June is, without a doubt, something of a slightly chaotic point in the gardening year, as everything either seems to be racing ahead or already backwards. But this is exactly when I like to lean toward late-season planting, especially if the goal is that rich, full-on “second wave” of color that carries the garden from late summer into fall.
I know, I know. sounds like a lot of work at a time when everything is already happy. In a wide range of USDA hardiness zoneshowever, June Planting can actually be ideal as the soil is warm, the daylight hours are longer and longer perennial plants and hardy annuals make sure quickly if they are watered properly.
Admittedly, it’s less about perfection and more about momentum. The goal, above all, is to get the roots down quickly so the plants can hit their stride when temperatures peak and keep things alive and bountiful just when everything else starts to look a little… well, a little tired.
7 Flowers to Plant in June
If you stick to this list of flowers to plant in June, you’ll find that it’s the late bloomers that are critical to pollinatorsespecially the bees and butterflies that are still active in the warmer months.
To these little creatures, a well-planted June garden can feel like a continuous buffet of nectar until the first frosts. So, without further ado, here are seven of my favorite flowers to plant in June if you want the kind of big late-season performance that makes everyone (even someone as young as your birth month error!) sit and watch…
1. Conifers
(Image credit: DB Beyer/Getty Images)
I tend to get irritated conifers many, but it really is one of the best flowers to plant in June for late-season color that lasts well into fall. Somewhat wildly beautiful and utterly reliable, they avoid heat, drought and poor soil, making them ideal for unpredictable summers.
Their blooming daisies in shades of pink, purple and white appear from mid-summer to autumn, especially if you deadhead regularly. They also attract pollinators and seed-loving birds later in the season. And, hardy in USDA zones 3-9, they are as hardy as they are beautiful.
Plant something like Magnus Purple Coneflower from Nature Hills for a non-leaning addition to your beds.
2. Black-eyed Susan
(Image credit: Getty Images)
I think we can all agree that if summer had a default setting, it would look like this black eyed susans. Their golden yellow petals and dark central cones add instant brightness to any border and are incredibly reliable once they get going.
Planted in June, they will establish quickly and begin blooming in late summer, often continuing into fall. They thrive in USDA zones 3-9 and are especially good for naturalistic planting schemes where you want movement, warmth and wildlife value all in one. And, luckily, there’s plenty to choose from… although the Glitters Like Gold, Black-Eyed Susan by Nature Hills it’s quite a robust screamer, thanks to its showy fire-colored blooms.
3. Coreopsis
(Image credit: Ali Majdfar/Getty Images)
When it comes to flowers to plant in June for late summer color, surely coreopsis is one of the happiest, free-flowering plants you can grow?
A June planting gives the tick plenty of time to establish before it really starts to bloom, meaning its elegant, daisy-like blooms in yellow, gold or bicolor will create a steady haze of color through summer and often into fall. It is drought tolerant, low maintenance and thrives in USDA zones 4-9. In mixed borders, it adds a lightness that balances heavier, structural plants, as well as in so many different styles.
Here are just a few of our favorite varieties…
Nature Hills Nursery
Li’l Bang™ Candy Stripes Coreopsis
This pollinator-friendly beauty is best suited to life in Zones 5-9, where it offers bright colors in abundance.
Nature Hills Nursery
Moonbeam Coreopsis
Thrives in Zones 3-9. these beautiful yellow flowers bloom all summer (until early autumn).
Nature Hills Nursery
Creme Caramel™ Coreopsis
Ideal for Zones 6-9, the unique color of this tick variety is what makes it stand out.
4. Bee balm
(Image credit: BGWalker/Getty Images)
Bee balmhow do i love you Let me count the ways.
This beautiful bloom feels almost theatrical in the garden, with its spiky crown-like flowers in reds, pinks and purples. It’s also one of the best pollinator plants you can grow (its milkshake may not bring the boys to the yard, but its nectar has bees, butterflies and hummingbirds everything flows together).
It prefers slightly richer, moist soil, true, but rewards you with a long flowering period from mid to late summer. And, hardy in USDA zones 3-9, it also brings a subtle minty scent when the leaves are brushed, which I’ve always loved on warm evenings in the garden. Something like that SUGAR BUZZ® Grape Gumball Bee Balm by Nature Hills promises purple beauty until early fall.
5. Blanket Flower
(Image: Iva Vagnerova / Shutterstock)
Blanket flowers it’s pure fire energy in plant form, right? Their fiery red, orange and yellow flowers feel almost sunset-like and thrive in conditions where other plants may struggle, making them ideal flowers for planting in June.
Once established, they are extremely drought tolerant and will continue to bloom steadily from summer until frost if deadheading. They perform best in USDA zones 3-10, making them one of the most adaptable late-season performers.
There are many varieties available, but if you want something like the image above, you need it SpinTop® Orange Halo Blanket Flower by Nature Hills in your life, stat.
6. Shasta Daisy
(Image credit: Thanachod Suya / Shutterstock)
With their crisp white petals and sunny yellow midribs that seem to brighten even the dullest corner of a garden, shasta daisies you always feel weirdly nostalgic in the best possible way.
Planting them in June gives them more than enough time to get established before their peak flowering period in late summer, which means you’re getting something that’s great for cutting, reliable in borders, and thriving in USDA zones 4-9 just when you want it most.
Pick it up Whoops-A-Daisy Shasta Daisy from Nature Hills (the name alone, right? and try pairing it with grasses and more structural perennials for a classic, slightly romantic feel.
7. Red Hot Poker
(Image credit: Daseaford/Shutterstock)
For a more dramatic late summer statement, red hot pokers are unbeatable. Dwarf ‘Popsicle’ cultivars (such as Red Hot Popsicle™ Dwarf Poker by Nature Hills) are especially useful for smaller gardens, producing upright spikes of fiery red, orange and yellow flowers that feel almost alien… in a good way, I promise.
Nature Hills Nursery
Red Hot Popsicle™ Dwarf Poker
Ideal for Zones 6-9, this deer-resistant plant looks really impressive.
They thrive in sunny, well-drained conditions and are hardy in USDA zones 5-9. In my experience, it’s the plants that make people stop and ask what they are – just because they want to plant them for themselves too.
Of course, there are a few other options if you want to plant more flowers in June for bold late-summer color that lasts well into fall. You could try yarrowfor example, which gains more than its keep in any prairie-style display (although it needs a breakpoint to reach fall). And starsapparently, they bloom just as many summer flowers begin to fade, extending the growing season much longer than it seems possible.
Whatever you choose, late summer gardens are all about bounty, and these plants deliver just that. Planted in June, they don’t just fill space – they extend the season, support wildlife and keep the garden alive long after spring has faded. What’s better than that?
