As the earth awakens from its winter slumber, **spring** beckons us to welcome vibrant **blooms** and refreshing greenery into our lives. If you’re eager to embrace the beauty of the season and enjoy stunning flowers well into the **summer**, we have a delightful selection for you! Here’s a list of **11 exceptional plants** that not only flourish in spring but also continue to charm through the warm months ahead. Transform your garden into a colorful oasis with these enduring beauties 🌼.
1. Firestorm™ Lantana
Southern Living Plant Collection
Botanical Name: Lantana camara ‘CCCF1’
Soil Type: Medium to moist, well-draining
Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.5)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 10
The **Firestorm™ Lantana** is a star performer, thriving in heat and dryness while showcasing brilliant clusters of red and yellow blooms from spring through fall. Attract **butterflies** and **hummingbirds** to your garden with this evergreen delight, perfect for containers or as a gorgeous border plant.
2. Summer Snapdragon
Botanical Name: Angelonia angustifolia
Soil Type: Medium to moist, well-draining, rich
Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (5.5-6.8)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Resembling a classic snapdragon, **Summer Snapdragon** dazzles with its vibrant spikes of two-lipped flowers in pink, blue, and lavender. This drought-tolerant gem flourishes in the heat, making it a resilient addition to your summer garden.
3. Diamond Spire® Gardenia
Southern Living Plant Collection
Botanical Name: Gardenia hybrid ‘Leefive’
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Type: Well-draining, rich
Soil pH: Acidic (5.0 to 6.5)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Breathe in the **heavenly fragrance** of **Diamond Spire® Gardenia**. This compact shrub delights with its striking white blooms and elegant green foliage, making it a perfect pick for tight spaces. Plus, you can enjoy them indoors as fragrant cut flowers!
4. Catmint
Botanical Name: Nepeta spp.
Soil Type: Dry to medium, well-draining, average
Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline (5.5-8.0)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
**Catmint** lures pollinators with its lush lavender blooms while proving resilient against pests. This low-maintenance fattened perennial flourishes through the summer’s heat and drought, ensuring a vibrant presence in your garden without the hassle.
5. It’s a Breeze® Red Rose
Southern Living Plant Collection
Botanical Name: Rosa hybrid ‘Meigremlis’
Soil Type: Medium, well-draining, average
Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-6.9)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 11
This stunning groundcover rose showcases **dark red double blooms** that will delight your senses. With a graceful cascading ability, **It’s a Breeze® Red Rose** is ideal for borders and containers, offering up to **30 blooms** per stem. Experience the continuous show of flowers throughout the warm seasons!
6. Blanket Flower
Botanical Name: Gaillardia spp. and hybrids
Soil Type: Dry to medium, well-draining, average
Soil pH: Mildly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-8.0)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10
**Blanket Flowers** dazzle with their eye-catching **red and yellow blooms** that blanket the ground. Thriving in sunny locations, these resilient wildflowers are not only stunning but also support a thriving ecosystem by attracting bees and birds, making them a true garden favorite.
7. Pentas
Botanical Name: Pentas lanceolata
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Type: Medium, well-draining, average
Soil pH: Neutral (6.5-7.2)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
**Pentas**, known as Egyptian stars, are a vibrant addition to the garden that blooms profusely, attracting both **hummingbirds** and **butterflies** alike. Available in bold shades like pink, magenta, and lilac, these heat lovers thrive in sunny spots.
8. Saucy™ Salvia
Southern Living Plant Collection
Botanical Name: Salvia splendens
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Type: Well-draining, rich
Soil pH: Slightly acidic (5.5-6.2)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 10
A showstopper from April to November, **Saucy™ Salvia** brings radiant red or purple hues to your garden with no deadheading required. Its attractive blooms will draw in butterflies and hummingbirds, making it a delightful choice for every garden.
9. Million Bells
Botanical Name: Calibrachoa hybrids
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Type: Moist, well-draining, rich
Soil pH: Acidic (5.0-6.5)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Radiating color from spring through frost, **Million Bells** require little maintenance. With self-cleaning blooms, these low-growing charmers offer a spectrum of colors that hummingbirds simply cannot resist!
10. EnduraScape™ Verbena
Botanical Name: Verbena peruviana
Soil Type: Well-draining, rich
Soil pH: Slightly acidic (5.5-6.2)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 10
Embrace the vibrant palette of **EnduraScape™ Verbenas**. Known for their prolonged **growing season**, these flowers flourish in rich colors and are perfect for cascading down containers or spilling over walls.
11. Bat-faced Cuphea
Botanical Name: Cuphea llavea
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Type: Moist, well-draining, fertile
Soil pH: Mildly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.5)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
The whimsical **Bat-faced Cuphea** is sure to catch your eye with blooms resembling a bat’s face. **Hummingbirds**, bees, and butterflies flock to this plant, making it a must-have for any pollinator garden. It thrives in well-draining soil and sunny spots, ensuring you’ll have plenty of visitors throughout the season!
By choosing any of these flourishing plants, you’ll create an inviting atmosphere in your garden that lasts well beyond the spring! 🌻 For more gardening inspiration and details, don’t hesitate to check out the original article on Southern Living
