August marks a vibrant time in gardens, where many plants reach their flowering peak, offering a final flourish before autumn sets in. The warmth of late summer encourages these blooms, providing a palette of colors from vibrant reds and oranges to cool blues and purples. These flowers not only beautify landscapes but also play a critical role in supporting pollinators like bees and butterflies during a time when food sources start to dwindle.
The variety of blooms during this month caters to different garden styles, whether you prefer a structured, formal look or a more natural, wild aesthetic. These late-summer flowers often require less maintenance as they’re adapted to the heat, sometimes even thriving in drought conditions, which makes them both beautiful and practical for gardeners looking to conserve water.
The blooms of August are not just about color; they often carry delightful fragrances that enhance outdoor living spaces. They can be enjoyed in cut flower arrangements, bringing the beauty of the garden indoors, or left to seed for next year’s display, ensuring a cycle of beauty and biodiversity. This period is essential for gardeners to enjoy the last of summer’s bounty before the transition to cooler weather.
Flowers That Bloom In August
Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Often called Black-Eyed Susan, this perennial continues its bloom into August with bright yellow petals around a dark center. Hardy in zones 3-9, ‘Goldsturm’ is a popular variety known for its extended flowering period, providing a cheerful contrast to the late summer landscape and attracting a variety of pollinators.
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
Known as coneflower, these plants keep flowering through August with their large, daisy-like blooms in shades of purple, pink, white, and even green or yellow with newer varieties. Hardy in zones 3-9, they’re not only beautiful but also beneficial for gardens, attracting butterflies and birds while offering drought tolerance.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
While many sunflowers bloom earlier, late varieties or those planted later can grace gardens in August with their large, cheerful faces in colors from traditional yellow to deep reds and oranges. They’re annuals in most areas but can be perennials in zones 4-9. They’re excellent for cut flowers and bird food.
Dahlia (Dahlia spp.)
Dahlias come into full glory by August, offering a vast range of flower forms and colors from small pom-poms to dinner-plate sizes in every imaginable hue. They’re grown as annuals in zones below 8 but can be perennials in warmer climates. Dahlias are perfect for adding a burst of color to late summer gardens and are fantastic cut flowers.
Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
Zinnias bloom throughout summer, but August often sees them at their peak. These annuals provide a kaleidoscope of colors, from bright pinks and reds to yellows and oranges. They’re easy to grow, love the sun, and are adored by butterflies, making them a staple for any garden looking vibrant into late summer.
Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)
Some hydrangea varieties, like ‘Limelight’ or ‘PeeGee’, bloom in August with large panicles that start white and can turn pink or red as autumn approaches. Hardy in zones 3-8, they’re excellent for a dramatic statement in the garden, and their dried blooms are popular for winter arrangements.
Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
Garden phlox varieties bloom well into August, offering fragrant clusters of flowers in pink, purple, white, or lavender. They’re hardy perennials in zones 4-8, great for attracting butterflies and adding a cottage garden feel, though they might need some protection against powdery mildew.
Salvia (Salvia spp.)
Many salvias, including Salvia nemorosa or Salvia guaranitica, continue to bloom in August, providing vertical spikes of blue, purple, red, or pink flowers. Hardy in zones 5-9, they’re drought-resistant, attracting hummingbirds and bees, making them ideal for hot summer gardens.
Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri)
Also known as wandflower, Gaura blooms from summer into fall, with August being a peak time for its delicate, butterfly-like flowers in white or pink. It’s a hardy perennial in zones 5-9, offering a whimsical, airy quality to garden designs and is drought-tolerant once established.
Agastache (Agastache spp.)
Known as hyssop, these plants bloom in late summer with spikes of fragrant flowers in shades of purple, pink, orange, or blue. Hardy in zones 5-10, they’re not only ornamental but also functional, attracting hummingbirds and bees while being drought-resistant and deer-resistant.
Crocosmia (Crocosmia spp.)
With its arching spikes of red, orange, or yellow flowers, Crocosmia blooms in August, adding a touch of exotic flair to temperate gardens. It’s hardy in zones 6-9, and its corms multiply, making it easy to spread and naturalize, especially in sunny borders.
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Cosmos continue their bloom into August, offering daisy-like flowers on tall, airy stems in shades of pink, white, and purple. These annuals self-seed, providing an effortless color palette for late summer gardens, and they’re beloved by pollinators, contributing to garden biodiversity.
Verbena (Verbena bonariensis)
With its tall, slender stems topped with clusters of small purple flowers, Verbena bonariensis blooms all summer into August. Hardy in zones 7-10 as a perennial but grown as an annual in cooler climates, it adds a light, airy texture to gardens, perfect for mixing with other plants or as a backdrop for lower-growing flowers.
Lythrum (Lythrum salicaria)
Known as purple loosestrife, this plant blooms in August with spires of magenta or purple flowers. While beautiful, it’s considered invasive in many areas, so native alternatives like swamp loosestrife are often recommended. For those in zones 3-9 where it’s not a problem, it can be stunning in naturalized settings.
Boltonia (Boltonia asteroides)
Often called false aster, Boltonia blooms in late summer to early fall, peaking in August, with masses of small, daisy-like white flowers. It’s hardy in zones 4-9, providing a light, airy presence in borders or naturalized areas where it can spread.
Helenium (Helenium autumnale)
Known as sneezeweed, Helenium offers daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow, red, or bronze, blooming from late summer into fall, with August being a significant time. They’re hardy in zones 3-8 and thrive in moist, sunny conditions, making them ideal for rain gardens or beside ponds.
Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
Marigolds continue to bloom in August, with their bright yellow, orange, or red flowers adding cheer to gardens. These annuals are not only ornamental but also have pest-repelling properties, making them practical for vegetable gardens as well. They’re easy to grow and love full sun.
Cleome (Cleome hassleriana)
Known as spider flower due to its unique, spidery blooms, Cleome can still be in full bloom in August. It’s an annual that self-seeds, offering white, pink, or purple flowers on tall stems. It’s great for adding height and drama to the back of borders or in naturalized areas.
Heliopsis (Heliopsis helianthoides)
Often called false sunflower, Heliopsis blooms in late summer with bright yellow flowers that resemble sunflowers. Hardy in zones 3-9, they’re perfect for naturalistic gardens, providing long-lasting color and attracting pollinators with their nectar-rich blooms.
Japanese Anemone (Anemone x hybrida)
These perennials begin blooming in late summer, with August being a key time for their elegant, cup-shaped flowers in shades of pink or white. Hardy in zones 4-8, they can spread to fill borders, offering a soft, romantic look to the late summer garden.
Sedum (Sedum spectabile)
Particularly varieties like ‘Autumn Joy’, sedum blooms in August with clusters of pink flowers that turn to bronze as autumn arrives. Hardy in zones 3-9, these succulents are low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and provide both nectar for pollinators and winter interest with their seed heads.
Lobelia (Lobelia cardinalis)
Known as cardinal flower, this perennial begins its showy display in late summer, with bright red, tubular flowers attracting hummingbirds. It’s hardy in zones 3-9, preferring moist conditions, which makes it great for beside streams or in rain gardens.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Often referred to as pot marigold, Calendula blooms through August with its bright yellow or orange flowers. These hardy annuals are not only beautiful but also have medicinal uses, with petals used in salves. They’re excellent for both ornamental and edible gardens.
Agapanthus (Agapanthus praecox)
In warmer climates or as container plants in cooler ones, Agapanthus blooms in August with spherical clusters of blue or white flowers. Hardy in zones 8-11, they’re perfect for adding a touch of the exotic, especially in coastal gardens where they thrive.
Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)
Often known as tickseed, some varieties of Coreopsis can still be in bloom during August, providing a splash of yellow, pink, or bi-colored flowers. These perennials are hardy in zones 4-9, known for their long bloom time, drought tolerance, and ability to attract butterflies, making them ideal for sunny borders.
Gaillardia (Gaillardia spp.)
Commonly called blanket flower, Gaillardia blooms into August with vibrant, daisy-like flowers in fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow. Hardy in zones 3-10, they’re drought-resistant and love sunny locations, offering color and cheer well into the late summer.
Rudbeckia hirta (Gloriosa Daisy)
Another member of the Rudbeckia family, Gloriosa Daisy blooms in August with its large, bright flowers with a central dark disk. These are often grown as annuals but can be perennial in zones 5-9, providing a bold, cheerful look to gardens and meadows.
Caryopteris (Caryopteris x clandonensis)
Known as bluebeard or blue spirea, this shrub blooms in late summer, with August being a peak time, offering clusters of blue flowers. Hardy in zones 5-9, it’s great for attracting bees and butterflies, adding late-season color and fragrance to borders or as a standalone specimen.
Liatris (Liatris spicata)
Often called blazing star or gayfeather, Liatris blooms from the top down in August, with tall spikes of purple flowers that are a magnet for butterflies. Hardy in zones 3-9, it’s perfect for adding vertical interest to perennial borders or prairie-style gardens.
Solidago (Solidago spp.)
Goldenrod blooms in late summer to fall, with August marking the beginning for many species. Contrary to common misconceptions, it’s not a significant allergen but rather beneficial for pollinators. Hardy in zones 3-9, it adds a golden glow to gardens, natural landscapes, and meadows.
Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)
Known as flossflower, Ageratum blooms in fluffy clusters of blue, pink, or white in August. While typically grown as an annual, it can be perennial in zones 9-11. It’s excellent for borders, containers, or as an edging plant, attracting butterflies with its nectar.
Astilbe (Astilbe spp.)
Although many astilbes bloom earlier, some later varieties or those in cooler climates might still be flowering in August with their feathery plumes in pink, red, or white. Hardy in zones 3-8, they prefer moist, shaded conditions, making them perfect for woodland gardens.
Tithonia (Tithonia rotundifolia)
Known as Mexican sunflower, Tithonia blooms in late summer with large, bright orange or red flowers. Grown as an annual in most areas, it thrives in hot conditions, offering a tropical look and attracting pollinators, especially butterflies.
Perovskia (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Commonly called Russian sage, this late bloomer has lavender-blue flowers on silvery stems, blooming in August. Hardy in zones 4-9, it’s drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, providing both color and a light, airy texture to late summer gardens.
Eupatorium (Eupatorium spp.)
Now often classified under different genera like Eutrochium, these plants, including Joe-Pye weed, bloom in late summer with large clusters of mauve-pink or white flowers. Hardy in zones 3-9, they’re excellent for moist areas, attracting butterflies and adding height to borders.
Monarda (Monarda didyma)
Bee balm or bergamot continues to bloom into August, offering shaggy, vibrant blooms in red, pink, or purple. Hardy in zones 4-9, they’re not just a feast for the eyes but also for pollinators, providing nectar and fragrance to the garden.