As the early summer heat sets in, here are some of the plants that will be in bloom this month. These five plants are all from my home garden and I’ve included some gardening tips to maximize your blossoms!
Bee Balm
Bee balm or Monarda is a native perennial which comes in a variety of colors. I have this bright fuschia bee balm in my front garden. Bee balm is very popular with pollinators like bees and butterflies. The blooms explode with color in early June and if pruned back will continue to flower through the summer season. Since monarda is from the mint family, it can spread quickly throughout a garden bed providing vibrant color and lush foliage for the spring and summer months. I love how the flowers burst out like fireworks and hold onto their bright color even as the petals fade.
Coreopsis
Another native perennial, Coreopsis or Tickseed, offers bright yellow, daisy-like flowers. This style of flower is great to punctuate a landscape as the stem and leaves of the plants fade into the landscape. Coreopsis is easy to care for and drought-tolerant. You can pinch off the heads of these plants to propagate new plants during the spring/summer season. Just take the pinched top, remove most of the leaves, and put it into some potting soil for a few weeks. Once it develops roots, you can transplant it to a new location in your garden!
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are in full swing by June. They boast bright colors ranging from pink to blue to white. I have both pink and purple macrophylla hydrangeas which serve as the main focal point in my front entry garden. Hydrangeas can cause some gardeners stress with their dramatic responses to heat and hydration. I recommend watering during the early morning before they have direct sunlight or in the late evening once the sun has begun to set. If you see the leaves begin to wilt, don’t water immediately, stick to the early or late watering schedule as watering hydrangeas while they are getting direct sunlight can cause the leaves to burn.
Nasturtium
Nasturtium is my favorite annual flower and it comes in a variety of colors. They attract pollinators and are great decoys in your vegetable garden to prevent pests like aphids from snacking on your produce. The entire plant is edible and the flowers have a spicy kick to them that’s great added into a salad or as a drink garnish. I love to add one to my garden drinks for a fun pop of color!
Nepeta
Nepeta or catmint is another native perennial from the mint family. It spreads easily and has a lovely mint scent when touched. The variety I have in my front garden (pictured above) is Walker’s Low. This plant is popular for edging a garden bed since it is very low maintenance and drought-tolerant. You can extend the bloom season by cutting back after the first flowering. If you have a cat or friends with cats, keep the cut flowers to use as catnip.
I’m looking forward to seeing the garden continue to bloom through the summer months. I’ll be sure to share what’s blooming each month to provide inspiration and ideas to include in your own garden at home. If you’re looking for one-on-one consultations about your garden in the Northern Virginia region, contact me at ellie@gardenwithellie.com or explore my gardening services page for more information.
