What to Plant in June
Summer is here. Here's what to plant now for midsummer and fall color, plus how to keep the momentum going when the heat arrives.
June is when gardens split into two camps. Some are peaking with roses and lavender and looking spectacular. Others are already fading because everything that was planted blooms in spring. If your garden feels like it is running out of steam, June is not too late to fix that.
The key is knowing what still goes in the ground now and what needs to wait for cooler weather in fall.
The heat-tolerant workhorses
Zinnias are the MVP of June planting. Direct-sow seeds now and you will have cut flowers by late July. They love heat, they love sun, and they bloom harder the more you cut them. Cosmos is equally easy from seed and fills in fast with airy, dancing flowers on minimal water.
Marigolds are another June-safe bet. Transplants from the nursery will bloom within days of planting and keep going until frost. For something taller, Sunflowers planted from seed in June will tower by August. Kids especially love watching them grow.
Perennials that still work
Container-grown perennials can go in the ground in June as long as you water them well for the first few weeks. Coneflowers planted now will bloom this summer and come back bigger next year. Blanket Flowers are one of the few perennials that bloom the first year even from a late start, and they thrive in the hottest, driest spots.
Bee Balm is another solid June plant. Its shaggy red flowers will attract hummingbirds by midsummer. And if you are in zone 7 or warmer, Lantana is essentially indestructible in heat. It blooms nonstop in full sun and laughs at drought.
Bulbs and tropicals
Dahlia tubers planted in early June will bloom by August, which is perfect timing for when the garden often has a mid-season gap. They need full sun and regular water, but the payoff is enormous. Dinner-plate dahlias are some of the most dramatic flowers you can grow.
Butterfly Bush is already blooming in warmer zones, but nursery plants can still go in the ground. Its long flower wands are a magnet for butterflies and it establishes quickly in poor soil.
Succession planting
The smartest thing you can do in June is think about succession. Plant a row of zinnias now. In three weeks, plant another row. Repeat until mid-July. This staggers the bloom times so you have fresh flowers from late July all the way through October instead of one big burst that fades.
The same works for cosmos and sunflowers. Stagger your sowings and you extend the show.
Summer watering reality
Anything planted in June needs consistent water for the first two to three weeks. The soil is warm and dries out fast. Water deeply in the morning, not with a light sprinkle in the evening. Deep morning watering encourages roots to grow down instead of staying at the surface. Once established, most of these plants are surprisingly drought-tolerant. The investment is upfront.
Do not let the heat intimidate you. Some of the best garden color comes from plants that go in the ground when the temperature is already climbing.