10 Flowers to Plant in August

While April showers bring May flowers, there are still a number of flowers to plant in August! The summer sun may still be hot in your local area during this month, which may prevent you from growing all of the flowers on this list. However, as August cools down, many flower types bloom throughout fall. But what flowers can you safely plant in August, either to enjoy their blooms in fall or prepare for springtime? 

While young flowers may need protecting from the hottest days of August, many wildflowers and drought-resistant flowers can be planted from seed anytime this month. Certain flowers, such as cornflowers, foxgloves, and nigella flowers, can be planted from seed this month for springtime germination. Purchase established marigold and chrysanthemum plants from your local garden center for a pop of color in your fall garden! 

Whether you want to get ahead of your springtime garden or are hoping for some flowers during the fall season, we’ve got 10 of the best flowers to plant in August. So long as you know your local temperatures and Hardiness Zones, you’re ready to get digging! Let’s get started and discuss the care of some of these flowers now. 

The 10 Best Flowers to Plant in August

As August can be a particularly volatile time for young flowers, protecting seedlings and delicate petals is a must during your hottest days of the month. Consider planting some flowers later in the month so that they can better withstand these late summer temperatures. However, some of the flowers on this list do just fine in hot and cold temperatures as the seasons change! Let’s discuss some of these flowers now. 

Marigolds

Incredibly easy to grow and attractive for the fall season, marigolds do well in containers as well as in the ground. These garden staples aren’t particularly fussy when it comes to the type of soil you plant them in. Growing marigolds is easily done from both seed and established plants during the month of August, depending on your region. If you plan on growing marigolds from seed, be sure to plant the seeds close to the surface of the soil so that they can get some sunlight for proper germination! There are plenty of types of marigolds to choose from, including ones that are more likely to survive colder fall temperatures. 

Chrysanthemums

Similarly to marigolds, chrysanthemums come in a variety of types, colors, and styles. Popular in the fall, you can plant chrysanthemums in August so that they are blooming by November! Many gardeners choose to purchase an already established chrysanthemum plant for August planting, allowing them plenty of color for the rest of the summer. You can deadhead chrysanthemums throughout the fall, as this cheery flower readily regrows until it gets too cold outside. 

Black-Eyed Susans

If you run out of time for your black-eyed Susans to grow during the month of August, don’t fret. Plant black-eyed Susan seeds in your garden and allow them to grow, even if they don’t flower before winter arrives. These cheery blooms receive themselves and come back readily with little effort, giving you plenty of flowers come springtime. Black-eyed Susans prefer full sunshine and are otherwise easy to care for. Keep an eye out for mildew-based diseases and choose to water them in the morning rather than in the evening to help avoid this common problem. 

Nigella Flowers

You may know nigella flowers by their common name: love-in-a-mist. These pretty blooms are unique and striking in any garden, but you may not see them until springtime. Much like black-eyed susans, nigella flowers may not bloom in time before winter temperatures force them into dormancy. However, they will arrive in full force come spring! While they may look delicate, nigella flowers are drought tolerant, require little care, and thrive in many soil types. Give them full sunshine and scatter the seeds along the surface of the soil for best results when planted in August. 

Cornflowers

Unlike many other flowers on this list, cornflowers tend to produce their blooms best when temperatures are above 80° F. Planting cornflowers in August may not give you many blooms before winter sets in, but these wildflowers eagerly return after a cold snap. Attractive to pollinators, cornflowers can be found in a variety of colors and sizes. They are excellent for filling in gaps in your landscaping. While these flowers can handle a bit of shade, full sunshine helps them thrive best. Otherwise, you will need to stake them, as they can get leggy if not given enough light! 

Larkspur

Get a head start on your springtime garden by planting larkspur now. This striking bloom tends to die off toward the end of August, though it needs warmer temperatures to germinate properly. By planting larkspur now, you’ll have stately and beautiful flowers once the sun returns in spring! Available in many colors and sizes, larkspur needs full sunshine in order to thrive. These beauties are also fairly susceptible to a variety of diseases, so make sure to remove any dead foliage from the garden bed when it occurs. 

Foxgloves

Similarly to larkspur, foxgloves need more time than you are likely to have if you plant them during August. However, this perennial will return happily in springtime! Foxgloves are tall and intricate, lending a mature and stately look to any garden. While they are poisonous to both people and animals, foxgloves are easy to care for and sequester from any curious hands! Full sunshine is a must, and consider staking your foxgloves as they get taller. Strong winds are likely to blow them over if left to their own devices! 

Asters

Many asters grow in a clumping fashion, making them ideal for border or container growth. Drought-resistant and happy in a variety of Zones, asters can be planted as an established plant or from seed during the month of August. Many gardeners choose to plant them from an established plant during this month, as asters prefer fall temperatures to bloom. In fact, this flower will bloom profusely during its first year, something that few other flowers do! Just give them full sunshine and watch out for any signs of mildew to keep your asters happy. 

Petunias

If you want petunias to thrive when planted during the month of August, be sure to put them in a container. This will allow you to move them indoors or into an area of protection, as petunias can’t handle temperatures below 40° F. However, if you purchase an established petunia plant, it will produce flowers throughout the month of August and into the fall with proper care. Petunias can be a little fussy when it comes to their water and fertilizing routine, but it’s easy to pick up on in time. Plus, these flowers reseed and come back in areas that don’t experience particularly harsh winters! 

Pansies

While they still enjoy full sunshine, pansies are best planted toward the end of August, when temperatures start to cool. Thriving in fall and early spring, pansies can be planted from seed or as established plants during August. Just be sure to protect these little blooms during temperatures over 80° F! There are countless varieties of pansies to consider, but most varieties do well both in the ground and in containers. When winter arrives, deadhead your pansies and wait for them to return in early spring just as happily as they did in late August! 

Summary of 10 Flowers to Plant in August

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