16 Gorgeous Flowers To Plant In August For A Late Summer Garden Full Of Color

When August comes around, the heat of summer is still with us. However, fall isn't far around the corner, bringing the promise of cooler months. While the prospect of cooler temperatures may be a welcome one to you, you probably also know that a lot of flowers prefer the summer heat and will be fading soon. Because of this, many people wonder whether August is too late to plant flowering annuals or perennials. The short answer is, "No, it isn't too late to add some colorful flowers to your garden."

However, you'll have to be selective about which flowers you choose to add, especially if you want them to bloom after planting. While there are several flowers that can be planted in August, many won't bloom the same year. However, others such as asters, zinnias, daylilies, and marigolds are likely to bloom again to add some vibrant color to your late summer and early fall garden.

When you're looking to add vibrant color to your garden in August, you mustn't overlook asters. You can find flowers in many colors and sizes, allowing you to choose the best fit for your garden's layout and design. You may know that asters should be planted in the spring after the final frost. However, this advice applies to growing and taking care of asters that are still young.

On the other hand, you can find mature asters in bloom at your garden center in August. These are ready for planting and can deliver an instant upgrade to your yard.

Zinnias are another top option to consider planting in August to enjoy beautiful colors through the end of the summer and early fall. Unlike some other flowers, zinnias do best when the weather is a bit dryer, so planting them as the rainier summer months are wrapping up can be helpful.

Zinnias can continue to deliver color to your garden throughout much of the fall — as long as you don't make a common zinnia growing mistake, such as giving them too much water, planting them in the shade, or trying to grow them in clay soil. 

Some varieties of phlox can be planted in August to deliver stunning beauty to your late summer garden. But, it's essential to closely check the bloom date of any plants you decide to purchase, as some varieties bloom earlier in the summer and won't produce anything new until next year.

Tall garden phlox is one variety that can bloom in August (still check the plant label, though). The flowers on these plants may be purple, pink, white, or orange. With the plants reaching heights of up to 3 feet, they'll also add some more visual interest to your garden.

If you're not familiar with salvia, it is a gorgeous, tall flower with a spike-like shape. The beautiful purple, pink, white, blue, or red blooms are so vibrant that they're a favorite of butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Fortunately, August isn't too late to take advantage of the splendor this flower can add to your garden.

Look at a local garden center for some mature salvia plants. They should still have their blooms, as once the flowers emerge, they'll last through until the first frost.

When you're browsing the aisles of your local nursery, you might spot a few petunias. If you desire a long-lasting colorful garden, be sure to snatch these up — even if it is already August.

As long as you care for your petunias properly, they should continue to deliver colorful blooms until the first frost. However, if you don't meet the plant's needs for water or sun, you shouldn't expect it to continue producing.

You can often find success planting daylilies in August as well. Daylilies are perennials that can start blooming in the spring and don't stop until the first frost arrives. So, if you're lucky enough to spot a potted daylily at a nursery, you'll want to pick it up.

You can find daylilies in a range of colors, as well as taller varieties, allowing you to add more height to your garden (some can grow up to 6 feet tall). As long as you know how to really care for your daylilies, they'll make your garden an eye-catching spot.

Many of the flowers that you can plant in August will need to be transplanted from pots as a mature plant. Marigolds are an exception to this rule as they can be planted from seed as late as the end of August, if you live in an area that has mild winters. The plants will continue to produce blooms until your area gets a hard freeze.

Another option is to find nursery starts of a taller variety, such as the French marigold, which blooms later in the season. Planting these can also deliver lasting color into the fall.

If you're looking to add some bright and vibrant colors to your end of summer or early fall garden, then you might want to consider planting Crocosmia. These flowers typically start blooming towards the middle of the summer, but their blooms can often last through the fall.

You shouldn't expect to see blooms this year if you plant Crocosmia seeds — those are best sown in the spring. What you can do, however, is pick up some containers of crocosmias from a local nursery and transplant those to your garden (just avoid periods of drought or exceptionally hot weather).

You may be able to find some potted butterfly bushes at a local garden center. You can pick these up to add to your garden in August, though the earlier in the month, the better. Giving the plant as much time to get the root system established before the colder months will help it survive the winter.

Butterfly bushes will bloom through the early fall, producing vibrant hues of pink, white, blue, purple, and yellow. If the temperatures are still very hot, make sure that you're really staying on top of watering the plant regularly

As long as you're planting coneflowers a minimum of six weeks before the first potential frost in your area, you can also add these to your garden in August. Many varieties will bloom through August, but if you want the color in your garden to last even longer into the fall, look for purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea). These can continue blooming through to mid-fall.

As their name implies, the blooms on these flowers are cone-shaped. Purple coneflowers yield blooms that are pinkish purple in color, but other varieties may display white, red, yellow, or orange flowers.

Certain varieties of roses can be a good candidate for August planting — and should still produce some beautiful blooms for your summer garden. However, the climate where you live and the specific type of roses you want to plant will determine whether this will be a successful endeavor.

If your garden climate stays warm through mid to late October, you might consider planting varieties such as double knockout roses or iceberg roses that can continue delivering color through the fall.

Do you live in a warmer climate? If so, then you can certainly try adding some sunflower seeds to your garden in August to keep it colorful in the fall. While it can vary slightly based on the variety you choose, the plants typically take about 60 days to bloom.

The best way to start sunflower seeds to encourage faster growth and blooms is to choose a spot with full sun and sow them into a garden bed that is prepped and ready.

Consider planting some Montauk daisies towards the end of August when cooler temperatures are starting to set in. These flowers are known for producing beautiful blooms later in the season. They don't like the high heat and hotter soil that some others do, which is why the end of summer or early fall can be the ideal time to plant them.

Because of their tolerance for cooler conditions, the blooms they produce may even continue beyond the first few frosts of the season, as long as you don't get hit with a heavy frost early on.

Certain varieties of sedum bloom in August or even into the fall, so these could be a wonderful addition to your late-summer garden. Two varieties that you might want to consider include 'Autumn Joy' and 'Plum Dazzled'. The flowers on 'Autumn Joy' start out lighter pink when they emerge in September and then deepen in color, eventually turning bronze. 

'Plum Dazzled' sedum also offers dramatic blooms, though these stay deep purple throughout the season. While you can plant sedum in August, or even early fall, you might want to call around to find out whether anyone has them available.

When you're looking for a flower with blooms that will last even as others have long since faded, then Alyssum may be for you. Alyssum is an annual that can start blooming in the spring and can continue delivering gorgeous color to a garden until much later in the fall.

It's an excellent option to consider if you're looking to plant something from seed as late as August. In some cases, seeds can germinate in only four days, getting them on their way quickly to start blooming. You could also consider buying potted alyssum to introduce color more quickly.

If you visit a garden center in the fall, one plant that you'll almost certainly find is a chrysanthemum. These blooms should endure through October, helping you create a vibrant fall garden as well. Blooms may be one of many colors, including yellow, purple, or pink.

One important thing to note about mums, particularly those that you'll find in garden centers in the fall, is that they are unlikely to bloom the following year, let alone survive through the winter. So, while they'll brighten your display now, you'll need to purchase them again next year for the same effect.