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1 Calibrachoa
Ali Majdfar//Getty ImagesIf you choose just one summer flower, make it calibrachoa. This vining annual loves the sun, comes in tons of colors, and attracts hummingbirds. It's great in planters, hanging baskets, or window boxes.
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2 Sweet Alyssum
Portland Press Herald//Getty ImagesThese tiny flowers love sun! You can plant them in your garden, or use them to fill in cracks in walkways. The low-growing flowers come in pink, salmon, purple, white, and yellow. Bonus: They boast a honey-like fragrance. They'll tolerate some afternoon shade.
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3 Lantana
Getty ImagesThis tough-as-nails annual comes in bright pink, yellow, purple and pink or a combination of sunny colors. It's heat and drought tolerant, and butterflies and hummingbirds like it, too! In warm climates, lantana may survive winter and become a small shrub. Plant it at the front of sunny borders or in window boxes and planters.
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4 Canna Lily
David Q. Cavagnaro//Getty ImagesNothing can beat cannas for sheer visual impact. Their gorgeous leaves and striking flowers in bold colors bloom all summer in full sun. This tropical plant grows well in containers or in the landscape. Their rhizomes (bulb-like structures) may be hardy in zones 8 and warmer, but in other regions, you’ll have to lift them from the ground in fall, store over the winter, and replant in spring.
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5 Portulaca
David Q. Cavagnaro//Getty ImagesThis low-growing annual succulent, also called moss rose, comes in jewel-tones and flowers and flowers all summer long, even in the driest, hottest weather. Its fleshy leaves make it heat and drought tolerant. Plant it in rock gardens or in the front of borders in full sun.
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6 Salvia
By Eve Livesey//Getty ImagesSpikes of pink, purple or white flowers top fragrant foliage. Pollinators love this full-sun perennial! Salvia is ideal for adding height to containers or when planted in the middle of borders.
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7 Caladium
David Q. Cavagnaro//Getty ImagesCaladiums, which need mostly shade, are grown for their cute pink and green heart-shaped leaves. They look equally striking in the landscape or in containers. Bonus: This tropical plant can be brought indoors in the fall to enjoy as a houseplant.
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8 Lavender
Ron Evans//Getty ImagesThis sun-loving perennial works in any garden setting, and its silvery foliage is attractive even before the fragrant purple spikes of flowers appear. There are many different varieties, so be sure to read the description and choose a type of lavender that will survive in your USDA hardiness zone.
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9 Sunflower
Robert Alexander//Getty ImagesIt's no wonder sunflowers attract bees—they're gorgeous. They require full sun and are drought tolerant. Put them in patio containers, garden beds, or along borders. Yellow sunflowers are iconic, but they're available in many different varieties and colors, including red, orange, salmon, and pink.
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10 Daylily
Henning de Beer//Getty ImagesDaylilies are as hardy as they come. Their flowers are found in every color of the rainbow, some with ruffled or double petals. As the name suggests, the flower lasts one day, but there are multiple blooms on each plant. Plant in full sun in masses for a spectacular swath of color in mid to late summer. But be aware: They're like deer candy, so don't plant if Bambi visits your garden often.
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11 Cuphea
Danita Delimont//Getty ImagesBrilliant red or orangey-red tubular flowers cover this hardy annual. Cuphea, also called firecracker plant, is a hummingbird magnet. Give it full sun and a large container because it needs room to spread.
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12 Fanflower
Harley Seaway//Getty ImagesThis low-growing, sun-loving annual in shades of pink, purple and white is lovely tumbling over the edges of pots and window boxes. Fan flower blooms all summer long without the need to deadhead, or remove spent flowers.
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13 Ranunculus
Francesca Yorke//Getty ImagesThese beautiful flowers that resemble roses or peonies are planted in the spring for summer blooms. They're typically considered perennial in zone 8 and warmer, but they're treated as annuals in colder climates (though you can lift the bulbs in fall and try replanting next year). They need full sun.
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14 Begonia
Gert Tabak The Netherlands//Getty ImagesBegonias come in many different colors ranging from hot pink to deep red to bright orange. Some are grown strictly for their striking foliage. They’re a reliable performer and will bloom all season long without deadheading. Many types need mostly shade, though some tolerate mostly sun.
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15 Poppy
David Q. Cavagnaro//Getty ImagesThese delicate, papery flowers bloom in profusion in deep saturated tones of red, pink and salmon. Plant poppies in the sun in springtime for summer blooms. Some types are annual, while others are perennials, so read the description.
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16 Marigold
Jerry Pavia//Getty ImagesThis hardy old-fashioned favorite is a sun-loving annual your grandma probably planted. It's long been popular with good reason: It's nearly indestructible! It resists pests, blooms all season, and will even handle a light frost. It's also one of the least expensive summer flowers you can buy, and it grows well from seed, too.
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17 Calla Lily
Kate Gadsby//Getty ImagesCalla lillies have striking sword-like foliage and beautiful vase-shaped flowers in purple, pink, white and even nearly black. They're typically grown as annuals. Give them full sun.
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18 Peony
Juliette Wade//Getty ImagesPeonies are lush, lavish, and sweetly scented, blooming in late spring. They're a shrubby perennial that can flower for decades with the right care. Don't plant too deeply or they won't bloom. And don't fret about the ants; they're just sipping nectar and don't hurt the plant! Give peonies full sun for the best blooms.
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19 Succulent
Colin Leftley//Getty ImagesSucculents are heat and drought tolerant, and they come in an amazing array of shapes and sizes. Some have small intricate-looking flowers, but they're often grown more for their fun and unusual forms. Most adore the sun, and many types are cold tolerant so they're considered perennials.
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20 Torenia
Photos from Japan, Asia and othe of the world//Getty ImagesTorenia are one of the longest-blooming annuals you can find in shades of bright purple, pink or white with beautiful yellow throats. Hummingbirds love these flowers, which need mostly shade.
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Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.

Associate Editor
Kelly Allen is the current Associate Editor at House Beautiful, where she covers design, pop culture, and travel for digital and the print magazine. She’s been with the team for nearly three years, attending industry events and covering a range of topics. When she’s not watching every new TV show and movie, she’s browsing vintage home stores, admiring hotel interiors, and wandering around New York City. She previously worked for Delish and Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
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