Perfect Flowers to Fill the Gap Between Spring and Summer in Your Chesapeake Native Garden
- Nuts for Natives
- May 8, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: May 10, 2024
Flowers for sun.
Following the spring profusion of flowers, my garden is verdant and lush but very few native flowers are in bloom. Each year, I note this gap and think next year, I need to fix it! Yet, here it is. Lots of green; not so many flowers.
This is exactly why garden designers recommend focusing on foliage -- contrasting textures, colors and leaf shape. While flowers are fleeting, foliage is always there doing its thing during the growing season. Nevertheless, I'm looking for flowers!
Wild Indigo
Wild indigo, (Baptisia australis), sometimes called false indigo, emerges in April and by May, spikes of graceful blue flowers bloom for a couple of weeks. The flowers are beautiful but its true value is its 3 to 4 foot high silvery blue foliage that stays strong throughout our humid and hot summers. In the fall, the seed pods turn black and can be quite interesting. Wild indigo needs full sun to bloom profusely. It easily tolerates clay soil and is drought tolerant once established. One thing to remember about this plant is you can’t move it after it establishes. It grows a deep tap root system and moving it inevitably severs the roots too severely. I can say from experience its a good idea to select a location that will not eventually become shaded.
Blue Flag Iris
Blue Flag (Iris versicolor) is our native iris and does best in soils on the moist side They grow in full or dappled sun. These bloom in late spring and sword like foliage adds texture and contrast for much longer.
Blue Eyed Grass
Blue eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) is a one to two foot high perennial has lots of tiny bright blue flowers once established. In my experience, the more sun it gets, the more flowers it yields. It is also will self seed once established.
Honeysuckle
Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) begins flowering well before the gap but the vine will continue to flower right through it. Native honeysuckle is easy to grow, attracts hummingbirds, blooms in sun or part shade and produces bright red berries in fall. It grows quickly but not aggressively.
Wild Hydrangea
Wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) are shrubs with many white flowers. Flowers are just beginning to emerge on wild hydrangeas here. The buds add interest and the flowers are long lasting. While wild hydrangeas tend to do best with some shade they can grow in part sun with enough water.
Your lull in blooms between spring and summer flowers may be earlier or later depending on where you garden. It's also quite possible that you may have no gap at all where you are! Please do share if you have other ideas for filling the gap with flowers!
Happy Gardening.
Reading about those “perfect gap bloomers” for a native garden took me back to evenings when I was balancing notes, sources, and drafts, trying to leave just enough space for new ideas without leaving holes. In that delicate tension I thought of Ranked Design not as the gardener, but as the layout plan that helps me place seeds (ideas), give them room, and guide what grows so the result feels both intentional and abundant.
Wow, this post came at the perfect timing for me! There is an awkward gap in my garden after spring when there are no special flowers. Wild indigo and blue eyed grass definitely seem worth a try. Thanks for the helpful ideas! Planning a short duration Benin trip? Then Benin 30 Day Single Entry eVisa is the best option! This eVisa allows travelers to stay in Benin for up to 30 days, but only one-time entry is allowed. The application process is simple; fill the online form, upload the required documents and complete the secure payment. Approval is received via email, which can be kept in a print or digital copy. With this visa, traveling to Benin becomes easy and…
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I love how this article highlights native bloomers that thrive in the Chesapeake sun—perfect for creating a vibrant, natural garden. It also makes me think about how important clean air is indoors, especially when you bring nature inside. That’s why having a reliable air purifier for your home is so valuable. Devices like the Sensibo Pure help filter out allergens and pollutants, creating a fresher, healthier atmosphere that complements the natural beauty you cultivate outside. Combining a thriving garden with clean indoor air truly elevates your living space and wellbeing.
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