If you’re eager to bring more color and life to your garden, this guide will walk you through the flower seeds that thrive when sown in July.
Quick-Growing Annual Flowers to Sow in Summer
These vibrant annual flowers are perfect for adding instant color to your garden. They tend to germinate quickly and can often bloom within just a few weeks! Let’s delve into some delightful options you can choose from.
Amaranthus
Known for their striking, plume-like flowers and lush foliage, Amaranthus is a showstopper in any garden. These plants thrive in full sun and are drought-tolerant, making them an excellent choice for hot summer landscapes. You can choose from various cultivars, with colors ranging from bright reds to greens, purples, and even bi-color options. These flowers attract pollinators and add a dramatic flair to floral arrangements, making them almost a must-have.
Cleome
Often referred to as the spider flower, Cleome produces unique, spiky blossoms that can grow quite tall, offering an architectural element to your garden. These flowers prefer sunny locations and don’t require much fuss once established. The distinctive shape of the blooms and their sweet perfume are sure to delight both you and any visiting butterflies!
Cobaea scandens
Cobaea scandens, also known as the cup-and-saucer vine, is a vigorous climber that produces beautiful bell-shaped flowers. Plant these seeds at the base of a trellis or fence, and watch as they reach for the sky, showcasing colorful blooms. They truly flourish in full sun and can add vertical interest to your garden. Watch for hummingbirds who will be attracted to their sweet nectar!
Cosmos
If you’re after a garden that bursts with cheerful exuberance, cosmos are the way to go. These easy-to-grow flowers come in various colors, and their long stems make them excellent cut flowers. Not only do they add color, but they also attract beneficial insects to your garden. Cosmos thrive in well-drained soil and like a sunny spot, making them an ideal choice for July planting.
Cornflowers
Cornflowers, or bachelor’s buttons, are charming, easy-to-grow flowers that are perfect for the cottage garden aesthetic. They have a range of colors, including blues, pinks, and whites, and they attract bees and butterflies, enriching your garden’s ecosystem. Sowing cornflowers in July will give them enough time to establish themselves and grace your yard with blooms by late summer.
Marigolds (Tagetes)
Marigolds are a gardening staple for a reason. They are not only beautiful but also serve practical purposes, like pest deterrence. Sowing these seeds directly into the soil can result in robust flowers that bring vibrancy to your garden. They thrive in sunny spots and require minimal maintenance. Additionally, marigolds make for excellent companions to vegetables, helping to protect crops from various pests.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are a fantastic choice for those eager to spice up their culinary garden! These flowers are not only visually stunning, with their vibrant hues and round leaves, but they are also edible. Both the flowers and leaves can enhance salads and other dishes, adding a spicy zest. Nasturtiums thrive in poor soil and sun, so you can sow them almost anywhere with ease.
Nicotiana
Nicotiana, or flowering tobacco, is a fragrant addition to any garden. Its tubular flowers attract nighttime pollinators, including moths. This plant prefers well-drained soil and can thrive in partial shade, making it a versatile option for various garden conditions. Additionally, its height allows it to stand out in mixed flower beds.
Castor
Castor beans, or Ricinus communis, aren’t just a garden curiosity; they’re also renowned for their striking foliage and architectural presence. The enormous leaves can create stunning visuals, and the plant matures relatively quickly, making it an exciting addition in July. However, keep in mind that these plants are toxic if ingested, so they must be handled with care.
Stocks (Matthiola)
Stocks are a charming addition to any summer garden with their fragrant clusters of flowers and sweet scent. These flowers come in various colors and thrive in well-drained soil with a bit of shade during the hottest part of the day. They make for beautiful cut flowers, filling your vase with their lovely fragrance.
Seeds to Sow For Flowers in the Winter Months and Spring Bedding
Many gardeners may not realize that July is an excellent time to start preparing for winter and early spring blooms. By sowing certain seeds now, you can achieve spectacular displays as the seasons change.
Pansies (Winter-flowering Pansies)
Pansies are beloved for their vibrant colors and cheerful faces. Planting them in July gives them a head start, allowing them to establish roots before the colder months. These hardy little flowers can survive cold temperatures and will reward you with blooms during the winter and early spring months, adding color to a potentially dreary landscape.
Polyanthus
Polyanthus, similar to pansies, can be sown in July for winter and spring blooms. They often feature clusters of small flowers, bringing a delightful pop of color to the garden. Not only are they tolerant of cooler weather, but they also thrive in semi-shade and well-drained soil. Their long-lasting durability makes them a popular choice among gardeners.
Viola
Violas, with their delicate blooms and varying colors, are a must for any garden enthusiast looking to add some winter interest. These resilient flowers can withstand chilly nights and will often bloom even when there’s still snow on the ground. Sowing them in July ensures that they are well-established and ready to bring your garden to life during the colder months.
Biennials/ Short-lived Perennials to Sow in Summer
Biennial flowers take a little more time to establish but are well worth the wait as they often bloom beautifully in their second year. Here are some rewarding options to consider.
