Dahlias grow magnificent, large, bushy blooms that come in nearly every color of the rainbow.
Lovely and fragrant, gladioli grow long stems covered in frilly, brightly colored blooms. "I can't think of anything more dramatic than a vase full of glads in the summertime.
Lilies are the plant of the year, according to The National Garden Bureau, and flowerbulbs.com has narrowed that down specifically to Asiatic lilies.
"They are also excellent planted in containers with annuals in similar hues to add a bright pop of color and surprise in mid-summer.
Dainty and bright, cranesbill geraniums (aka hearty geraniums) mound into bushy clumps, making them handy for filling spaces. They are drought-tolerant once established and make excellent ground cover and borders.
Elegant callas are heat-loving and excel in containers. "I put them in a prominent place in the garden until they have finished blooming in late summer and the foliage begins to droop.
Unlike many bulb plants, begonias do well in the shade, making them perfect for cheering up corners and other drab yard areas — especially since they bloom continuously from summer through fall.
With lush, green foliage and bronze or stripped colors, orchid-like canna lilies attract hummingbirds and other pollinators and thrive both in the ground or large containers.