Remember that annuals grow faster than perennials, which last longer.
Find some noteworthy colorful flowers to inspire you below.
Take, for example, the cultivar ‘In Town’ with its lavender, purple, and tangerine coloring.
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Grow bearded iris in full sun and well-drained soil.
Bearded iris is toxic to dogs and cats.
The sun-loving perennialsattract butterflies, and they tolerate rabbit nibbling and dry soil conditions.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
But double-check they have good drainage, as they don’t perform well in heavy, wet soil.
This annual flower comes in a wide array of bright shades.
There are many zinnia cultivars, including new ones that are mildew-resistant, such as the ‘Profusion’ series.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
This is helpful because zinnias as a whole are susceptible to fungal diseases.
Plant them in a spot with good air circulation to help prevent disease issues.
The blooms will close when clouds and nighttime steal their light.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
All parts of the plant are toxic to dogs and cats.
Be sure to protect your plants from temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Plus, they do well in containers.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Soil with good drainage is imperative for these plants, as they are prone to root rot.
Buttercup is toxic to humans and animals.
These plants generally grow without issues, though taller varieties might need staking to prevent them from flopping over.
The Spruce / Pheobe Cheong
But they also bear blue or white flowers in the summertime.
Pinch back the stems for a bushier growth habit.
And double-check the plants arent getting too much sun, which can wilt the foliage.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Coleus is toxic to animals.
Tulip
When you think of colorful perennial flowers, tulips (Tulipaspp.)
might come to mind.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Poppies have a long tap root that allows them to endure drought.
But this perennial resents transplanting, so try not to disturb its roots.
All parts of the plants are toxic to humans and animals.
The Spruce / Cori Sears
Coral Bells
Coral bells(Heucheraspp.
)species are grown as perennials for their colorful foliage that forms low, rounded mounds.
But they also send up small bell-shaped flowers in the summertime on tall stems above the foliage.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Divide mature clumps every few years to retain their vigor.
The pretty little flower clusters come in several shades, sometimes all on the same plant.
Lantana plants are easy to grow to a fault in some areas where theycan become invasive.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
Look for cultivars such as ‘New Gold’ that don’t form berries to prevent any unwanted spread.
It’s grown as a perennial in zones 9-11; otherwise, they are grown as annuals.
Lantana is toxic to animals.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Daylily
As evidenced by their presence along roadsides, perennial daylily(Hemerocallisspp.
)plants are as tough as nails.
Deadhead the flowers (remove the spent flower heads) to promote additional blooming.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
This plant is toxic to cats.
)come in every color to suit the garden palette.
Hybrid tea roses deliver flowers with a perfect form for cutting.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
But don’t overlook easy-to-grow shrub roses, which are just as vibrant.
Deadheading will help to promote repeat blooming.
Fuchsia
Every spring, garden centers wow shoppers withlush hanging basketsoverflowing with fuchsia(Fuchsiaspp.)
The Spruce / Candace Madonna
Coneflower
Gone are the days of the washed-out mauveEchinaceaplants that attracted butterflies but few compliments.
A focus on breeding has given us coneflowers (Echinaceaspp.)
in bright corals, magentas, and more that wow people andpollinators.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Although perennial coneflowers willtolerate drought, the new varieties fare better in loamy soil with regular irrigation.
Dahlia
Dahlias (Dahliaspp.)
are the darlings of the cut flower and bouquet world.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Dahlias need regular water, lots of sun, and a flowerfertilizerthroughout the growing season to bloom prolifically.
Tall varieties also might need staking to prevent them from flopping.
This flower is toxic to both dogs and cats.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
The perennial has showy blooms stretching 2 to 3 inches across and they appear throughout the summer.
In the spring, they feature clusters of trumpet- or bell-shaped flowers that stretch about an inch long.
The flowers start with a pinkish tone before turning their trademark blue.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
This plant doesnt require much maintenance besides providing it with at least a little shade.
New England Aster
New England asters grow naturally in prairies, meadows, and low valleys.
