Flowers That Bloom in June

Sun-loving Chinese peony (Paeonia lactiflora) has a lot going for it. Everyone agrees that the fragrant, large, double flowers are lovely. A nice bonus, though, is that it is one of the longest-lived perennials. Listed for zones 2 to 9, it is also one of the hardiest perennials. Perhaps its one drawback is that it does not like to be moved; if you must transplant it, do so in fall, once it enters dormancy.

An herbaceous root plant, Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro' is a popular day lily. This is another plant for full sun that can be grown across a number of zones (3 to 9). Its strengths include that it:

• Blooms a long time (May to July)
• Will rebloom
• Can adapt to a variety of conditions
• Bears vibrant, golden-yellow flowers that light up any spot they dwell in

About its only drawback is a manufactured one: that Stella de Oro is overused. Do not let this subjective charge dissuade you from growing it if you have never grown one.

There are plenty of perennial salvias that bloom in June for northern gardeners, including Blue Hill (Salvia x superba 'Blue Hill'), which grows in zones 4 to 8 in full sun.

A major pro in favor of salvia is how easy it is to grow. A minor con against it is that its leaves stink, although such assessments are always subjective.

Purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) gives you a shorter option for a full-sun perennial in zones 5 to 10. It is a sprawling ground cover, whereas the other selections in this list have an upright plant form.

This unusual plant is valued for the length of its flowering period (all summer) and its suitability as an edging plant. On the negative side (for gardeners in the North), it absolutely requires a soil that drains super-well in regions colder than zone 7, else it will die during the winter. 

There are several kinds of flowering onions (Allium spp.), and they bloom at different times of the year. But there is one particular type with very dark purple flowers, Allium atropurpureum, that blooms in June.

Technically bulb plants, flowering onions nonetheless come up every year (for a number of years) like perennials. Give Allium atropurpureum full sun and grow it in zones 4 to 8.

The chief asset of flowering onions is that, since the different types bloom at various times, they are valued by those seeking continuous sequence of bloom. There is a flowering onion out there for you to plug into that empty spot in the garden whether you need it for spring, summer, or fall. A drawback against them is that they are poisonous.

Lavandula spp. are actually sub-shrubs, but gardeners often treat them as perennials or herbs. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of the hardier kinds (zones 5 to 8). Grow it in full sun.

Even non-gardeners are familiar with its best feature: the fragrance of its leaves, which are dried and used in potpourris. Its worst feature is its intolerance for ground that does not drain well; growing this Mediterranean plant in such soil often leads to root rot.

Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander' is a full-sun plant for zones 4 through 8. The best argument for growing it is its variegated leaves, which display green and pink colors when they first come out. The one disappointment with it is that this wonderful pink color does not hang around for long. When the plant flowers in June, its leaves are green and white.

Monarda didyma just sneaks in as a June bloomer, coming into flower at the end of the month. Grow it in full sun to partial shade. If you choose to grow it in full sun, be especially careful to water it well, since it likes a slightly moist soil.

Points in this herb's favor are that you can:

• Flavor salads with its fresh leaves
• Use the dried leaves in herbal teas
• Apply it as a balm for bee stings

A demerit against it is its strong tendency to get powdery mildew on its leaves.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), like bee balm, is an herb: It has had medicinal uses, traditionally (especially in the treating of wounds). But, today, it is grown mainly as an ornamental. Cultivars can be found to satisfy you whether you want white, yellow, pink, or red flowers. The variety of floral colors it offers, the plant's toughness, and its ability to draw butterflies are all major selling points.

Grow yarrow in full sun, in zones 3 to 8. Yarrow does spread via rhizomes, so it's not always the best choice where a well-behaved plant is called for. It has one other drawback: You may have to stake it if you're growing it in a high-wind area.

Different daisies bloom at different times. Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky' flowers June to September. Grow it in full sun in zones 5 to 10.

Its best feature is that it is a long-blooming perennial. Its worst feature is that a number of bugs eat it, including:

• Aphids
• Earwigs
• Leaf miners
• Slugs

Sun-loving larkspur (Delphinium spp.) has long been used in cottage gardens. The different types vary in terms of height and hardiness. As an example, 'Black Knight' can become 7 feet tall and grows in zones 3 to 7.

Maybe the biggest pro for larkspur is its height. It is a tall perennial that you can place in the back row of a planting bed without worrying that the plants in front of it will block your view of it. The biggest con against it is that it is highly susceptible to crown rot and so needs excellent drainage.