I have gathered together photos of native flowers which bloom during summer here in the Philadelphia area. The photos were taken in my own small garden.
The plants being North Ameican natives probably grow in large areas of the northern parts of the continent. I am sure there are other species and varieties that are indigenous to other regions of the land.
Native plants require little or no watering, no fertilizer, and very little human attention. And many of them attract butterflies and other pollinators nectar sources and host plants.
I spotted several butterflies at lunchtime – Monarch, Tiger Swallowtail (on the Summer Phlox, Cabbage Whites, and Black Swallowtail. And I was just peaking outside at noon!
Some of the plants here may start blooming in the summer and continue blooming for several weeks and cross over into early autumn. I hope this is helpful and you get ideas for your garden.
If you have my Clumping for Neatness native plant list, you know I am a big, big fan of clumping plants because of the ease of garden maintenance. All of the plants except where noted have a clumping habit.
You can see the clumping growth habit. You can have a neat looking garden and native plants. And not scandalize the neighbors.
I also have a list of Summer into Fall Blooming Plants native plants.
Summer Phlox blooms a glorious bright white right in the dead heat of a hot and humid Philadelphia summer. This is a no small feat. When Summer Phlox first bloomed in my garden in July, I was shocked. Now, I wouldn’t plant a garden without it.
I am having a yet another go at growing Butterfly Weed in my garden. Year after year, I’d plant it, it grew and then the next year it didn’t appear. I consulted gardening friends and they suggested it needs several years to establish itself before it becomes reliable in the garden.
This is the first year I have been able to grow and keep Butterfly weed alive. I bought a six-pack of butterfly weed transplants from Home Depot last year. Those transplants have survived and are thriving in these photos.
I have noticed in the last three years that six-packs of indigenous plants are available at Home Depot. It is probably because these plants thrive and survive in this area. Keep an eye out for Purple Coneflower, Coreopsis, Rudbeckia, and Butterfly weed in money-saving six-packs in the spring and fall.
If you would like more information on some of the plants, the USDA Plants Database has comprehensive information, on probably every native plant in North America.
The Summer Blooming Plants in My Garden
All these plants are easily grown from seed. These plants all attract butterflies and other pollinators when in bloom.
- Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
- Coreopsis Moonbeam (Coreopsis verticillata)
- Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.)
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- Sedum Autumn Joy (Sedum spectabile)
- Summer Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
