10 August Plants that Gardeners Love Growing

By Calin Oancea

4/12/20246 min read

August is a great month for growing plants to their full shine but coosen the ideal plants for your spac, conditions and like can be a hustle.

In this no-fluff and helpful article, we reveal 10 August plants that gardeners love to grow for their beauty, edibility, and ability to add color and life to various garden settings, from hanging baskets to outdoor landscapes.

You can use these late summer plants multiple of which we tested and grown in our gardening lab in fresh dishes from your garden or simply fill green spaces with color and greens to make your garden more lively.

green design
green design
dark green design
dark green design
multiple white August flowering plants
multiple white August flowering plants
a bunch of Black-Eyed Susan flowers in August
a bunch of Black-Eyed Susan flowers in August

Black-Eyed Susan

Black-Eyed Susan, reaching about 60-90 cm (2-3 ft), is an essential August blooming plant but also works well as a September garden plant. After having it in our own garden we concluded that it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. This plant is perfect for adding a splash of late-summer color to borders and outdoor spaces, attracting butterflies and providing a nice yellow touch.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
green August Pea plants
green August Pea plants

Peas

Peas are reaching about 1-2 m (3-6 ft) when supported. They prefer cooler temperatures and can be planted in late summer for a fall harvest in some regions. Peas thrive in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. We grew peas oourselves and saw that the vegetables are perfect for vertical gardening, as they climb eagerly up trellises, adding a touch of greenery and productivity to your garden space even on walls.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
multiple Coneflowers with white petals
multiple Coneflowers with white petals

Coneflower

Coneflower, growing to about 60-90 cm (2-3 ft), is a sun-loving perennial. Its vibrant, daisy-like flowers attract butterflies and bees, while its seeds provide food for birds in zones 6, 7, and more. The Coneflower is excellent for mixed borders, naturalized areas, or containers, adding color and life to drought-tolerant gardens that don't require much watering.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
a drought tolerat Sedum bush with red flowers
a drought tolerat Sedum bush with red flowers

Sedum

Sedums have fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers and are excellent container or ground cover garden plants but also offer a low maintenance solution for dry, shaded areas. Sedum comes in various sizes, typically around 10-60 cm (4-24 in). These drought tolerant shade bushes prefer well-drained soil and can thrive in partial shade.

dark green design
dark green design
green design
green design
multiple orange Carrot plants in August
multiple orange Carrot plants in August

Carrots

These orange august veggies which we also grew in our garden extend down 15-30 cm (6-12 in) and are a favorite in cooking. Carrots prefer full sun and deep, well-drained soil. Like most of the August vegetables and fruits, planting carrots in late summer can lead to a successful harvest in autumn, especially in milder climates. They are a good choice for growing in containers or simply in your garden.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
beautiful red-white Dahlia blooms on a bush
beautiful red-white Dahlia blooms on a bush

Dahlia

Dahlia bushes prefer full sun and well-drained soil, they have colorful summer blooms in a wide range of colors and forms and are one of the favorite plants gardeners choose. The flowers are perfect for borders, cutting gardens, or amazing features in outdoor planting areas. With varieties ranging from 30 cm to over 1 m (1-4 ft), it is a standout August flowering plant often used as an ornamental.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
one pink Japanese Anemone flower blooming in August
one pink Japanese Anemone flower blooming in August

Japanese Anemone, growing to about 60-120 cm (2-4 ft), is a graceful August blooming plant. It prefers partial shade and well-drained soil and produces elegant, white or pink flowers. This perennial adds a touch of sophistication to any garden and is perfect for adding late-season interest to shaded areas or woodland settings.

green design
green design
green design
green design

Japanese Anemone

green design
green design
pink perennial Dwarf Phlox bsh flowers
pink perennial Dwarf Phlox bsh flowers

Garden Phlox

Dwarf Phlox, reaching about 10-15 cm (4-6 in) in height, is a full sun perennial known for its carpet of vibrant flowers in spring. It's perfect for borders, rock gardens, or as a colorful ground cover. This low-growing plant is a favorite for its ease of care and ability to add a burst of color to the garden and also works well as a spring garden plant.

dark green design
dark green design
green design
green design
tiny purple August flowers called Lobelia
tiny purple August flowers called Lobelia

This August season plant is ideal for adding a splash of cool color to hanging baskets window boxes, or as an edging plant in garden beds. Lobelia grows to about 10-15 cm (4-6 in) and is a popular choice for August hanging baskets. It flourishes in full sun to partial shade and produces vibrant blue, purple, or white flowers.

green design
green design
green design
green design

Lobelia

clusters of small pink-yellow Lantana flowers
clusters of small pink-yellow Lantana flowers
purple design
purple design

Lantana

Lantana is a very nice august plant we really like, growing to about 60-90 cm (2-3 ft) high. It thrives in full sun and has amazing multicolored flowers. This plant is perfect for adding a tropical feel to patios and balconies, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds with its nectar-rich blooms but also works well as a June garden plant.

purple design
purple design
purple design
purple design

Sources

Nature and Sustainability uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, and other fact-dense and highly trusted sources to support the facts that we use in our articles. Please read our editorial policy to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. 

  1. Peas: Pea - Wikipedia

  2. Black Eyed Susan: Rudbeckia hirta (Black Eyed Susan, Black-eyed Susan, Gloriosa Daisy) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

  3. Lobelia: Lobelia erinus (Lobelia) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

  4. Garden Phlox: Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox): The Summer Showstopper (gardenia.net)

  5. Dahlia: Dahlias: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Dahlia Flowers | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Share this article:

Calin Oancea
Calin Oancea
Green Box
Green Box

Article By:

Calin has been in the garden industry for 5 years and knows much about gardening and plants. He owns this website and is responsible for most of the content.