June! Summer is tantalizingly close and the garden is growing like crazy. June is often a transition period when the late-spring flowers are petering out and the true summer flowers are just beginning to unfurl. Although there are plenty of blooms to be had, don’t forget about spectacular summer foliage for both sun and shade as well. Foliage plants can fill in, stand out, or act as backdrops in the summer garden. Here are a few of our favorite plants - both flowers and foliage - for the month of June.
Coleus
Coleus isn’t for the faint of heart! A myriad of intense colors and patterns mark the leaves of these annual plants. With varieties for sun or shade, they make a great edging plant and a great filler for colorful containers. Pictured above: Florida Sun™ Coleus in ‘Rose’.
Full sun to part shade, depending on variety
Fertile, well-drained soil
12”-36’ tall and wide, depending on variety
Blooms are insignificant and may be pinched off to highlight foliage
Great for containers!
Delphinium
Towering spires of romantic, frilled flowers above abundant green foliage make delphiniums a favorite. The most common shades are deep blue or purple, but other colors, such as this ‘Highlander Cha Cha’ variety with pale lavender flowers, are available as well.
Full sun
Well-drained soil
15”-60” tall and 12”-24” wide, depending on variety
Blooms in early summer and sometimes again in late summer/early fall
Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea)
A favorite for hanging baskets and containers, Sweet Potato Vine is an easy, versatile annual plant. Foliage color ranges from chartreuse to deep purple or bronze. Pictured above is ‘Marguerite’, a chartreuse-leaved variety. Try mixing it with purple or orange flowers for a striking contrast.
Full sun to part shade
Well-drained soil
Trailing plant to 60” long
Foliage plant
Great for containers!
Astilbe
If you are looking for brightly colored flowers for shady conditions, Astilbe is a great option. This perennial has showy flower stalks and beautiful, deeply-cut foliage. Colors range from pink to red and white. Great for the woodland garden and any areas that stay moist. Deer and slug resistant! Pictured: ‘Vision in Pink’.
Part sun to shade
Evenly moist soil
6”-36” tall and wide, depending on variety
Blooms early to mid-summer
Astrantia
Astrantia is a long-blooming perennial with neat, mounded foliage. The delicate starburst flowers appear on stalks above the foliage and range from deep pink to silvery white. A great plant for the part-shade border. Combines especially well with Astilbe, ferns, and hostas. Pictured: ‘Star of Royals’.
Sun to part shade
Moist soil with plenty of compost
12”-24” tall and wide, depending on variety
Blooms June-August
Hosta
The ultimate foliage plant for shady gardens. Hostas are remarkably diverse in color, pattern, and leaf shape. Delicate flowers emerge on tall stalks in the summer but the foliage of these perennial plants is really the show. Hosta grows well with ferns and bleeding hearts. This variety is called ‘Loyalist’.
Part shade to shade
Moist, well-drained soil
under 6”-48” tall and up to 96” wide, depending on variety
Blooms in summer
Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium)
The summer garden isn’t complete without geraniums. Classic zonal geraniums like these pictured above are a workhorse of the summer garden, blooming consistently until frost. With a wide variety of colors to choose from, geraniums can fit into any garden palette.
Full sun
Well-drained soil; let dry between waterings
5”-24” tall and 12”-15” wide, depending on variety
Blooms May-frost
Great for containers!
Hakuro Nishiki Variegated Willow
This deciduous shrub is a moderate grower with an open, and graceful habit. Striking reddish-pink stems provide winter interest and in spring are covered in pink buds. The foliage is captivating: mottled with white, pink and green. Stunning!
Full sun to part shade
Well-drained soil; water regularly
180”-240” tall and 72”-120” wide, with pruning
Spring blooms (catkins) linger until fall
Kalmia
A great, slow-growing shrub with glossy green leaves and bright flowers spring to early summer. This plant makes a nice shrub border or informal hedge. Flowers attract butterflies and bees! ‘Bullseye’, shown above, grows 4’-6’ tall and wide.
Part sun to part shade
Well-drained, acidic soil
Up to 96” tall and wide, depending on variety
Blooms May-June
Perennial Geranium
‘Rozanne’, pictured above, is probably the most recognizable of the perennial geraniums (also called cranesbill or hardy geraniums) and one of the most stunning. This long-blooming plant is covered with purple-blue blossoms all summer. Easy to care for and generally very forgiving of neglect!
Full sun to part shade
Fertile, well-drained soil; keep evenly moist
12”-30” tall and wide, depending upon variety
Blooms June-September
We’d love to help you choose something perfect for your individual space, whether in person or on social media using #heyswansons!