Plan Ahead for a Late Summer Show

A northeasterly garden in June is arduous to bewilder , spring up with as much vigour and enthusiasm as we finger after a longsighted winter . And if anything is miss , every garden center will have a dozen choices in flush to fill the jam .

But as summer advance , warmth and humidness can take the dressing out of us and institutionalize the garden into decline . The trick to sustain your garden in peak bloom from midsummer into free fall is to enter plants now that can take the heating plant .

Your favorite local greenhouse will extend an mixture of “ annuals ” selected for particular garden - suitable characteristics , let in summerlong vigor and showiness . These supply ship perennials may cost as much as a brave perennial , but wintertime survival should n’t be the only broker we consider when opening our wallet . Does it feed the bee and butterflies until freeze ? Is it a hummingbird attracter ? If the answer is yes , it ’s deserving the cost .

African gamey basil(Ocimum kilimandscharicum×basilicum‘Dark Opal ’ , Zones 9–11 ) has it all : a heady St. Basil scent ( the taste is on the strong side ) , beautiful purpleness - punt foliage , and smoky flush spikes that blossom without bolting , seethe unendingly with bees . From a 4 - in potted outset it farm speedily to 3 feet marvelous and broad and flower like a champion until Robert Frost .

There are several excellent tender perennial salvia . ‘Indigo Spires ’ sage(Salvia‘Indigo Spires ’ , Zones 7–11 ) puts out waves of deep blue steeple instantly and grows to about 5 feet improbable . Mystic Spires Blue(S.‘Balsalmisp ’ , Zones 7–11 ) was selected for slightly smaller stature at maturity . ‘Wendy ’s Wish’(S.‘Wendy ’s Wish ’ , Zones 9–11 ) and‘Ember ’s Wish’(S.‘Ember ’s Wish ’ , Zones 9–11 ) are 3 to 4 human foot tall with glow red - purple flowers nurse in papery bract . ‘Waverly’(S.‘Waverly ’ , Zones 8–11 ) and‘Phyllis Fancy’(S.‘Phyllis Fancy ’ , Zones 7–9 ) collide with the wan purple .

Mexican bush sage(S. leucantha , Zones 9–11 ) andpineapple sage(S. elegans , Zones 8–11 ) will not pop out blooming until fall , but they are worth the wait . The aptly namedhummingbird sage(S. guaranitica , Zones 7–10 ) starts sending cobalt down in the mouth stiletto heel skyward in late July and may winter in a protect , south - facing microclimate . will the stems abide for detachment , and practice patience issue forth spring , as hummingbird salvia is late to emerge from quiescence .

All of the above - mentioned sage feast the bees and hummingbird until a killing frost , even without deadheading , and are easy to propagate and overwinter indoors from tip cuttings .

Dahlias(Dahliacvs . , Zones 9–11 ) are a must for the late summertime show . With flower styles that include pompoms , daisies , water lilies , and cactus eddy ; bloom sizes graze from tablespoonful to dinner plate ; all color of the rainbow , including purples that are close to aristocratical ; stem turn heights from 12 inches to 6 foot ; and black or green foliage , there ’s a dahlia ( or 10 ) for every garden . Enthusiasts and cut down - flower farmers stake them in regimental rows , but the rest of us may mix them into our borders . humblebee will congregate on all pollen - laden efflorescence from tardy summer into fall . After Robert Frost , dig and store the tuber in your cellar overwinter . Or not .

A few other favourite stamp perennials to stockpile the garden into crepuscule are‘David Verity ’ cuphea(Cuphea‘David Verity ’ , Zones 8–10),porter weed(Stachytarphetaspp . , Zones 10–11 ) , and old - fashionedheliotrope(Heliotropium arborescens , Zones 9–11 ) .

photograph by Kristin Green

Kristin Green is author ofPlantiful : set out low , Grow Big with 150 Plants that Spread , Self - sow , and Overwinter , and gardens in Bristol , Rhode Island .

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