#FastGrowing #Flowers #Garden #Blooming #July
While roses and sunflowers often get top billing for gardeners planning their summer flower displays, there are plenty of other blooms that can fill your garden with color come July, while also offering an opportunity to try something new and create a more diverse landscape that keeps flowering all season long.
Easy to grow and rewarding to care for, here are 19 flowers you can plant right now to enjoy beautiful July blooms, from quick-growing annuals to reliable perennial favorites.
Celosia
Celosia brings bold color to summer gardens with its feathery plumes and cockscomb-shaped blooms. This annual thrives in hot weather and blooms from summer through fall, making it perfect for July displays. The flowers come in bright reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks, while the foliage ranges from green to deep burgundy. Heat and drought resistant once established, celosia prefers full sun and well-draining soil. It’s deer resistant and attracts butterflies to your garden. Hardy as an annual in all zones but can overwinter in zones 10-11. Look for: ‘Sunday Red’ with crimson plumes, ‘Fresh Look Yellow’ with compact growth, and ‘Bombay Purple’ with dark foliage.
Cosmos
Cosmos flowers are easy-going annuals that bloom from summer through fall, making them perfect for July color. These cheerful plants have feathery, fern-like foliage that creates a nice backdrop for the daisy-like flowers. Popular varieties include ‘Sensation Mix’ with pink, white, and crimson blooms, ‘Orange Cosmos’ with bright orange petals, and ‘Chocolate Cosmos’ featuring deep burgundy flowers. They’re deer resistant and drought tolerant once established, thriving in poor soil and full sun. Heat doesn’t bother them at all. Hardy as annuals in all zones but can self-seed for next year’s garden.
Did you know?
Here’s something cool about cosmos flowers that might surprise you – they’re actually terrible at following garden rules and thrive best when you basically ignore them. These cheerful blooms originally come from Mexico and got their name because their petals are arranged so perfectly that early botanists thought they looked like the orderly cosmos of the universe.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are cheerful annuals that bloom from summer through fall, making them perfect for July color. These easy-going plants produce round, shield-shaped leaves in shades of green or blue-green, topped with trumpet-shaped flowers in yellow, orange, red, or cream. Popular varieties include ‘Alaska’ with its cream-speckled foliage and mixed flower colors, ‘Empress of India’ featuring deep red blooms, and ‘Moonlight’ with pale yellow flowers. They prefer cool weather but tolerate heat reasonably well. Nasturtiums resist most pests and actually attract beneficial insects. Grow best in poor to average soil with full sun to partial shade.
Four O’Clocks
Four O’Clocks earned their name because the trumpet-shaped blooms open late in the afternoon and stay open through the night. This annual thrives in hot weather and keeps blooming from summer through the first frost. The bushy plants grow 2-3 feet tall with heart-shaped green leaves that form a nice backdrop for the flowers. These tough plants handle drought well once established and actually prefer poor soil over rich, fertile ground. They self-seed readily, so you’ll likely see them return next year. Hardy as an annual in all zones. Look for: ‘Marvel of Peru’ with mixed colors, ‘Jingles’ with striped petals, and ‘Broken Colors’ featuring white, pink, red, and yellow blooms.
Morning Glory
Morning glories are fast-growing annual vines that climb up to 15 feet tall and produce trumpet-shaped blooms from midsummer through fall. These heat-loving climbers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them perfect for hot July weather. The heart-shaped leaves create dense coverage on fences, trellises, and arbors. Most varieties are quite drought-tolerant once established. Hardy as annuals in all zones, though they may self-seed in warmer climates. Look for ‘Heavenly Blue’ with sky-blue flowers, ‘Grandpa Ott’ featuring deep purple blooms with red throats, and ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ producing bright red trumpet flowers.
