I used to think that perennials were a one-and-done deal.
You get two weeks of color in late spring, and then you spend the rest of the year staring at green leaves.
But once I started experimenting with rebloomers in my backyard patch, I realized we can get multiple flushes of color without replanting every spring.
This is my running list of the most reliable repeat-flowering perennials I’ve grown.
Quick Summary
- 14 hardy perennials that naturally push out multiple rounds of flowers.
- Requires minimal trimming or deadheading to trigger the second flush.
- Best starter pick: Catmint, it is almost impossible to kill and blooms all season.
The first five are my everyday favorites for borders and beds. The rest are for when you want unique shapes and heights in the garden.
1. Catmint (Nepeta)
| Sun | Full sun to part shade |
| Water | Low, drought-tolerant once established |
| Height | 12-24 in (30-60 cm) |
| Bloom | Late spring to fall |
| Zones | Zones 3-8 |
This is my absolute favorite for edge borders.
I planted a row of catmint along my gravel path three years ago, and it has never let me down.
It starts flowering in May, showing off clouds of soft lavender-blue blooms that pollinators love.
Once the first wave of flowers starts to look dry and straggly in July, I cut the entire plant back by half.
It looks bare for a week, but then it pushes out fresh green leaves and a second round of flowers that lasts until the first frost.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to shear it hard after the first bloom, it rewards you with tight, bushy growth.
2. Salvia (Salvia nemorosa)
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Medium, well-drained |
| Height | 18-24 in (45-60 cm) |
| Bloom | Early summer to fall |
| Zones | Zones 4-9 |
Salvia spike flowers bring a clean structure that contrasts nicely with the wilder shape of catmint.
The deep purple flower spires last for weeks during their first spring flush.
When those spikes fade to brown, I prune them right down to the ground leaves.
This tells the plant to stop setting seeds and start making new flower stalks.
You’ll get another lovely display by late summer.
Tip: Plant them in groups of three or five to make a real visual impact in your beds.
3. Reblooming Daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Stella de Oro’)
| Sun | Full sun to part shade |
| Water | Medium |
| Height | 10-12 in (25-30 cm) |
| Bloom | Late spring to fall |
| Zones | Zones 3-9 |
Most daylilies show their beautiful trumpets for a single month and then retire.
‘Stella de Oro’ is different, it is bred to repeat its golden yellow display all summer long.
I have mine tucked into the corner of a cedar raised bed.
It keeps pushing up new buds even when the temperature spikes in August.
To keep it looking tidy, I pull the spent brown flower stalks out from the base once a week.
Seriously, it is almost unkillable.
4. Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata)
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Low to medium |
| Height | 15-24 in (38-60 cm) |
| Bloom | Early summer to fall |
| Zones | Zones 3-9 |
This plant looks like a soft green mist until the daisy-like yellow flowers arrive.
It forms a dense mound of needle-like leaves that handles dry summer soil very well.
In mid-summer, when the first flush of yellow blooms starts to fade, I take my garden shears and give the whole plant a light haircut.
This removes the old seed heads and triggers a brand new flush of yellow stars in autumn.
It is a simple trick that works every single year.
5. Hardy Geranium (Geranium ‘Rozanne’)
| Sun | Full sun to part shade |
| Water | Medium, well-drained |
| Height | 12-20 in (30-50 cm) |
| Bloom | Late spring to frost |
| Zones | Zones 5-8 |
This is one of my personal favorites because of how lazy it lets me be.
Unlike other geraniums, ‘Rozanne’ does not need you to deadhead it to keep blooming.
It just keeps sprawling and pushing out blue-violet flowers with white centers from June until the frost stops it.
I use it as a living ground cover to weave between my larger shrubs.
It does a wonderful job of keeping weeds down while keeping the soil colorful.
6. Reblooming Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless Summer’)
| Sun | Morning sun, afternoon shade |
| Water | Medium to high |
| Height | 3-5 ft (90-150 cm) |
| Bloom | Summer to fall |
| Zones | Zones 4-9 |
Classic hydrangeas only bloom once on the previous year’s growth.
The ‘Endless Summer’ variety changed that, it blooms on both old wood and the fresh stems it puts out during the current season.
This means if a late spring frost kills the early buds, the plant still rewards you with flowers later in the summer.
I cut the big blue mopheads off once they fade to papery green, which encourages the next round of flowers.
Warning: They need protection from harsh afternoon heat or the leaves will scorch, plant them where they get afternoon shade.
The plants that survive my forgetting to water are the ones I keep planting more of.
7. Reblooming Lilac (Syringa ‘Bloomerang’)
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Medium, well-drained |
| Height | 4-5 ft (120-150 cm) |
| Bloom | Spring, then mid-summer to frost |
| Zones | Zones 3-7 |
Lilacs are famous for their spring perfume, but the show is usually over in two weeks.
The ‘Bloomerang’ lilac gives you that massive spring display, takes a short rest, and then starts blooming again in mid-summer.
