red white and blue flowers that come back every year

Show Your Patriotism with Red, White, and Blue Perennials

Nothing says “America” like the iconic colors of our flag. If you want to show your national pride right in your own yard, consider planting a patriotic garden filled with red, white, and blue flowers. The great thing about perennials is that they return faithfully every year, saving you the work of replanting annuals each season.

With a thoughtful selection of flowers in these bold hues, you can create a stunning floral display that keeps looking great summer after summer Read on for tips on choosing the best red, white, and blue perennials for your garden

Vibrant Red Blooms

Red evokes feelings of fireworks, festivals, and Old Glory. Luckily many perennials bloom in shades of crimson, scarlet, burgundy, and true red. Here are some top picks:

• Bee Balm – Varieties like “Jacob Cline” produce flowers in a stunning deep red. They attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

• Dianthus – Also called Sweet William or carnations, dianthus charms with frilly, fragrant blooms. Great for cutting.

• Geranium – Tough, heat-loving geraniums like “Rozanne” bloom nonstop in vibrant red hues.

• Lantana – This versatile shrub bears clusters of small red, orange, or multicolored flowers that butterflies adore.

• Canna Lily – Large, tropical-looking blooms top tall stalks on these stunning plants. Mass in borders or beds.

• Pentas – Prolific star-shaped blooms on compact plants are magnets for hummingbirds. Grow in beds or containers.

Pure White Flowers

White naturally represents purity and innocence. For long-lasting white blooms, grow these perennials:

• Shasta Daisy – Cheery classic daisies with bright yellow centers bloom from early summer into fall.

• Yarrow – Flat-topped clusters of tiny white flowers complement delicate, fern-like leaves. Withstands some foot traffic.

• Astilbe – Plume-like blooms in white and pink shades add texture. Does best in consistently moist soil.

• Artemisia – Misty-looking small white flowers top silvery-white foliage. Tolerates heat and dry soils.

• Gaura – Whimsical white flowers dance along thin stems, giving rise to the common name Whirlybird. A tough plant.

• Snow-in-Summer – This aptly named perennial produces abundant white blooms on mats of gray-green foliage.

Beautiful Blue Blooms

Blue can be tricky to find in perennial flowers, but these plants offer long-blooming purple-blue hues:

• Russian Sage – Airy lavender-blue flower spikes beautifully contrast gray-green foliage. Drought tolerant and hardy.

• Salvia – Heat-loving salvias include blue varieties like “Mystic Spires” and “Indigo Spires”. They attract hummingbirds.

• Hyssop – Pretty blue flower spikes appear on this ruggede bee-friendly herb in summer. Prune spent blooms after flowering.

• Catmint – Catmints like “Walker’s Low” produce abundant blue-lavender blooms on attractive silver foliage that spreads nicely.

• Balloon Flower – Star shaped purple-blue flowers add fun pops of color. Does well in borders or rock gardens.

• Bellflowers – Varieties like bellflower “Sarastro” yield impressive purple blooms on tall flower stalks.

Designing a Patriotic Garden

Follow these tips when planning your red, white, and blue perennial garden:

• Choose a highly visible spot for maximum impact, like along a walkway or driveway.

• Place red plants together, white together, and blue together for bold blocks of color rather than scattering individual plants.

• Use white as a neutral in between the vibrant hues of red and blue.

• Include pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

• Add vertical interest with obelisks or trellises wrapped with red flowered climbers like clematis.

• Weave small American flags throughout beds and borders or line walkways for extra patriotic flair.

• Include red, white, and blue garden ornaments like gazing balls, benches, and even a colorful mailbox.

Caring for Your Patriotic Garden

Patriotic-themed perennial gardens need minimal care to thrive:

• Prepare soil well with compost before planting. Most perennials like average, well-drained soil.

• Group plants with similar needs together. E.g. put sun-lovers together, shade dwellers together, etc.

• Water thoroughly during drought. Avoid wetting foliage, which can encourage diseases.

• Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to retain moisture and block weeds.

• Stake tall flowers like cannas or salvias as needed to prevent flopping over.

• Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers. Cut back by 1/3 after main flowering period.

• Divide overcrowded clumps every 2-3 years to rejuvenate plants. Replant divisions.

With the right growing conditions and occasional grooming, these carefree perennials will keep performing their star-spangled spectacle year after year!

Alternative Plants for Red, White & Green Theme

While red, white, and blue reign supreme for Independence Day, these colors can be hard to find, especially true blue blooms. Here are some creative plant options for a patriotic red, white, and green theme instead:

Red – Pentas, lantana, geranium, celosia, begonia, kniphofia (red hot poker)

White – Daisies, snow-in-summer, sweet alyssum, baby’s breath, Gaura

Green – Ferns, hostas, boxwood, grasses, arborvitae

Green foliage represents the natural beauty of the American landscape. Red injects bold color while white keeps things fresh and bright. This versatile theme allows you to use readily available annuals like zinnias and marigolds too.

Alternative Patriotic Style Ideas

If specific red, white, and blue plants prove challenging to find, get creative with these options:

• Incorporate red, white, and blue garden ornaments like painted rocks, statues, benches, and gazing balls.

• Use containers like planters, window boxes, and hanging baskets to display patriotic color combos.

• Add mini American flags to flower beds and pots. Use larger flags to line walkways.

• Paint or stain flower boxes, fencing, arbors, and shutters red, white, and blue.

• Use decorative gravel, mulch, and stepping stones in patriotic colors to complement plantings.

With imagination and a splash of festive decor, you can still pull off a spirited patriotic look without relying solely on hard-to-find red, white, and blue flowering plants.

Show Your Patriotism with Flowers

A patriotic-themed garden planted with perennials in flag colors is a beautiful way to show pride in your home and country. The bold reds, pure whites, and regal blues blooming every year create a stunning living flag right in your own yard.

Pick tough, resilient perennials that thrive in your growing zone. With proper siting, soil preparation, and care, your red, white, and blue flowers will keep saluting the flag for many summers to come. As your patriotic garden matures, these reliable natives and old garden favorites will only get better with time.

So each Independence Day and beyond, let your landscape do the talking by planting perennials in red, white, and blue. Just a touch of complimentary décor makes the theme complete. You’ll enjoy a low-maintenance, eco-friendly garden that shows your family’s patriotic spirit in the grandest display.