Best Plants for August Color | Nature Hills

In some areas of the country, the summer temps are holding steady, while in other cooler growing zones, the summer is beginning to wind down. But August is still awash in colorful plants and flowering ornamentals to bring color and interest to your landscape!

Feeding hungry pollinators and hummingbirds working to fatten up for migration or native bees still gathering food for the next generation, while continuing to fill your bouquets with fresh blooms! August blooming plants, trees, shrubs, and vines are up to the late summer challenges your landscape can face.

The Best August-Flowering Plants At NatureHills.com!
August-Flowering Trees
Shrubs That Flower In August
Perennials That Flower In August
Caring For Late Summer Flowering Plants
Showy Summer Wrap-Up!

The Best August-Flowering Plants At NatureHills.com!

From large to small displays, plants that bloom, rebloom, or continue to flower all summer are a breath of fresh air. Fill that void between the bountiful summer blooms and the autumn display with August-flowering plants or plants with a colorful fruit or seed pod display for this final month of summer.

August-Flowering Trees

With showy red fruit in August, Kousa Dogwoods and showy Crabapple trees all have colorful displays this month! Here are a few other trees that are ‘late bloomers’ and are still showing off their colorful blooms or putting on a show this month!

Top August Flowering Trees

Chaste Trees
Oleander Trees
Stewartia Trees
Tianshan Seven-Son Flower

Mimosa Trees may still have some blooms, Smoke Trees still have their showy ‘puffs’ of stems that remain colorful after the flowers fade, and Crape Myrtle Trees still have their colorful bracts. Those golden dangling fragrant flowers of the Golden Rain Tree have become ornamental papery lantern seed pods this month!

Plus, there are many Fruit Trees and Fruiting Plants that have a colorful display of delectable fruit (either for you or the birds) ripening on their branches.

Shrubs That Flower In August

Beautiful hedges and mixed shrub borders gain late-season pops of color with these pretty flowering bushes!

Rose Bushes like Floribunda, Grandiflora, Shrub, and Hybrid Tea are still pumping out their gorgeous flowers. Keep deadheading flowers to encourage new blooms!

Hydrangea are still in full bloom, Hardy Hibiscus and Tropical Hibiscus, and Butterfly Bushes continue flowering until autumn! Smokebush still has its colorful puffs. Abelia Bushes are flowering until autumn, and Crape Myrtle Bushes keep those no-fade, showy bracts in the

Shrubs That Show Off In August!

Bluebeard Bushes start showing off this time of year!
Gardenia Bushes like the August Beauty Gardenia
Rose of Sharon Shrubs (Althea)
St. John's Wort Shrubs (Hypericum)
Summersweet Shrubs

Potentilla bushes continue, and Spiraea bumalda types will rebloom beautifully if they are deadheaded after the first round of blooms. Encore® Azalea, Bloomerang® Lilacs, and Reblooming Sonic Bloom® Weigela are pumping out flushes of rebloom throughout the late summer!

Beautyberry bushes and Elderberry bushes are showing off their fruit, Coralberry, and Snowberry bushes are showing off their bubble-like fruit displays, and Viburnum berries are reaching their prime - much to your songbird's delight!

Perennials That Flower In August

These smaller filler plants of the landscape, easy-to-grow Perennials, easily fill your garden and your vases with color and your yard with pollinators! Many of these summer-flowering plants continue to bloom or are vigorously reblooming this month!

Asters are gearing up to start flowering until fall in August! Get ready for a surprise when the Surprise Lilies (Naked Ladies) erupt from out of nowhere, too!

Top August Perennials

Strong summer bloomers like Black Eyed Susan and other Rudbeckia, Cardinal Flower, Coneflower, Daylilies, Catmint/Catnips, Perennial Salvia, and Russian Sage show no signs of slowing down!

Stonecrop Sedum
Dahlia
Hyssop (Agastache)
Japanese Anemone
Leopard Plants (Ligularia)

Hardy/Perennial Geranium (Cranesbill), especially Rozanne Geranium, which will continue to bloom with thunderous amounts of blooms all during the heat of summer. Coreopsis are reblooming sporadically this month, and Blanket Flowers are also still popping flowers in drifts if you have sheared back their first flushes or continue to deadhead!

Don’t forget your Ornamental Grasses are in full plume and showing off their flower colors!

Top August-Flowering Vines

These vertically growing vines bring tall color without taking up too much garden space!

Honeysuckle Vines (Lonicera) - Perfume your garden into the late summer
Hops Vines (Humulus) The bright green pinecone-like bracts are very colorful
Trumpet Vine (Campsis) aka Trumpet Creepers - Flowering until frost in many areas
Jasmine Vines (Trachelospermum) - Ultra fragrant pure white blooms
Climbing Roses

Caring For Late Summer Flowering Plants

Want to keep your plants blooming beautifully despite the heat and humidity? Here are a few tips and tricks to use in your arsenal that will guarantee happy, healthy plants!

Always choose plants rated for your climate and Hardiness Zone. Go native and Xeric whenever possible - especially in drought-prone areas.

Add a 3-4 inch thick layer of arborist wood chips over the soil surface to hold in moisture more regularly and prevent evaporation and soil-borne disease from the mud splashing up on the plants. Water using the Finger Test and water in the evening or morning to ensure your August flowering plants can remain stress-free and able to keep flowering throughout the late-summer months.

Check out more tips to prevent summer heat stress in our Garden Blog here!

Showy Summer Wrap-Up!

Keep the summer color show going these last dog days of summer! The heat can still be on, but your landscape doesn’t need to show it! Late-season flowers, reblooming plants, and extended-bloom shrubs and trees are here to brighten the garden until fall-blooming plants take over!

