Try these summer flower duos!
The right plant pairings can transform your outdoor space into a living masterpiece. But figuring out what works well together and which plants to choose can be a challenge. Not to worry! Here are four fantastic combos that will keep your garden full of blooms from summer to fall. Whether you’re crafting a serene setting or a lively floral display, these plant pairs promise to look beautiful and bring in plenty of pollinators to keep your garden thriving.
Easy-care zinnias and gloriosa daisy are perfect pair of summer flowers
Looking to add an easy-care combo to bring more color to the garden? Don’t pass up this pairing! Gloriosa daisy’s sunny yellow petals and dark brown central cones provide a classic feel, while Lilliput Mix zinnia’s pink pompon blooms add contrast.
This summer flower duo thrives in full sun and puts on its best show in summer. Requiring little maintenance, these plants are deer-resistant too. Apply a granular, slow-release fertilizer in spring, or add a 2-inch layer of compost in spring to keep plants lush and flowering. Deadheading spent blooms will keep plants looking tidy, encourage more flowers and discourage the gloriosa daisy from reseeding.
Plant list
- A) Gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta)
Perennial; yellow flowers with dark centers from summer to fall; full sun; 1 to 3 ft. tall and wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9 - B) Zinnia (Zinnia elegans Lilliput Mix)
Annual; pink, red, purple, orange, white or yellow double flowers with yellow centers from summer to fall; full sun; 18 to 24 in. tall, 24 to 36 in. wide
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The fragrant white-and-yellow flowers of feverfew brighten full-sun gardens and really shine here with bold blue statice. This pair draws the eye and adds a layer of complexity to a garden border, and both of these flowers are great for cut-flower bouquets, fresh or dried.
Growing tips
Feverfew is a hardy perennial that is eager to spread by underground rhizomes and self-seeding. To keep plants in check, deadhead spent blooms and divide it every few years in spring or fall, before or after it flowers. After the first hard frost, cut feverfew back to the ground to encourage fresh, new growth the following spring.
Statice, while often grown as an annual, can perform as a perennial in zones 8 and warmer. It’s a fantastic cut flower with a vase life of two weeks and holds its color when dried. If harvesting for arrangements, cut at the base of the stem once the blooms are fully open.
Did you know?
Feverfew’s citrus-scented foliage naturally repels pests while also attracting many predatory beneficial insects, such as hoverflies.
Plant list
- A) Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Perennial; white flowers with yellow centers from summer to fall; full sun to part shade; 1 to 3 ft. tall, 1 to 2 ft. wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8 - B) Statice (Limonium sinuatum ‘Seeker Blue’)
Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual); funnel-shaped, papery blue flowers in summer; full sun; 24 to 40 in. tall, 12 in. wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11
Verbena and globe amaranth are a pollinator-friendly pairing
‘Fireworks’ globe amaranth pops with mounded, hot-pink flower heads tipped with bright yellow, resembling tiny bursts of fireworks. These vibrant blooms play beautifully against the airy, more subdued flower clusters of ‘Buenos Aires’ verbena, which float atop tall, slender stems. Together they create a layered effect. Plus, pollinators love these masses of flowers!
Plant this summer flower duo in full sun and well-drained soil. In the South, provide some afternoon shade to keep foliage and flowers from burning. Verbena freely reseeds where it’s cold hardy; deadhead to prevent unwanted seedlings from germinating in the garden.
Plant list
- A) Verbena (Verbena bonariensis ‘Buenos Aires’)
Perennial; clusters of lavender-purple flowers from summer to frost; full sun; 36 to 48 in. tall, 18 to 24 in. wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9 - B) Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa ‘Fireworks’)
Annual; hot-pink flower heads tipped with bright yellow from early summer to fall; full sun; 3 to 4 ft. tall, 1 to 2 ft. wide
Grow sunflowers and cosmos for a classic cut flower combo
In this summer flower pairing, ProCut White Nite sunflower’s large, creamy white blooms with dark centers tower gracefully above the delicate white flowers of ‘Cupcakes White’ cosmos. The bold sunflowers make a strong statement, and the cosmos foliage adds a soft, feathery texture that seems to dance around the sturdy sunflower stems.
Growing tips
Both plants thrive in full sun in average, well-drained soil. During the growing season, sunflowers prefer deep, infrequent waterings so their roots can grow long and strong to keep them anchored in the ground. On the other hand, cosmos are quite drought tolerant once established and only need more frequent watering when the weather is hot and dry.
Fertilize sunflowers after planting and again every four to six weeks during the growing season. Cosmos aren’t heavy feeders like sunflowers are. In fact, too much food can lead to fewer flowers and leggier plants, so it doesn’t hurt to skip over them if you feed the sunflowers. Deadhead spent cosmos blooms to encourage more flowers and keep the show going from summer into fall.
Plant list
- A) Sunflower (Helianthus annuus ProCut® White Nite)
Annual; 4- to 6-in. pale yellow flowers with dark centers from summer to fall; full sun; 5 to 6 ft. tall, 1 to 2 ft. wide - B) Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cupcakes White’)
Annual; cup-shaped white flowers with yellow centers from summer to fall; full sun; 3 to 4 ft. tall, 1 to 2 ft. wide
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