The summer flowers are slightly smaller, but the sweet scent is just as strong.
I planted mine near my back porch so the scent carries indoors on warm summer evenings.
Make sure it gets full sun to support all that extra flower production.
8. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Low, drought-tolerant |
| Height | 18-36 in (45-90 cm) |
| Bloom | Summer to fall |
| Zones | Zones 3-9 |
Yarrow has flat, colorful flower clusters that sit on top of feathery, fern-like foliage.
It is one of the toughest plants in my garden, handling hot sun and poor soil without complaint.
When the first yellow clusters start to brown, I prune them back to the side shoots.
This triggers a second wave of blooms in early autumn.
Warning: It can spread aggressively if you don’t contain it, keep it in a defined bed rather than a wild border.
9. Dianthus (Pinks)
| Sun | Full sun to part shade |
| Water | Medium, well-drained |
| Height | 6-12 in (15-30 cm) |
| Bloom | Late spring to fall |
| Zones | Zones 3-9 |
This one is a personal favorite for small corners.
Dianthus has beautiful pink or red petals with fringed edges and a spicy, clove-like scent.
When I was growing up, my grandmother would dry these petals between the pages of her old books, the scent would stay there for months.
To keep them flowering, I shear the plants back by a third after their main spring bloom.
They reward the effort with clean new foliage and another round of fragrant flowers in late summer.
10. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Low, drought-tolerant |
| Height | 12-18 in (30-45 cm) |
| Bloom | Early summer to frost |
| Zones | Zones 3-10 |
If you have hot, dry soil where nothing else grows, blanket flower is the solution.
The bright orange and yellow daisy-like flowers look like miniature suns in the garden beds.
They bloom continuously from June until frost if you keep up with deadheading.
I just walk through the patch once a week and pinch off the faded flower heads with my fingers.
It takes five minutes, and it keeps the color going all summer long.
11. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Low, dry soil |
| Height | 10-12 in (25-30 cm) |
| Bloom | Late spring to late summer |
| Zones | Zones 5-9 |
English lavender is a staple in my cottage garden for its fragrant purple spikes.
While many people think it only blooms once, certain cultivars like ‘SuperBlue’ will push out a second flush.
The trick is knowing how and when to prune lavender to trigger new buds.
I harvest the first spikes for drying in mid-summer, which naturally prompts the plant to start growing the next round.
Avoid wet soil, lavender needs excellent drainage to survive the winter.
12. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
| Sun | Full sun to part shade |
| Water | Low to medium |
| Height | 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) |
| Bloom | Summer to fall |
| Zones | Zones 3-9 |
Coneflowers are the backbone of my late summer garden beds.
Their large purple petals radiating from spiky copper centers stand tall even in intense summer heat.
Following basic deadheading guidelines, like those in my tips for growing coneflowers, keeps the new buds coming.
I leave the last round of flower heads on the stalks in autumn, the local birds love to eat the seeds during winter.
It is a simple way to support local wildlife when food is scarce.
13. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
| Sun | Full sun to part shade |
| Water | Medium |
| Height | 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) |
| Bloom | Mid-summer to frost |
| Zones | Zones 3-9 |
These cheerful yellow flowers with dark centers start blooming in mid-summer and refuse to stop.
They pair beautifully with purple coneflowers for a classic cottage look.
If you remove the faded flowers early in the season, the plant continues to produce side branches with new buds.
They will keep going right up until a hard freeze hits the garden.
I started with one small clump, and now they have filled out a whole corner of my backyard bed.
14. Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata ‘Opening Act’)
| Sun | Full sun to part shade |
| Water | Medium |
| Height | 18-20 in (45-50 cm) |
| Bloom | Early summer to fall |
| Zones | Zones 4-8 |
Standard garden phlox is famous for blooming once and then catching powdery mildew.
The ‘Opening Act’ series is bred to resist disease and repeat its beautiful lavender-pink flower clusters.
Trimming spent blooms down to the next bud is a great practice, as explained in this Penn State Extension guide on deadheading.
It prompts the plant to branch out and flower again in late summer.
They are a wonderful way to keep the middle layer of your garden beds colorful.
My Top Three Picks for Easy Repeats
If you only have space for a few reblooming perennials, I recommend starting with Catmint, Hardy Geranium ‘Rozanne’, and Reblooming Daylily ‘Stella de Oro’.
These three require the least amount of work to keep their flowers coming.
They are tough, tolerate a wide range of soils, and won’t care if you forget to water them occasionally.
Common Questions
Do reblooming perennials bloom continuously?
No, they bloom in waves. You will see a major flush in late spring or early summer, followed by a brief rest period, and then a second flush in late summer or autumn.
Is deadheading required to get repeat blooms?
For most varieties, yes. Removing the old flowers stops the plant from producing seeds, which forces it to put its energy into growing new buds instead.
Should I fertilize reblooming perennials to help them bloom?
A light layer of compost in early spring is usually enough. Heavy chemical fertilizers can lead to lots of green leaves but very few actual flowers.
— Anh