14 Long-Lasting Flowers for Your Yard

Resembling tiny petunias, calibrachoa blooms from spring until fall without a pause until frost sets in. The tender perennial (which is usually treated like an annual) is available in a dizzying range of colors: pink, yellow, red, orange, white, green, gold, and even combinations of hues. Plant calibrachoa in a hanging basket to show off its spreading shape, or use it as a filler or spiller in a large mixed container. As a bonus, there’s no need to deadhead these garden glories; they’ll thrive with full sun, moist soil, and monthly fertilization. Available at Burpee.com; $19.99 for 3 plants.

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A short-lived perennial, gaillardia (also known as blanket flower) loves the summer heat. Butterflies often visit its daisy-shaped flowers, which are bi- or tricolored in shades of gold, orange, burgundy, and yellow. Since gaillardia ranges from dwarf to three feet high, it’s a great choice for a large container—although it will thrive in any patch of well-drained, slightly sandy soil that receives full sun. Expect the drought-resistant plant to bloom from late spring through fall. Available at Burpee.com; $12.99.

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Another tender perennial treated as an annual, coreopsis (which goes by the common name of tickseed) blooms with solid pink, orange, yellow, or burgundy-and-yellow blossoms. Coreopsis generally grows in a clump, sending up a seemingly endless parade of flowers on long stems. Butterflies and other pollinators love them, and birds enjoy snacking on their seeds. Make sure to give coreopsis full sun, well-draining soil, and regular watering when first planted. Available on Burpee.com; $13.99.

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The stiff, pom-pom shaped flowers of globe amaranth look glorious in any garden. While most varieties are magenta, you’ll also find cultivars in pink, white, purple, and red. One of the best things about globe amaranth is its versatility; the tall and spiky plant looks great in a container, but it will also thrive in a flower bed or cottage garden. Globe amaranth prefers full sun, doesn’t require much fertilizer, and withstands most plant diseases and insects. Available on Amazon; $6.49 for 1000 seeds. 

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Cosmos may look fragile, but it's actually a hardy flower that blooms throughout the spring and summer. The most common variety, Cosmos bipinatus, can surpass two feet in height, with dancing flowers on thin stems stretching above the ferny foliage. While pink and white are the most common colors, you’ll also find blossoms in red, yellow, orange, and burgundy. Cosmos prefers full sun (with some afternoon shade in hot climates) as well as slightly dry soil that’s not too fertile. Available at Burpee.com; $3.99 for 50 seeds.

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One of the hardest-working annuals in your summer garden is the zinnia, which has a stiff and upright growth pattern. These colorful plants like heat, full sun, and moderate moisture levels. On the downside, zinnia attracts mildew and rust; in fact, it can seem nearly impossible to prevent these annoying fungal diseases from spreading on your plants, but they won’t stop the flowers from growing. Available at The Home Depot; $34.99 for a pack of four plants.

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Annual vinca (Catharanthus roseus) may not come in a wide range of colors—mostly hot pink, light pink, white, and lilac— but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better flower for lining pathways, filling containers, or enhancing your flower beds. While there are trailing varieties of annual vinca, most are short, mounding plants with glossy green foliage. Vinca grow best with full sun, a hot climate, monthly fertilizing, and limited water. Available at The Home Depot; $42.93 for a pack of 18 plants.

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