There's no denying it, even in the PNW our summers keep getting drier, and a garden that can coast through July and August on little or no extra water saves time, money and a lot of mental head-space. The twelve plants below are tough, beautiful and well suited to Pacific Northwest gardens. Most need only a little help in their first summer while their roots establish, and after that, they take care of themselves.
Speedwell (Veronica spicata)
Speedwell is a dependable early-summer perennial with slender, upright spikes of blue-purple flowers rising from neat clumps of green leaves. It brings a vertical accent to the front or middle of a border and does just as well in containers. Bees and butterflies visit it steadily. Give it full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. Shearing off spent spikes encourages a second flush of blooms later in summer. Once established, speedwell handles dry spells well, though a deep drink during long heat waves keeps it looking its best. Most varieties grow 12–36 inches tall. Divide crowded clumps every few years to keep them vigorous.
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Purple coneflower is a prairie native from central and eastern North America and a summer favorite for good reason. Its pink-purple petals sweep back from a spiky, copper-orange cone, and it blooms from midsummer into early fall. Butterflies and bees flock to it. If you leave the seedheads standing in autumn, goldfinches will pick them clean. Coneflower loves full sun and tolerates heat and drought once established. Its one weakness in our region is soggy winter soil, so plant it where water drains away quickly. Deadheading keeps new flowers coming. Plants reach 2–4 feet tall.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Few plants say “summer” like lavender, with its silvery foliage, fragrant purple spikes and the constant hum of bees. English lavender (L. angustifolia) is the hardiest and most compact. The lavandins (L. × intermedia) grow larger and bloom a little later. Lavender comes from the Mediterranean and wants full sun, poor to average soil and excellent drainage. In heavy clay, plant it on a slope or a raised mound. Skip the fertilizer and the summer watering once it’s established, since too much kindness shortens its life. Prune right after flowering, cutting back into green growth but never into bare, woody stems. Depending on the type, plants grow 12–36 inches tall.
Euphorbia (Euphorbia spp.)
Euphorbias bring bold chartreuse and lime-green color to the garden, and much of that color comes from leaf-like bracts rather than true petals. Cushion spurge (E. polychroma) forms a tidy mound that glows bright yellow-green in spring. Mediterranean spurge (E. characias) is a larger, evergreen choice. Both like full sun, well-drained soil and very little water, and deer and rabbits leave them alone. Two cautions apply. First, all euphorbias have a milky sap that can irritate skin and eyes, so wear gloves when you cut them. Second, avoid myrtle spurge (E. myrsinites), which is listed as a noxious weed in Oregon. Most garden types grow 12–24 inches tall.
White Stonecrop (Sedum Album)
White stonecrop comes from Europe, North Africa and western Asia. It’s perfectly at home in Pacific Northwest rock gardens, between stepping stones, along wall tops, in containers and on green roofs, where it’s one of the most widely used plants. Give it full sun to light shade and poor, gritty, fast-draining soil. Rich soil and extra water only make it leggy. Plants stay low, with foliage about 1–2 inches tall and flower stems reaching 2–6 inches.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.)
Black-eyed Susans bring a burst of golden-yellow daisies with dark chocolate centers from midsummer into fall. They’re cheerful, reliable and easy to grow. ‘Goldsturm’ (R. fulgida) is a long-lived perennial. The annual and short-lived R. hirta types reseed freely to fill gaps. Plant them in full sun in average, well-drained soil. They tolerate dry spells once established but bloom best with an occasional deep watering. Leave the seedheads up in fall, because finches and other small birds rely on them as the weather cools. Plants grow 2–3 feet tall. Divide clumps every three or four years to keep them blooming strongly.
Pacific Aster (Symphyotrichum chilense)
Pacific aster is a true West Coast native, found from British Columbia to California in coastal bluffs, meadows and open woodland edges. From late summer into fall it covers itself in small lavender-violet daisies with sunny yellow centers. That’s just when most of the garden is winding down, which makes it a valuable late food source for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. It spreads gently by underground runners, making it a great choice for naturalistic plantings, slopes and meadow gardens. It grows in full sun to light shade, handles a wide range of soils and is drought tolerant once established. Expect plants about 1–3 feet tall.
Baby Sage (Salvia microphylla)
Baby sage is a shrubby salvia native to Mexico and the American Southwest. Its small, aromatic leaves smell faintly of mint and fruit when brushed. From late spring until frost it produces tubular flowers in red, pink, magenta or bicolor. The popular ‘Hot Lips’ variety is red and white. Hummingbirds can’t resist them. Plant baby sage in full sun with excellent drainage, since wet winter soil is its biggest threat in our climate. Once established it’s very drought tolerant and deer resistant. Wait until new growth appears in spring before cutting it back, rather than pruning in fall. Plants form a rounded shrub about 2–4 feet tall.
Yarrow (Achillea spp.)
Yarrow is one of the toughest perennials you can plant, and our native western yarrow (Achillea millefolium) grows wild across the Pacific Northwest. Feathery, fern-like leaves support flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers in white, yellow, pink or red, depending on the variety. Those flowers are magnets for beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings and hoverflies, which help keep garden pests in check. Yarrow actually prefers poor, lean soil. Rich soil and extra water make it floppy. Give it full sun and leave it alone, deadheading to extend the bloom. Plants grow 12–36 inches tall and can spread, so give them room or divide them every few years.
Ceanothus (California Lilac)
In spring, ceanothus puts on one of the showiest displays around, smothering itself in clusters of blue to deep-violet flowers that buzz with bees. Several species are native to Oregon, including blueblossom (C. thyrsiflorus) on the southern coast. Ceanothus has nitrogen-fixing roots, so it thrives in poor soil. The key to success is full sun, good drainage and no summer water once it’s established, because irrigation in hot weather can cause root rot. Size varies enormously by variety: low groundcovers stay about 1 foot tall, while upright shrubs reach 10 feet or more. Check the plant tag carefully. If needed, prune lightly right after flowering.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia spp.)
Blanket flower glows in fiery red, orange and yellow, like the colors of a woven blanket, which is how it got its name. These daisy-like blooms keep coming from early summer right up until frost, and pollinators love them. One species, Gaillardia aristata, is native to the western United States, including parts of Oregon. Blanket flower thrives in heat, full sun and lean, sandy or gravelly soil. Rich soil or wet winter conditions can shorten its life. Deadhead regularly to keep it blooming. Cutting it back in late summer helps it return the next year. Plants grow 12–24 inches tall.
Catmint (Nepeta spp.)
Catmint forms soft, billowing mounds of aromatic gray-green foliage topped with clouds of lavender-blue flowers from late spring through summer. It’s one of the best plants for edging paths and softening the front of a border, and bees adore it. Deer and rabbits usually leave it alone. Catmint is easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil and handles dry conditions with ease. After the first flush of flowers fades, shear the plant back by about a third for a fresh round of blooms. Garden catmints like ‘Walker’s Low’ are less irresistible to cats than true catnip, but some cats will still enjoy a roll in them. Most varieties grow 12–24 inches tall.
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