These long-season bloomers come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. But their flowers are worth the extra effort. They bloom nonstop from summer until frost in a variety of bloom colors, shapes, and sizes. Credit: Jamie Hadley Ascut flowers, they last several days, making them excellent forhomegrown bouquets. Some cultivars have burgundy foliage that provides a pretty backdrop for the showy flowers. Here is all you should probably know about caring for these showstopping summer flowers....

This tall tree adds tropical flair to the landscape. Once established, the date palm is fairly drought and salt-tolerantmaking it an excellent addition to sunny coastal landscapes. How and When to Plant Date Palm Date palms are best transplanted in spring or fall. Credit: Ed Gohlich Take care when transporting your specimen, as the wood is very soft. Likewhen planting any other tree, dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball....

Also known as a living fossil, this beautiful deciduous conifer needs lots of space and sun. It has lush needles, a graceful pyramidal form, and an elegant branching pattern. Dawn redwood is a deciduous conifer. It looks like an evergreen during the growing season as it is clothed in soft green needles. The foliage turns russet-red in autumn before gracefully falling from the branches. Birds seek out the dense branches of the tree for nesting....

Daylilies are a reliable and popular perennial that produces scores of colorful flowers in summer. What began as a plant with simple yellow or red flowers has changed drastically through years of breeding. More than just the color palette has expanded over the years. Credit: Mike Moreland Many daylilies also boast a pleasant fragrance, especially varieties thatbloom at night. Where to Plant Daylily Daylily can be planted in almost any location with full or partial sun....

Shade gardens can offer some tricky planting situations that just a few plants adapt to well. Deadnettle is one of the plants that thrives in shade and a wide variety of other growing conditions. There are a few varieties with golden foliage. Janet Loughrey. Deadnettles prefer shade where they take on a green hue and their attractive variegations fade a bit over time. These easy-to-grow plants require very little care once established andcreate stunning mats of colorin a shade garden....

Learn how to grow delphiniums to enjoy their stunning summer flowers. These elegant plants also add a strong vertical element to cut flower bouquets. This guide covers what you gotta know to grow delphiniums in your own garden. Credit:David McDonald Delphinium plants and seeds are toxic.Plant them in a location away from children and pets. Plant delphiniums in well-draining soil in an area that receives6 to 8 hours of sun daily....

Brighten up a hot, dry garden with easy-care desert mallow and you’ll be rewarded nearly year-round. Desert mallowis a shrubby, upright perennial native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. In the right climate, desert mallow is adaptable and practically effortless. Credit: Denny Schrock It grows best with lots of sun, well-drained soil, and limited watering. Its adaptable to various soil typesincluding poor soilsbut wont tolerate wet feet. The tough perennial fares best in open growing spaces where increased airflow helps prevent disease....

This pretty shrub produces clouds of pink or white spring blooms. With over 60 species in this genus, deutzia has a fair amount of diversity. New cultivars feature beautiful blooms, fall color, and even deer resistance. Janet Mesic-Mackie. Deutzia’s claim to fame is its bountiful white blooms in early spring. Although most often white-blooming, there are pink selections as well. The blooms are gorgeous, and the flower buds are perfect little spheres....

Also called pinks, these colorful flowering perennials range from tiny to towering, some with a clove-like scent. Dianthus is the quintessentialcottage garden flower. Dianthus varieties range from tiny creeping groundcovers to tall carnations, which are widely grown as cut flowers. Credit:Denny Schrock If thats not an option, partial shade is suitable, too. (Some towering types may still need additional support.) Dianthus needs very well-drained soil. Credit: Justin Hanccock Dig a hole roughly twice the size of the root ball and about the same depth....

This cheery annual will add a splash of color to your early spring garden. The flowers come in a range of pinks, whites, corals, and oranges. Diascia is sometimes called twinspur because the flowers feature two spurs coming out of the back of the blossoms. Credit: Andy Lyons The soil should be well-draining and slightly acidic. How and When to Plant Diascia Diascia appear at nurseries and garden centers in the spring....

This low-growing, trailing plant thrives as a groundcover, in containers, or as a no-mow lawn alternative. Dichondra makes a good accent in a garden. Its pale green orsilver foliagecreates a dense mat of leaves that soften any area. Credit: Dan Piassick Dichondra is perennial in Zones 10 and 11 and grown as an annual elsewhere. Its dense mats of leaves prevent weed growth and cover areas much quicker than grass....

This popular houseplant doesnt need much care for its lush foliage to look beautiful. As the lower leaves naturally drop off over time, the plants canelike stems become visible. In Zones 10 and warmer, It can grow outdoors. Credit:BHG / Juli Lopez-Castillo In most climates, dieffenbachia makes an excellent houseplant because it doesnt need much sun. If you only have south- or west-facing windows, use a gauzy curtain to diffuse the sunlight exposure....

Also known as trout lily, this native woodland perennial is a harbinger of spring thriving in the shade. The best effect is created by mass plantings or drifts. Find a location where the plant can remain undisturbed, which increases the likelihood of it naturalizing over time. Thriving in moist or wet soil, it also grows well along stream banks and beside ponds. Plant it on stream banks to help prevent erosion....