6 Easy Summer Plants to have in your garden

6 Easy Summer Plants to have in your garden this season that will thrive all summer long

It has been so very hot these last few weeks in Northeast Georgia, it’s been a good 10-15 degrees warmer for this time of the year. During the summer, I like to keep low maintenance, heat-tolerant plants in my landscape and garden beds. I thought I would share 6 Easy Summer Plants to have in your garden that will thrive all summer long.

Fortunately, I was blessed with a green thumb and it has only gotten greener with time. I find that patience is probably the most important factor when it comes to working with plants in your landscape.

Patience has not always come easy for me and is something I have had to learn. Years ago, I planted for instant gratification rather than considering plants that would reward my yard each year coming back bigger and more beautiful than the next.

Easy Summer Plants to have in your garden

Here are 6 summer plants to have in your garden that you may want to consider this summer.

Boston Fern

The Boston Fern is a staple on my front porch every year. Although in some climates it will come back each year, I just buy new ones each season since I can pick them up pretty inexpensively. I find that when I transplant them to a bigger planter instead of keeping them in the original container they have a bit more room to grow. A little shade and a little water are all you need to keep this plant looking good from Spring to Fall.

Hostas

They say Hostas are one of the best plants to try when you can’t get anything else to grow in your landscape. Hosta’s are durable, versatile, and virtually maintenance-free. I believe these planted near my front porch are called Deja Blu. They have a pretty mixture of blue and green and require nothing in terms of maintenance other than water. There are several varieties of this plant that will do well in the sun or shade.

Rose Campion

Although a bit on the evasive side, this plant is such a stunner with its delicate pink blooms. I started off with a few plants from a friend and now have a garden full of flowers. I do NOTHING to this plant and each year it comes back more loyal than the last. Because they tend to spread I transplant them together for a massive grouping. When not blooming, the leaves are a pretty light green and silver color, similar to lambs’ ear.

Lantana and Verbena

When it comes to Lantana, plant and go. Once established and when the heat increases, these plants thrive with just a good watering once a week. There are several varieties of lantana available in many colors. For years I planted yellow Lantana and more recently put some confetti colored in my landscape. Depending on the region, Lantana plants can be treated as annuals or perennials.  You can grow Lantana in your garden or in containers.

Based on your region ( I am zone 7 in Northeast Georgia)  Lantana can be treated as an annual or perennial. My yellow Lantana always seems to come back each year. The purple behind it is a verbena that will return year after year and is a lot like the Lantana as far as size and shape.

Gardenia

The epitome of a summer scent is the smell of Gardenia bush. Although I love everything about my Gardenia there are two things that I don’t like. Once a Gardenia blooms it turns brown. That probably wouldn’t bother me if I hadn’t planted them in the front beds. For years I have thought about moving them but I just love that smell.

The second reason is that they don’t last long as a cut flower. Because of the hundreds of blooms on each shrub, I can overcome this as well by cutting more. I have the Frost Free Gardenias planted and they do well in partial sun areas with occasional watering in extreme heat.

See what I mean about the brown buds?

Daylily

Last but not least is the Daylily. Over the years I have added more daylilies to my landscape because they are so easy. For years, I had the Stella d’Oro’s planted in my beds. Since then, I have added other varieties for color that have done just as well. Early to bloom and care for they will start blooming in early to mid-summer, and again later in the season. Once established, water once or twice a week depending on the temps in your area.

If heat is an issue in your neck of the woods check out this post for 3 summer blooms that love the heat and more of my gardening tips here.

I hope I have inspired you with these 6 Easy Summer Plants to grow whether your thumb is green or not. What are some of your favorite plants in the summer months?

Happy gardening!