Repeat Bloomers: 10 Gorgeous Flowering Shrubs That Show Color All Summer Long

But, believe it or not, there are plants that bloom more than once in a single growing season! Gardenia, daylily, echinacea, buddleia, astilbe, spirea, hydrangea, coral bells, creeping phlox, and agapanthus are just a few perennials that bloom twice or more in a single season—for half the work.

Reblooming plants are among the most treasured landscaping plants and for good reason. Repeat bloomers are a constant source of color and visual interest throughout the growing season. Not to mention birds and beneficial insects love these rebloomers because they are a constant source of food, nectar, and shelter.

Most reblooming perennials require no more maintenance than other shrubs and perennials, which is ideal for gardeners who want to spend more time enjoying their garden than working on it.

In this article, we'll explore 10 of our favorite plants that bloom more than once a year, and we’ll discuss some of their specific care needs. Keep reading and keep a pen handy to take notes! Your dream garden is just around the corner.

10 reblooming shrubs and perennials 

There are many more reblooming plants that didn’t make this list, but these 10 plants are among the easiest to care for. 

1. Gardenia

Gardenia’s are known for their beautiful, fragrant blooms that appear in early summer and again in the fall. They are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands, making them well suited to the warm, humid climate of the South. Expect gardenia plants to grow about two to three feet tall and live about 50 years. Their glossy, dark green leaves and waxy, cream-colored flowers are striking in any landscape!

2. Daylily

These low-maintenance perennials grow like weeds along much of the Eastern U.S. The trumpet-shaped blooms come in a wide range of colors, including yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple, and most varieties bloom repeatedly throughout the season. The flowers generally last for only a day or two, but daylilies produce multiple buds on each stem, so they can continue blooming for several weeks.

3. Echinacea

More commonly known as the coneflower, echinacea is a herbaceous perennial plant native to North America. The beautiful daisy-like flowers can be pink, purple, white, or orange-red, with a distinctive cone-shaped center that is usually brown or orange-brown in color. Echinacea blooms from midsummer until early fall and is a favorite among pollinators like bees and butterflies. A fairly low-maintenance plant, echinacea prefers full sun and well-drained soil conditions.

4. Buddleia

Though you might know it as butterfly bush, buddleia is a deciduous shrub prized for its showy, fragrant blooms. Depending on the variety, the buddleia flower spikes can be purple, pink, white, or red. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are attracted to the sweet nectar of buddleia blooms and they can often be seen hovering around the plant during the flowering season. Buddleia plants thrive in full sun and well-draining soil, and they are relatively easy to care for.

5. Astilbe

A perennial native to Asia and North America, astilbe is known for its beautiful, feathery flower spikes that bloom in mid to late summer. Astilbe flowers may be white, pink, red, and purple, and the foliage is also attractive, with deeply cut, glossy leaves that provide a lush backdrop in bouquets and on the bush. Astilbe plants prefer moist, well-draining soil and partial shade, although they can tolerate full sun if the soil is consistently moist.

6. Spirea

This deciduous shrub produces clusters of delicate flowers in the spring or early summer. The flowers come in a wide range of colors, including white, pink, and red. Spirea shrubs have a compact, mounding growth habit, and they typically reach a height between two and five feet tall. The thin, serrated foliage may be green, gold, or variegated in color. Spirea is fairly low maintenance and can tolerate a wide range of soil types and growing conditions, and thrive in full sun or partial shade.

7. Hydrangea

This popular shrub produces large clusters of flowers that can begin blooming in the spring or early summer and continue into the fall. Hydrangeas are a varied species, and depending on the variety, the flowers can be either round or cone-shaped and come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, blue, and purple—of course, you can change the colors of the blooms by altering the soil pH. Hydrangea plants prefer partial shade and well-drained soil that is kept consistently moist.

8. Coral bells

Heuchera is a perennial plant that is known for its colorful foliage and small, bell-shaped flowers. The flowers bloom on tall spikes in spring or early summer but the real treat with coral bells is the lobed, iridescent foliage, which may be, purple, burgundy, or silver in hue. Their low-growing habit makes coral bells a good choice for groundcovers or border plants, and their colorful foliage provides year-round interest.

9. Creeping phlox

Creeping phlox, also known as moss phlox, is another low-growing plant prized for its beautiful, cascading flowers. The pink, purple, blue, and white flowers bloom in the spring and early summer. Tiny, needle-like leaves form dense mats that cover slopes and rock gardens perfectly. Creeping phlox plants prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.

10. Agapanthus

Often called Lily of the Nile or African Lily, agapanthus is a flowering perennial plant characterized by striking globe-shaped flower clusters that bloom on tall, erect stems. The blue, white, and purple florets are contrasted by glossy strap-shaped leaves. This exotic cultivar is commonly grown as a cut flower, container plant, or accent plant in gardens and landscapes, and it is a favorite of many gardeners for its showy blooms and easy care.

Tips for encouraging repeat bloomers

Deadheading

Deadheading, or removing the spent blooms, is an essential task to promote healthy growth and repeat flowering. Leaving spent flowers on a plant will signal to the plant that the growing season is complete, but removing dead flowers will trick the plant into producing another round of blooms.

To deadhead flowers, simply snip or pull dead flowers off the plant, taking care not to remove any developing buds or leaves. Deadheading also helps keep plants looking neat and tidy and can prevent the plant from wasting energy on producing seeds.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing plants can also encourage repeat blooming. Choose a balanced fertilizer with roughly equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and apply it according to the package directions. Be careful not to over-fertilize, as this can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of blooms.

There are many benefits of reblooming plants, making them an excellent choice for any garden. They provide extended periods of color and beauty, which is perfect for those who want a vibrant and long-lasting landscape. They’re comparatively easy to care for, and more flowers equals more pollinators in your garden!

While we’re obsessed with reblooming plants, you don’t have to limit yourself to only repeat bloomers. Even incorporating a few reblooming perennials into your landscape will do wonders. Shop our entire collection of perennials, shrubs, and trees today and cultivate the garden you’ve been waiting for.