The summer garden can be used as a beautiful focal point of color in any landscape, and is a great way to build a palette of lasting color that will change with the seasons. Everyone has their own favorites, and the ones that we will talk about in this article are just some of the more popular selections. Keep in mind that not all flowers will thrive in every region, so we present some of the more hardy choices that you can make for your own landscape.

Geraniums

Geraniums are perhaps the brightest color range of all the summer flowers grown in the U.S. When it comes to landscaping, you will often find them being used as border plants, using rainbow hues to delineate one section from another. In areas that are primarily green, planting geraniums in a random way can create a pleasing landscape portrait. Placing them in pots is another favorite tactic, and they can be used to separate outdoor areas, like pools or patios from the rest of the lawn.

Hibiscus

The tall and tropical hibiscus plant is a favorite planting to place at the back of a garden area, usually as a method of camouflaging fencing. The range of colors available in these flowers is amazing, as there are no ‘solid’ colors present. Instead, each bloom has a subtle combination of colors, one shade gently blending into another, lending an air of eerie uniqueness to each one. Be aware, however, that if you intend to plant them near a fence, their scent may attract deer, who cannot seem to resist the lure.

Marigolds

Another colorful bloom, you will often find these flowers planted in rows, so that their understated splash of color acts as a break between more startling color patterns. A very hardy plant, they thrive best in direct sunlight, so if you have patches that receive a lot of sun, most of the day, this is the plant for those areas.

Impatiens

For those garden areas that see a lot of shade, and only a little sun during the day, impatiens are the best flowers to use. The vivid colors allow them to be planted in randomly placed patches, or as a bright border plant that will make that shady garden stand out.

Viola

The subtle blues of the viola plant make for the perfect ground cover shade. Landscapers will use it to soften the edges of stone walkways, and a transition plant between more vivid areas, instead of using grass. It is also a low maintenance plant, and once planted, can be used to overtake shady places to provide some interesting color swaths.