Summer Perennial Love: My Top 5 Favorites

Get Inspired Week 94

“Summer was on the way; Jem and I awaited it with impatience. Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the tree house; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape; but most of all, summer was Dill.” — Harper Lee

There are so many perennials I love, each one bringing something special to the garden. But if I had to choose just five, these are the tried-and-true favorites I find myself returning to again and again—perennials I can rely on that always add a touch of dreaminess to any space. What amazes me is that my Top Five are always shifting and evolving. That’s what makes gardening so fascinating and fun for me: I’m always experimenting, refreshing, and discovering something new.

Agastache

I can’t say enough about how much I love this plant. Agastache thrives in a range of conditions and makes the perfect backdrop for any garden. Lately, I’ve been gravitating to the peachy hues—they cast such a warm glow, especially during golden hour. Agastache is hardy, reliable, and deer resistant. It’s also a pollinator magnet and comes in a range of heights, so you can tuck the shorter varieties near the front and let the taller ones fill the back layer. Bonus: it’s a long bloomer—often going strong right up until frost.

Veronica

I just love the striking texture Veronica brings to the garden. Its spikes of paintbrushes add a strong vertical accent that contrasts beautifully with softer, rounder blooms. I actually prefer it over salvia, especially when space is limited, because Veronica stays more compact and doesn’t get as wide. With regular deadheading, it will keep blooming all summer long—unlike salvia, which tends to have just one main flush. The shorter varieties are perfect for the front or mid-layer of a border, and they make great cut flowers. Best of all, Veronica doesn’t spread or take over a bed and is deer resistant.

Yarrow

I can never have enough yarrow. So dreamy and it is a great way to fill in gaps in the garden and tie everything together. It makes a beautiful backdrop for showier blooms, and really lends that cottage style vibe. Yarrow is drought tolerant, deer resistant, and its lacey foliage adds a unique, lovely texture.

Coneflower

A staple in practically every Inspired garden. Their bold seed pods add a sculptural element, and with so many colors and heights to choose from, there’s truly one for every kind of style. They bloom until frost, and I always leave the seed heads for winter interest and to feed the wildlife. Coneflowers are also off-the-chart pollinators—get ready for butterflies and bees all season long.

Bee Balm

When you need a bold pop of color, bee balm is my go-to. It’s incredibly hardy and reliable, handling periods of drought with ease. Even after the blooms fade, the foliage still holds its own and adds texture to the garden. I tend to place the shorter varieties into the mid-section. If you’re hoping to attract more pollinators—this is a plant you can count on. Bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies all flock to it, making it a true pollinator magnet. Plus, it’s deer resistant!

I hope this encourages you to try one (or all) of these perennials this summer. Let me know your favorites—I love hearing what you’re planting and why. After all, an inspired garden is one that reflects you, changes with you, and always brings you joy.

Keep on dreaming,

Laura

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