Here are some Unique Perennials You Can Grow This Summer to make your garden stand out!
Here are some out-of-the-box unusual perennials plants you can grow this summer for a stunning display of foliage and flowers in the warm season!
Unusual Perennials Plants You Can Grow This Summer
1. Black Bat Flower
Botanical Name: Tacca chantrieri
USDA Zones: 9-12
Perennial In: Warmer Regions
Perhaps the most unusual perennials you can grow this summer is the black bat flower. Why? Well, it looks like a bat in flight that’s why! You can grow it in pots or also train it to climb on nearby trees in the garden.
2. Golden-Rayed Lily
Botanical Name: Lilium auratum
USDA Zones: 5-8
Perennial In: Cooler to Moderate Regions
Golden-rayed outshines most other lily varieties in terms of size—the large blooms look smashing against the deep green foliage. These unusual perennials plants bloom in early summer and makes for an excellent border plant.
3. Kangaroo Paw
Botanical Name: Anigozanthos
USDA Zones: 8-11
Perennial In: Warmer Regions
The kangaroo paw, an Australian native, can be a good pick for garden beds, as well as containers. The red flowers in clusters resemble, well, read that name again! To maintain it well, trim spent flowers and protect the plant from frost.
4. Toad Lily
Botanical Name: Tricyrtis
USDA Zones: 4-9
Perennial In: Cooler to Moderate Regions
The light purple flowers of this plant are a highlight, but the blooms also come in the shades of white and blue! It stays stubby, which makes it a good pick a border plant in the garden. Do make sure it gets indirect light and stays protected from the afternoon sun.
5. Giant Leopard Plant
Botanical Name: Farfugium japonicum
USDA Zones: 7-10
Perennial In: Warmer Regions
If you are someone who appreciates a glossy foliage specimen, this one will make you happy! Its large leaves can be upto a foot wide or even more! The towering yellow flowers are a highlight, too!
6. Chocolate Cosmos
Botanical Name: Cosmos atrosanguineus
USDA Zones: 7-10
Perennial In: Warmer Regions
For those seeking a unique, chocolate-like fragrance, it is an excellent choice. These summer flowering perennials can be grown in both garden beds and containers. Also, deadhead regularly to prolong flowering.
7. Fox Tail Lily
Botanical Name: Eremurus
USDA Zones: 5-8
Perennial In: Cooler to Moderate Regions
Another perennial that will surely catch everyone’s eye is Foxtail Lily, with its palette of different hues! You can grow it against a wall or simply as a background plant for the borders!
8. Bearded Iris
Botanical Name: Iris germanica
USDA Zones: 3-9
Perennial In: Cooler to Moderate Regions
For summers, bearded iris is an excellent choice and comes in various shades of pink, blue, and white. To maintain it, make sure it is watered well and gets plenty of bright and indirect light.
9. Middlemist’s Red
Botanical Name: Camellia japonica ‘Middlemist’s Red’
USDA Zones: 7-9
Perennial In: Warmer Regions
This is the rarest of the camellias you can add to your collection, and it will reward you with bunch of flowers that remind of roses. Shelter these summer blooming perennials from strong winds and provide afternoon shade.
10. Parrot’s Beak
Botanical Name: Lotus berthelotii
USDA Zones: 8-11
Perennial In: Warmer Regions
The parrot’s beak is a unique trailing plant that will give a new look to hanging baskets. The flowers of this perennial look like, well, you might have guessed it by now by the name! It blooms best when pruned regularly.
11. Ghost Orchid
Botanical Name: Dendrophylax lindenii
USDA Zones: Indoor or greenhouse only
Ghost orchid is another unusual plant that you can add to your list of perennials. This white flowering plant has a ghostly appearance that blooms almost all year around.
Note: It’s extremely rare and challenging to cultivate this plant in a typical garden setting, so growing it indoors is the best option.
12. Snake Lily
Botanical Name: Amorphophallus konjac
USDA Zones: 6-10
Perennial In: Cooler to Moderate Regions
These have to be the most unusual flowers on this list and if you like things quirky, this is for you! Its flowers can grow upto a height of 3-4 feet easily.
Note: The snake lily’s odor (similar to that of rotten fish) might be unpleasant, and it may also attract unwanted animals and pests.
13. Bear’s Breeches
Botanical Name: Acanthus mollis
USDA Zones: 7-10
Perennial In: Cooler to Moderate Regions
If you want towering perennial flowers for summer with large ruffled leaves, this plant needs to be in your garden. It spreads quite easily, so growing it around the borders and fences makes a lot of sense. Do prune regularly to keep the invasive nature in check.
14. Japanese Forest Grass
Botanical Name: Hakonechloa macra
USDA Zones: 5-9
Perennial In: Cooler to Moderate Regions
Be it borders or containers, this beautiful grass, with an impeccable combination of yellow and green, stands out! It is also not so fussy about the light—just keep the soil slightly on the moist side for vibrant leaf color.