Check out Nature Hills Nursery's full inventory of plants for all seasons in your growing zone to make it easy to create a never-ending change of scenery for your landscape! That way, there is always something new and exciting to look forward to!

Happy Planting!

Frequently Asked Questions

What flowers bloom in august?

Many plants provide vibrant August blooms including Chaste Trees, Oleander Trees, Stewartia Trees, and Crape Myrtle Trees which continue their colorful displays through late summer. Kousa Dogwoods and Crabapples showcase showy red fruit during this month, while Golden Rain Trees display ornamental papery seed pods after their earlier golden blooms fade. These late-season bloomers are essential for supporting migrating hummingbirds and native bees preparing for winter. Choose these August performers to bridge the gap between peak summer flowers and fall displays in your landscape.

What are the best annual flowers like cosmos, zinnias, and marigolds to sow in August for late-season color, and how long do they take to bloom?

For August sowing, choose fast-maturing annuals like cosmos (60-70 days to bloom), zinnias (60-70 days), and marigolds (45-50 days from seed). In zones 6-9, these quick bloomers can still provide 6-8 weeks of color before the first frost arrives in October. Marigolds offer the shortest path to blooms, while cosmos and zinnias provide longer-lasting displays through fall. Start seeds indoors or direct sow in early August, then transplant seedlings to sunny locations with well-draining soil for best results.

Can I plant sunflowers in August for fall blooms, and which fast-maturing varieties should I choose?

Planting sunflowers in August is too late for most varieties, as they typically need 70-100 days to mature and require warm soil for germination. In zones 7-9, you might succeed with fast-maturing dwarf varieties like 'Teddy Bear' (65 days) or 'Music Box Mix' (70 days) if planted by early August. However, your best bet for late-season color is to choose proven August bloomers like crape myrtles, chaste trees, or fall-blooming perennials that are specifically adapted for late summer displays.

How do I deadhead flowers in August to encourage continuous blooms through fall?

To deadhead flowers in August for continuous fall blooms, cut spent blooms back to the first set of healthy leaves or next flower bud using clean, sharp pruners. For perennials like coneflowers and black-eyed Susans in zones 4-9, remove the entire flower stem down to basal foliage, while annuals like marigolds and zinnias only need the spent flower head removed above the next leaf node. Deadhead every 3-5 days during peak blooming season to prevent energy from going into seed production. Water plants deeply after deadheading and apply a balanced fertilizer to fuel new flower development through the first frost.

What is the best soil, sun, and water care for Russian sage to ensure it thrives and flowers in August?

Russian sage thrives in full sun (6+ hours daily) and well-draining, sandy or loamy soil with a pH between 6.0-7.5 in zones 4-9. This drought-tolerant perennial requires minimal water once established—water deeply once weekly during dry spells, allowing soil to dry between waterings. Avoid overwatering and heavy clay soils, which can cause root rot and reduce August blooming. Plant in spring, cut back to 6 inches in late winter, and your Russian sage will reward you with fragrant purple spikes from mid-summer through August.

When and how should I plant mums or asters in August to boost late-season garden color and improve winter hardiness?

Plant mums and asters in early August (zones 4-8) to allow 6-8 weeks of root establishment before the first hard frost. Choose garden mums labeled as hardy perennials rather than florist mums, and plant them in well-draining soil with 6 hours of direct sunlight. Space plants 18-24 inches apart and water deeply twice weekly until established. Pinch spent blooms regularly and apply 2-3 inches of mulch after the first frost to protect roots through winter.

What late-summer perennials like dahlias and salvias provide the longest flowering period into autumn?

Dahlias and salvias are among the most reliable late-summer performers, with dahlias blooming from July through the first hard frost in zones 3-10 and salvias flowering continuously from mid-summer until frost in zones 4-9. Other exceptional long-blooming perennials include Joe Pye weed (zones 3-9), which produces massive 6-inch flower clusters from August through October, and fall-blooming asters (zones 3-8) that create clouds of color from September through November. Plant these in spring for established root systems, and deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous flowering well into autumn.

Should I fertilize my garden in late August, and what type of fertilizer works best for August bloomers?

In late August, avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that encourage tender new growth vulnerable to early frost, especially in zones 6 and cooler. Instead, apply a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer (like 5-10-10) to support continued blooming in August performers like asters, sedum, and mums without stimulating late-season growth. Water-soluble fertilizers work best at half strength every 2-3 weeks through early September. Stop all fertilizing by mid-September to allow plants to naturally prepare for dormancy.

How can I mulch and care for newly planted late-summer perennials like goldenrod to help them establish before frost?

Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around newly planted goldenrod, keeping it 3 inches away from the stem to prevent moisture buildup and pest issues. Water deeply 1-2 times per week rather than frequent shallow watering to encourage deep root development before winter dormancy. In zones 3-9, plant goldenrod by early August to allow 6-8 weeks of establishment time before the first hard frost. Focus on consistent moisture and avoid fertilizing late-season plantings, as this can stimulate tender growth vulnerable to frost damage.

Why aren't my black-eyed Susans or coneflowers blooming in August, and how can I fertilize them for rebloom?

Black-eyed Susans and coneflowers may stop blooming in August due to stress from heat, drought, or spent energy on seed production rather than new flowers. Deadhead spent blooms immediately and cut back stems by one-third to encourage fresh growth. Apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer at half strength with deep watering to jumpstart rebloom within 2-3 weeks. For best results in zones 3-9, perform this rejuvenation process in early August before temperatures peak.

Plants That Are Showy In August For Late Season Color!

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