They prefer moist but not soggy soil.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
These perennial plants flower in the late summertime with daisy-like blooms that stretch almost 2 inches across.
New England asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) have a bright pink-purple color with yellow centers.
double-check there is good air circulation around the plants to prevent fungal diseases.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
Clematis
Clematis (Clematis ‘Jackmanii’) flowers are bright and showy.
Also, apply a layer of mulch over the roots to keep them cool.
All clematis are toxic to humans and pets.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Dianthus
Dianthus (Dianthusspp.)
flowers traditionally come in shades of pink, but there are other varieties as well.
The interesting perennial blooms have petals with jagged edges.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
The plants begin flowering in the late spring to early summer and persist through most of the summer.
Deadhead the spent blooms to prolong the flowering period.
All dianthus are toxic to pets.
The Spruce / K. Dave
The spikes should be removed after the flowers are spent.
Also, verify the plant gets consistent moisture but isnt sitting in waterlogged soil.
Their showy, lightly fragrant, cup-shaped flowers bloom in the late spring, stretching roughly 5 inches across.
The Spruce / David Beaulieu
Peonies are toxic to pets.
Lavender is toxic to pets.
Marigold
Marigolds (Tagetesspp.)
The Spruce / Pheobe Cheong
are low-maintenance annuals that love the sun, coming in a variety of forms.
These colorful flowers can bloom almost without ceasing from late spring or early summer until frost in the fall.
To perpetuate the blooming, regularly deadhead the spent flower heads.
The Spruce / Pheobe Cheong
Daffodil
When the daffodils (Narcissusspp.)
are popping up, gardeners know spring has arrived.
Daffodils are toxic to humans and animals.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
This annual blooms in the late spring into summer with clusters of very sweetly fragrant flowers.
The main species plant typically has purple flowers, though it comes in many other varieties and even bi-colors.
Deadheading will help to lengthen the blooming period.
Flavia Morlachetti / Getty Images
Sweet pea is toxic to humans and pets.
Sunflower
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) capture the brightness of the sunshine in their pretty petals.
These annual blooms typically stretch 3 to 6 inches across, though some varieties have much more massive flowers.
The Spruce / Pheobe Cheong
They flower in the summertime and then drop their seeds for the next season.
Be sure to plant sunflowers somewhere thats protected from strong winds, and stake tall plants as needed.
Tall plants might need staking to prevent flopping.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Hydrangea
Rott70/ Getty Images
Versatile hydrangeas (Hydrangeaspp.)
These perennial shrubs bloom from the summer to the fall and are speedy growersgaining around two feet per year.
They thrive in full or partial sun and moist, well-drained soil.
Rott70/ Getty Images
Hydrangeas are toxic to animals.
The perennial bulbs yield plants with multiple, small star-shaped flowers.
Hyacinth bulbs are toxic to humans and pets.
Katrin Ray Shumakov/Getty Images
Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds gravitate toward the flower, with its pollen- and nectar-rich blossoms.
If your butterfly weed doesnt bloom in the first year, that is entirely normal.
Butterfly weed can be mildly toxic to humans and animals.
Janet Foster / Getty Images
Pansies fare pretty well in the cold but struggle with intense heat.
They do like the sun, though, theyll be happiest in partial shade.
Nasturium
Richly colored Nasturium (Tropaeolumspp.)
Pansy F1 ‘Matrix® Morpheus’ (Viola x wittrockiana)Photo: © National Garden Bureau, Inc. Used with Permission.
comes in many shapes and sizes, so you will likely find a variety to suit your needs.
They need very little care to thrive and are either perennial or annual, depending on the variety.
Whats more: The flowers are edible.
Aimin Tang / Getty Images
North Carolina State University Extension.
Tulips and Hyacinths.Pet Poison Helpline.
North Carolina State University Extension.
Guide to Poisonous Plants.Colorado State Unviersity.
Dianthus deltoides.North Carolina State University Extension.
North Carolina State University Extension.
North Carolina State University Extension.
Hyacinthus orientalis.North Carolina State University Extension.
North Carolina State Extension.
