slow-release fertilizer. Avoid overfeeding, which leads to lush foliage but fewer flowers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I plant perennials from seeds in June?
A: Yes, many perennials (such as globe thistle and coreopsis) germinate quickly in warm soil. Some will even flower their first season if sown early in June.
Q: How do I keep June-planted perennials thriving in summer heat?
A: Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth. Add mulch to preserve soil moisture and shade roots.
Q: Should perennials be started indoors or directly sown?
A: While some tender perennials benefit from indoor starts, most listed here (like Joe Pye weed and Shasta daisy) can be directly planted in prepared beds in June.
Q: How soon will I see blooms after June planting?
A: Fast-growing perennials such as globe thistle can bloom within 6-8 weeks, while others may flower later or mature fully by the following summer season.
Q: Are these choices suitable for beginner gardeners?
A: Absolutely! These 15 perennials are selected for easy care, reliable flowering, and adaptability to a variety of soil types and moisture conditions.
Design Ideas and Combinations
- Privacy Borders: Taller perennials like Joe Pye weed and Russian sage can act as seasonal screens along fences or pathways.
- Pollinator Gardens: Mix coneflowers, salvia, butterfly weed, and coreopsis for continuous color and wildlife attraction.
- Cottage Gardens: Blanket flowers, Shasta daisies, and hardy geraniums blend well for soft, layered effects.
- Shade Beds: Astilbe paired with hardy geranium and catmint creates texture in damp, shaded spaces.
Tips for Success With June-Planting
- Plant during cooler early mornings or late afternoons to reduce transplant shock.
- Regularly check new plantings for water needs until roots establish.
- Consider native species and varieties adapted to your local zone for maximum success.
- Watch for signs of stressâdrooping leaves, wilting, or discolorationâand intervene early.
More FAQ
Q: Can I divide spring perennials in June?
A: Yes, but only for perennials that have completed their blooming cycle and look healthy. Water well before and after dividing.
Q: How do I prevent pests and diseases during summer?
A: Space plants to allow airflow, remove dead debris, watch for signs of powdery mildew or aphids, and use organic remedies as needed.
Conclusion: Why June is a Perfect Month for Perennials
Juneâs warming soil and extended daylight hours provide ideal conditions for many perennial plants. Whether you seek bold colors, wildlife attraction, or low-maintenance garden beds, this season offers more than enough choices to transform any outdoor space. Select from the list above, prepare your soil, and keep up with care routines to enjoy healthy growth and beautiful blooms year after year.
References
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