Moonflower
Moonflowers are annual climbing vines that produce large, white, fragrant blooms that open in the evening and close by morning. These night-blooming beauties thrive in warm weather and reach 10-15 feet tall with heart-shaped green leaves. The flowers can stretch 4-6 inches across and fill your garden with sweet perfume during summer nights. They prefer full sun to partial shade and need consistent moisture but handle heat well. Hardy in zones 2-11 as annuals. Popular varieties include ‘Alba’ with pure white flowers and ‘Giant White’ featuring extra-large blooms that attract moths and other nighttime pollinators.
Cleome
Cleome produces tall spikes of airy flowers that bloom from summer through fall in zones 2-11. This annual flower handles heat and drought well once established, making it perfect for hot July weather. The spider-like blooms come in shades of pink, white, and purple, while the palmate leaves add nice texture to garden beds. Seeds readily self-sow for next year’s display. Cleome thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, though it tolerates poor conditions. The plants can reach 3-6 feet tall and resist deer browsing. Look for: ‘Queen Mix’ with pink and white flowers, ‘Violet Queen’ in deep purple, and ‘Helen Campbell’ in pure white.
Caladium
Caladiums are tropical annuals grown for their colorful heart-shaped leaves rather than flowers. These heat-loving plants thrive in warm, humid conditions and prefer partial to full shade. The large leaves come in striking combinations of red, pink, white, and green patterns that brighten shady garden spots from summer through early fall. They need consistent moisture and well-draining soil to perform their best. Hardy only in zones 9-11, most gardeners treat them as annuals or dig up tubers before frost. Look for: ‘Red Flash’ with red centers and green edges, ‘White Queen’ featuring white leaves with green veins, and ‘Pink Beauty’ showing pink and green marbled patterns.
Coleus
Coleus brings bold foliage colors to your garden from summer through fall. This heat-loving annual thrives in zones 2-11 and produces small flower spikes in July, though most gardeners pinch them off to keep the leaves looking their best. The real show comes from the leaves, which can be bright green with red edges, deep burgundy, or lime green with purple centers. Coleus handles heat well but needs consistent moisture and partial shade in hot climates. Look for varieties like ‘Wizard Mix’ with its multi-colored leaves, ‘Redhead’ featuring red and green foliage, and ‘Lime Time’ with chartreuse leaves edged in burgundy.
Impatiens
Impatiens are tender annuals that bloom from late spring through the first frost, making them perfect for continuous summer color. These shade-loving plants thrive in cool, moist conditions and struggle in hot, dry weather. The flowers come in white, pink, red, orange, salmon, and purple, with green foliage that stays neat all season. Popular varieties include ‘Super Elfin’ with compact growth, ‘Accent’ series known for heat tolerance, and ‘New Guinea’ types featuring larger blooms and bronze-tinted leaves. They prefer partial to full shade and consistently moist soil. Hardy as annuals in all zones but can overwinter in zones 10-11.
Begonias
Begonias are reliable annuals that bloom continuously from summer through fall. These plants prefer partial shade and consistent moisture, making them perfect for areas that get morning sun but afternoon shade. The flowers come in many colors including pink, red, white, yellow, and orange, while the leaves can be green or bronze. Popular varieties include ‘Dragon Wing’ with its wing-shaped leaves and red flowers, ‘Big Red’ with large scarlet blooms, and ‘Bada Bing’ series offering compact plants in multiple colors. They’re heat tolerant but need protection from intense afternoon sun. Deer resistant and perfect for containers or garden beds.
Petunias
Petunias are cheerful annuals that bloom from spring until the first frost hits. These reliable flowers come in nearly every color except true blue, with options like bright pink, deep purple, white, and yellow. Popular varieties include ‘Wave’ petunias that spread wide and trail nicely, and ‘Grandiflora’ types with large, showy blooms. The foliage stays green throughout the growing season. Petunias love full sun and handle heat well once established. They prefer well-draining soil and benefit from regular watering. Hardy as annuals in all zones, though they’re perennial in zones 9-11. Look for: ‘Supertunia Vista,’ ‘Easy Wave,’ and ‘Madness.’
Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa produces masses of small, trumpet-shaped flowers from spring through fall, making it perfect for containers and hanging baskets. This tender annual thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, though it can handle some light shade. The plant forms trailing mounds with small, narrow green leaves that stay neat all season. Popular varieties include ‘Superbells Cherry Red’ with bright red blooms, ‘Million Bells Yellow’ in sunny yellow, and ‘Cabaret Purple’ with deep purple flowers. Heat and humidity tolerant, calibrachoa performs well in hot summer climates. Grows as an annual in all zones but can overwinter in zones 9-11.
Dahlia
Dahlias are tender perennials that bloom from midsummer through fall, making them perfect for July color. These flowers come in countless shapes and sizes, from dinner plate-sized blooms to compact pompons. Popular varieties include ‘Café au Lait’ with creamy beige petals and dark foliage, ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ featuring bright red flowers and bronze leaves, and ‘Labyrinth’ with coral-pink blooms. They thrive in zones 8-11 but can be grown as annuals in colder areas. Dahlias prefer full sun and well-draining soil with consistent moisture. They handle heat well but may need afternoon shade in extremely hot climates.
Rudbeckia
Black-eyed Susans bring cheerful yellow blooms to your garden from July through fall. These hardy perennials thrive in zones 3-9 and handle heat, drought, and poor soil with ease. The daisy-like flowers feature bright yellow petals surrounding dark brown centers, creating a classic prairie look. ‘Goldsturm’ stays compact with deep green leaves, while ‘Cherokee Sunset’ offers orange and red tones. ‘Prairie Sun’ produces pale yellow blooms with green centers. The coarse, hairy foliage forms neat clumps that deer usually avoid. Plant in full sun for best flowering, though they’ll tolerate some shade.
Nicotiana
Nicotiana brings sweet fragrance and tubular blooms to your July garden. This annual thrives in zones 3-10 and flowers from summer through fall. The plant handles heat well but prefers some afternoon shade in hot climates. Most varieties grow 1-3 feet tall with broad, sticky green leaves that feel almost velvety. Evening is when the real magic happens – the flowers open wide and release their perfume into the air. Nicotiana resists most pests thanks to its natural compounds. Look for ‘Lime Green’ with chartreuse blooms, white-flowered ‘Grandiflora,’ and ‘Mutabilis’ which opens white then shifts to pink.
Little-Known Fact:
Here’s something wild about nicotiana flowers – they’re actually tobacco plants, and while we know tobacco for cigarettes, these pretty blooms open up at night and smell absolutely amazing. The cool part is that hummingbirds and moths go crazy for them, so if you plant these in your garden, you’ll basically be running a 24-hour diner for some of nature’s most interesting visitors.
Amaranthus
Amaranthus brings bold color to summer gardens with its long-lasting flower spikes that bloom from July through fall. This annual thrives in hot weather and actually prefers dry conditions once established. The upright plants produce cascading or upright flower clusters in shades of red, purple, green, or golden yellow. Many varieties also offer colorful foliage that ranges from green to deep burgundy. These heat-loving plants resist drought and pests while attracting beneficial insects. Hardy as an annual in all zones, amaranthus needs full sun and well-draining soil. Look for: ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ with drooping red tassels, ‘Green Thumb’ with lime flowers, and ‘Red Cathedral’ with upright crimson spikes.
Gomphrena
Globe amaranth produces round, papery flower heads that look like colorful pompoms throughout summer and into fall. This hardy annual thrives in hot, humid weather when other flowers start to fade. The compact plants grow 6-24 inches tall with oval, gray-green leaves that provide a nice backdrop for the blooms. Gomphrena handles drought well once established and actually prefers poor soil over rich, fertile ground. The flowers come in purple, pink, white, orange, and red. Popular varieties include ‘Fireworks’ with purple and pink blooms, ‘Buddy Purple’ staying compact at 6 inches, and ‘Strawberry Fields’ producing bright red flowers. Perfect for hot climates in zones 2-11.
