Think summer is too late to sow flowers? Think again! While spring may be prime planting time, summer sowing offers an extended opportunity to fill your garden with late-season blooms, attract pollinators, and even prepare for a stunning autumn display. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, this list of 31 flower seeds you can still sow in summer will keep your garden lively, colorful, and buzzing with bees and butterflies.
Let’s dive into the best blooms you can still plant—yes, right now!
Why Sow Flowers in Summer?
Many gardeners skip sowing after spring, thinking it’s too late. But summer sowing has benefits:
- Faster germination thanks to warmer soil
- Fewer pests than in spring
- Succession planting for continuous blooms
- Prepping for fall color or even early spring blooms next year
Timing is everything, but with the right choices, your summer-sown flowers will flourish beautifully.
🌻 Annuals to Sow in Summer
Annuals germinate quickly and bloom within weeks, making them perfect for late planting.
1. Zinnias
- Germinate in 5–7 days
- Bloom in 45–60 days
- Heat-tolerant and drought-resistant
2. Cosmos
- Easy to grow, minimal care
- Great for pollinators
- Bloom late into fall
3. Sunflowers
- Sow dwarf or branching varieties
- Fast-growing and cheerful
- Great for kids and cutting gardens
4. Nasturtiums
- Edible flowers and leaves
- Prefer poor soils
- Great companion plant
5. Marigolds
- Repel pests
- Thrive in summer heat
- Fast to flower
6. Calendula (Pot Marigold)
- Quick to germinate
- Medicinal and ornamental
- Enjoys cooler late-summer weather
7. Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Tall, airy plants
- Drought-tolerant
- Ideal for back borders
8. Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)
- Thrives in heat
- Excellent butterfly attractant
- Bold orange-red blooms
🌸 Biennials & Perennials to Sow Now for Next Year
Start them in summer for stronger blooms next season.
9. Hollyhocks
- Sow now for spring blooms
- Adds vertical drama
- Loved by bees
10. Foxglove
- Start now for flowering next year
- Prefers part-shade
- Pollinator magnet
11. Delphinium
- Cool-season perennial
- Early sowing builds strong roots
12. Echinacea (Coneflower)
- Heat-tolerant once established
- Attracts bees and butterflies
- Beautiful in late summer/fall
13. Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)
- Thrives in full sun
- Reliable bloomer
- Deer-resistant
14. Coreopsis
- Drought-resistant
- Long bloom time
- Great for borders
15. Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
- Long blooming
- Handles heat well
- Vibrant colors
🌼 Cut Flowers for Late Season Arrangements
Love fresh flowers indoors? These varieties are perfect for summer sowing and fall cutting.
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