24 August Flowers to Plant in Late-Summer

Last Updated: August 1, 2024
Are you finding your garden loses its luster as the summer comes to an end? Fear not, as August presents the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate your garden with vibrant blooms. Planting August flowers can lead to a spectacular late-summer display that carries through to fall. This guide is packed with practical tips on the 24 best flowers to brighten up your garden during late summer’s warmer days and cooler nights.

August is the perfect time to start your fall garden.

And it’s not only fall vegetables that can be planted at this time, but flowers as well.

We have compiled a list of 24 August flowers that are best planted in late-summer.

24 of the Best August Flowers to Plant in Late-Summer

Here’s what you’ll learn in this blog post:

1. Optimal Flower Choices for August: You will discover a curated list of flowers ideally suited for planting in August, including both popular choices and unexpected options.
2. Garden Maintenance Tips for Late Summer: This post delivers valuable advice on maintaining a vibrant garden through the tail end of summer, touching on essential practices such as proper watering, the importance of mulching, and the benefits of deadheading spent blooms.
3. Unexpected Bloomers: Alongside mainstream options, you are introduced to lesser-known flowers that can surprise and invigorate an August garden. This segment encourages you to experiment with new floral varieties and expand your horizons beyond traditional late-summer blooms.
4. Preparation for the Upcoming Fall: By addressing how to prepare the garden for the transition into fall, this post not only focuses on the immediate benefits of August planting but also encourages you to think ahead. This includes evaluating the summer’s success, enriching soil, and planning for autumn planting, making the garden a year-round project.

Maintaining August Flowers Through Late Summer

Keeping your garden vibrant through August and beyond requires some care. The late-summer and fall climate is unique to this time of year. Here are practical tips to ensure sustained blooming:

• Water: Maintain consistent moisture, especially on hotter days. At the peak of summer, your soil can dry out very easily. If watered incorrectly, your plants are at risk of lower yields. Check out our guide on garden watering to learn more.
• Mulch: Apply a fresh layer to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Mulch acts as a protective layer for the soil, allowing it to stay moist and cool longer. Additionally, mulch can suppress weeds as it blocks out most sunlight from the soil surface.
• Deadhead: Regularly remove spent blooms to encourage new growth. When spent blooms are left on the plant, they redirect energy into seed production. Most of us don’t want that. Instead, cut the spent flower at its base before another branch-off point. Check out Epic Gardening’s deadheading guide.

Prepping Your Flower Garden for Fall

• Assessment: Take stock of which plants thrived and those that didn’t. Look at the flowers from this summer and those from last summer as well. If there are ones that didn’t grow as expected, see where you went wrong. If there are plants that thrived in your garden, plant them again!
• Soil Preparation: Enrich your soil with compost to ready it for autumn. Much of the organic matter and nutrients in the soil are used up at this point in the growing season, meaning you have to enrich the soil again. You can also use a slow-release organic fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium.
• Planning: Consider the color themes and flowering times of autumn bloomers. Choose flowers that mature quickly and will provide interest before the frost hits. In my climate, I have to choose shorter flowers, such as marigolds and calendula.

24 August Flowers to Plant in Late-Summer

Choose flowers that not only thrive but also rejuvenate your late-summer garden. Here’s our list of the 24 best August flowers to plant in late-summer. Feel free to add your own picks or take out ones that you don’t like! You can buy some varieties from SeedsNow, just click on their name.

• Marigolds: Known for their vibrant yellow and orange blooms.
• Zinnias: Highly colorful and can bloom within 60 days from seed.
• Nasturtiums: Edible and perfect for adding a peppery zest to salads.
• Cosmos: These delicate flowers sway beautifully on breezy August days.
• Sunflowers – Perfect for adding height and drama. (Choose dwarf varieties)
• Black-eyed Susan – Brings a splash of gold to the garden.
• Asters – Offers late-summer to fall blooms in various colors.
• Dahlias – Known for their stunning and diverse flowers.
• Snapdragons – Adds a vertical element and comes in many colors.
• Lavender – Great for scent, color, and attracting pollinators.
• Salvia – Offers vibrant hues and draws in bees and butterflies.
• Petunias – Provides a continuous burst of color.
• Sedum (Stonecrop) – Ideal for late summer to fall interest.
• Rudbeckia – Blooms into fall, adding warmth to any garden.
• Cleome (Spider Flower) – Features fascinating tall blooms.
• Echinacea (Coneflower) – Praised for its medicinal properties and beauty.
• Impatiens – Ideal for shady spots needing a splash of color.
• Begonias – Thrives in both sun and shade, offering vivid flowers.
• Lobelia – Known for its bright and trailing blossoms.
• Gaura – Adds whimsy with delicate flowers on long, thin stems.
• Gladiolus – Stands tall with striking, vibrant flowers.
• Calendula – Offers cheerful, medicinal blooms.
• Phlox – Brings a sweet fragrance and clusters of flowers.
• Verbena – Attracts butterflies with clusters of petite blooms.

Discussion Questions

What are your late summer garden challenges? Have you tried planting any of our recommended August flowers before? How did it go? Let us know in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions

Even More Gardening Ideas

Here are a few more posts to get the ball rolling in your garden!

• Fall Vegetable Varieties for Your Garden
• 3 Heat Tolerant Lettuce Varieties to Plant in August
• What to Plant in August in Your Garden

Products

For all-purpose organic fertilizers, check out Arber.

To buy organic, non-GMO garden seeds, check out SeedsNow.

For a wide selection of perennial garden plants, check out Nature Hills Nursery.

For gardening equipment, check out Bootstrap Farmer

Conclusion

In summary, August is an excellent time to invigorate your garden with flowers that flourish in its warm climate and set the stage for autumn’s arrival.

By choosing suitable annuals and perennials, and by following proper care guidelines, you can ensure your garden remains a vibrant oasis of color and life well into the cooler months. Remember to select plants that match your garden’s conditions and enjoy the lush, lasting beauty they bring.

Did you find useful ideas for your August gardening? Which flowers will you try planting this year? Share your thoughts and plans in the comments, and don’t forget to share this post with fellow garden enthusiasts on social media. For more insightful gardening tips straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today!

If you want to learn more about gardening, foraging, nature, and sustainability, check out The Real Gardener on Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. 

Pin this post for later:

This is the Only Raspberry Fertilizer You’ll Need for Your Garden

Tomato Plant Spacing Doesn’t Matter as Much as They Say it Does

The Best Cucumber Fertilizer Tricks to Grow Juicy Cucumbers

The Quick and Easy Way to STOP Blossom End Rot

10 Delicious Sweet Pepper Varieties You NEED to Grow

3 Cheap and Easy Bean Trellis Ideas for Growing Tons of Beans

5 Easy Tomato Trellis Ideas for ANY Garden

How to Grow Cucumbers from Seed to Harvest