The Best Perennial Flowers for Kansas: 14 Flowers That Love the Heat

Growing plants in the heart of the midwest, like Kansas, is easy as long as you know what to plant. Not everything will survive the sweltering summers and bone-chilling winters. But, it is still possible to successfully grow beautiful items like perennial flowers in your Kansas garden. The key is to find varieties that thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 5b-7a and also don’t mind a bit of sun. We’ve gathered a list of our favorite perennial flowers for Kansas to help you get started on your planning!

1. Black-eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8 and is native to North America. It produces distinctive bright yellow blossoms with a black center. These stunning plants grow between two and four feet tall and wide. Black-eyed Susans require partial to full sun and are somewhat drought-tolerant. However, they will grow best in moist soil. 

You will get the best blooms for the longest period of time if you deadhead the plant. The gorgeous flowers that reach up to three inches wide will last until fall that way. And a bonus is that black-eyed Susans are loved by pollinators. Sow this amazing flower in the fall for the best results.

2. Moonbeam Threadleaf Coreopsis

This hardy perennial is best suited for zones 3 to 9. Moonbeam threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’) blooms from summer through fall. It is part of the Asteraceae (daisy) family, and it develops pale yellow flowers with rounded edges. The plant grows up to 18 to 24 inches tall and wide. It is drought-tolerant and doesn’t mind poor soil. Plant it in a location that receives full sun to ensure its lovely flowers bloom abundantly. 

3. Bloody Geranium

Don’t be fooled by the name. This stunning flower shows off its incredible blossoms in zones 3 to 9. Bloody Geranium (Geranium sanguineum) blooms in late spring, but the flowers are short-lived. They are delicate pale pink or purple blossoms. This plant grows up to 1 or 2 feet tall and wide. It prefers full sun but tolerates some shade. Bloody Geranium needs rich soil that is well-draining. However, it will tolerate poor soil. Since it is deer and rabbit-resistant, it makes the ideal addition to any Kansas garden.

4. Catnip

Catnip, or catmit (Nepeta spp.), grows best in zones 3 to 9. It doubles as a stunning perennial flower and is an ideal plant for a border or hedge. Catnip grows up to 24 inches tall. It has silver-tinted foliage and purple or blue spiky flowers. This lovely flower can tolerate partial shade to full sun. It is a popular addition to traditional herbal medicine and belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family. 

5. Purple Coneflower

The large, distinctive blossoms and contrasting cones give coneflower (Echinacea spp.) its name. These lovely flowers grow to two to four feet tall and wide and are known for their purple flowers. However, some varieties have blossoms in different shades. You can find pinks, yellows, oranges, and whites. Coneflowers require full sun but will survive in partial shade. They are hardy in zones 3 to 9. Echinacea needs rich soil to thrive but will survive in poor or sandy soil.

6. Daylilies

Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are native to Asia. However, they thrive in much of the United States, including zones 3 to 9. The trumpet-like blossoms stick under from spring to fall. Expect red, pink, orange, yellow, bi-color blossoms. This flower is highly adaptable and can grow in most conditions. But it thrives in partial shade to full shade. Daylilies are also very heat tolerant, so they can hold up well to Kansas summers.

7. Russian Sage

The lovely Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) plant grows in zones 5 to 9 and is a member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It reaches up to three feet tall and wide but is slow to mature. The delicate blue or purple flowers arrive in the summer. They last until the fall and are a favorite of local pollinators. Russian sage needs full sun but only average soil to thrive. It is also deer, rabbit, and drought-tolerant!

8. Lavender

Lavender (Lavandula spp.) is also in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It grows best in zones 5 to 8. This gorgeous flower needs full sun but only moderate to poor soil conditions for optimum growth. It will reach two to three feet tall and equally as wide at maturity. While the most common varieties come in purple flowers, there are also white and pink varieties. As long as lavender stays in dry to nearly dry soil, it will remain happy.

9. Yarrow

This common medicinal herb grows in zones 3 to 9. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) prefers partial shade to full sun. It grows up to 36 inches tall with a similar width. This low-maintenance flower also attracts predatory insects. Yarrow is a member of the Asteraceae (Aster) family and is native to North America. Its blossoms arrive in the spring and last through fall. They are typically white, though some varieties are pink. These flowers like dry soil and prefer full sun or partial shade.

10. Trumpet Creeper

Feel free to plant trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) throughout Kanas. It is hardy in zones 4 to 9. This flower grows best in partial shade to full sun and loves heat. Its stunning blossoms arrive in the summer. They are clusters of reddish-orange trumpet-shaped flowers. True to its name, this vining plant tends to creep and take over. It reaches up to 40 feet! So make sure you have something for it to climb. And finally, this flower is drought-tolerant, making it ideal for a Kansas summer.

11. Lupine

Lupine (Lupinus spp.) is a North American native. This plant family has over 300 species. Most require full sun to thrive. They grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 10. They produce cone-shaped flowers in the spring or summer. Many species grow three to four feet tall and naturally add nitrogen to the soil. Plant lupine in well-draining soil in a spot that receives partial shade or full sun.

12. Verbena

This flower is for those living in the portions of Kansas that are in zone 7. It typically grows in zones 7 to 11. Planting verbena (Verbena spp.) in parts of Kansas is pushing it a little, but it is worth the try. This flower thrives in most environments and loves hot and dry conditions. So it will hold up well to Kansas summers. It grows up to four feet tall and produces magnificent violet or pink flowers from spring through fall. 

13. Peony

Peonies (Paeonia spp.) produce enormous flowers with yellow, pink, red, white, or bi-color blossoms that arrive in late spring. These stunning flowers prefer rich, well-draining soil with full sun to partial shade. They grow up to three feet tall and thrive in zones 3 to 8.

14. Purple Poppy-mallow

Last but certainly not least is a flower native to Kansas. True to its name, purple poppy-mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) produces purple blossoms. This vining plant is a member of the Malvaceae (Mallow) family and grows up to three feet long. It requires full sun to partial shade but has no soil preference. Purple poppy-mallow grows best in zones 4 to 8. Its purple, white, or pink blooms arrive in summer and last through fall. 

Summary of the 14 Best Perennial Flowers for Kansas