Angelica
Angelica is both attractive and useful. Known for its tall, umbrella-shaped flower clusters, it can reach impressive heights, making it an interesting focal point. Additionally, Angelica has culinary uses and is often used for flavoring. Sowing seeds in July allows this plant to develop slowly but surely to give a stunning display in following years.
Aquilegia
Aquilegia, commonly known as columbine, features delicate, spurred flowers reminiscent of dancing fairies. This shade-tolerant plant produces blooms in various colors, attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. Sowing these seeds in July will see them flourishing in the spring, providing easier care with their long-lasting nature.
Bugloss
Echium vulgare, or viper’s bugloss, produces striking blue, tubular flowers that draw in a variety of pollinators. This hardy biennial flourishes in poor soils, making it an excellent option for challenging garden spots. Planting seeds in July will allow the plants to establish themselves and provide a dense spike of blooms come the following year.
Sea Holly
Known commonly as the Sea Holly, Eryngium giganteum can add a unique texture to your garden with its spiky blue flowers and silvery foliage. These resilient plants act as a striking accent, and once established, they require little maintenance. Sowing in July gives them ample time to grow and develop a robust root system for blooming in the following season.
Foxgloves
Foxgloves are loved for their towering spires and bell-shaped flowers. Ideal for adding height to borders, these biennials thrive in partial shade and produce blooms rich with nectar, making them inviting stops for hummingbirds and bees alike. Sowing in July sets the stage for spectacular blooms next spring.
Hollyhocks
Hollyhocks are garden favorites reminiscent of country gardens. These tall, stately flowers create an impressive backdrop for flower beds and attract pollinators. They thrive in full sun and can create a sense of nostalgia in any garden. By sowing seeds in July, you ensure that they’ll be on display during summer garden parties next year.
Lunaria (honesty)
Lunaria, or honesty, produces large, round seed pods that can be beautiful in the landscape. These plants often thrive in shaded areas, and they provide stunning visual elements throughout winter as well since the seed pods retain their beauty long after blooming. Sowing seeds in July allows this plant to establish a solid root system.
Poppies
Poppies bring a bold splash of color and have iconic recognition for their delicate petals. They thrive in full sun and poor soils, making them resilient flowers. July is an excellent time to sow both perennial and annual varieties, ensuring stunning colorful displays that can serve as natural accents in your garden.
Primulas
Primulas are charming, adaptable flowers with bright blooms suitable for bringing color to shady areas. These perennial plants spread easily and come in various hues. They’re perfect for sowing in July to enjoy swiftly blooming clusters in the cooler months when you need bright stars in your garden!
Perennial Flower Seeds to Sow In Summer
Perennials are the backbone of any garden, providing lasting beauty throughout the seasons. Planting these flowers in July ensures that your garden will blossom season after season.
Bellis
Bellis, or common daisies, are resilient perennials that bring nostalgia and cheer to any garden. Although they are perennial, they thrive best in cooler conditions, making July a great time to plant. Once established, they create delightful low mounds of blooms, providing a lovely frame for other plants.
Delphiniums
Delphiniums are stunning creatures of the garden. Characterized by their tall spikes and vibrant blue blooms, they can reach impressive heights. These perennials thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Starting them in July can result in gorgeous displays next spring and summer.
Echinacea
Commonly known as coneflowers, Echinacea are a crowd-pleaser for their resilience and attractant qualities. They add stunning purple or white blooms and serve as a vital food source for butterflies and bees. Planting echinacea in July leads to tough plants that can endure the elements and keep coming back.
Geraniums
Geraniums are remarkable for their robustness and long-lasting blooms. Diverse shapes, colors, and foliage make them standout performers in any garden. By sowing seeds in July, these hardy perennials will flourish, adding a touch of brightness and texture to your outdoor space.
Lupins
Lupins are known for their tall, colorful flower spikes that can create stunning visual interest in garden beds. These are often loved by pollinators and require relatively low maintenance. Sowing in July gives them an excellent opportunity to establish themselves for breathtaking summer displays in the following year.
Forget-me-nots
Forget-me-nots are charming, small flowers that are often seen as symbols of love and remembrance. With their celestial blue hues, they can form captivating drifts in borders and woodland gardens. These perennials thrive in rich, moist soils and can be sown in July for vivid carpets of blue in spring.
Scabiosa
Scabiosa, or pincushion flowers, offer unique, tufted blooms that attract butterflies and other pollinators. Their charm lies in their unique appearance and long flowering period, providing an essential source of nectar for ecosystems. Planting scabiosa in July ensures a lively presence in your garden in the following years.
Bird of Paradise
While they might not be the most commonly considered, seeds from the Bird of Paradise plant can add a touch of the exotic to your garden. With its unique flowers that resemble bird plumage, this plant thrives in warm climates. Sowing in July will provide ample time for the plant to establish, enabling it to dazzle during upcoming growing seasons.
