Summer Blooming Perennials and Grasses for Full Sun

This planting combination, composed of drought-tolerant, sun-loving perennials, is easy to grow and delivers a steady progression of blooms from spring to fall that are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. A variety of bloom shapes create an energetic display: curious yellow whorls of Phlomis fruticosa age gracefully, adding architectural interest as they age; magenta rays surround a dark eye atop black stems on the coneflower Echinacea 'Merlot'; crimson spikes of Persicaria 'Firetail' add vertical interest; and umbels of Sedum 'Autumn Joy' progress from apple green to pink to magenta as the season unfolds. The transparent flowers of Stipa gigantea catch the light and sway in the breeze as they erupt skyward from mounds of evergreen grassy foliage.

Growing Conditions

Zone: 7, 8, 9
Exposure: Afternoon Sun, Full Sun, Reflected Heat
Water Needs: Drought-tolerant, Low

Design Considerations

Style: Mediterranean, Naturalistic, Northwest Eclectic
Features: Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Flower Fest, Attracts Pollinator, Wildlife Friendly
Focus: Hellstrip / Parking Strip, Saving Water
Seasons of Interest: Late Spring / Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer / Early Fall, Fall, Pleasing Seasonal Changes, Three Seasons of Interest

Care and Maintenance


Maintenance Level: medium



Plants In this Combo