What to Plant Now Summer 2025

What to Plant Now: Native Gardening for Summer 2025

It's hot out there. July temperatures are here, and we're deep into the heat of summer. Your garden is wilting, and you're wondering what you can plant to get fast, long-lasting, and low-maintenance blooms. If you're looking for just that, native plants are the answer. These natives are tough, adapted to your climate and attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Summer 2025 is a great time to get started, and I've got some tips for you.

Why Plant Native Plants?

Native plants are adapted to your local rainfall, soil, and seasonal patterns. They don't need fertilizer or pesticides, and they need minimal water once established. Most importantly, they're an important part of a healthy local ecosystem-especially for pollinators. According to the University of Tennessee Extension, planting native species in your landscape is one of the best ways to create a healthy, functional ecosystem in your own backyard.

If your garden is looking a little tired-or you have some open space to plant-these are the native plants that will bring color, purpose, and performance this summer and beyond.

Native Perennials to Plant This Summer

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Bold and pollinator-friendly with purple-pink petals and an orange center. This native wildflower blooms from mid-summer through fall and is a pollinator favorite. Grows in full sun and dry to average soil.👉 Buy Purple Coneflower at TN Nursery

Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) With its spikes of purple flowers, Blazing Star adds height and movement to any sunny border. It's a monarch and swallowtail favorite, and it grows easily in poor soil. Blooms July through September.

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) This native member of the mint family has soft lavender flowers and thrives in sun to part shade. It's drought and heat tolerant once established and attracts bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) This native garden favorite has bright yellow petals and a dark center. It's beautiful, but it's also tough. Heat, humidity, and drought-tolerant once established, it blooms all summer into fall.

Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) Monarch butterfly food and home for caterpillars, milkweed is a must for pollinator gardens. This native thrives in poor, dry soil and full sun. It blooms from mid-summer through late summer. 👉 Shop Milkweed at TN Nursery

Native Grasses and Ground Covers Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) This ornamental grass grows in part shade and adds delicate texture with flat, drooping seed heads. It attracts birds and insects and holds up well into fall and winter.

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) This fast-spreading ground cover offers pretty white flowers, tiny edible berries, and is great for wildlife. Thrives in sun to part shade.

Appalachian Sedge (Carex appalachica) Perfect for replacing turf grass, this clumping sedge grows in shade to part sun and looks lush all season.

Late-Blooming Native Shrubs and Trees Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) This native shrub blooms mid-summer through late summer with unusual white, globe-shaped flowers. It thrives in wet soil and is a great plant for a pond or rain garden. Bees and butterflies love it.

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) A useful and attractive native that blooms with white flowers and then produces berries birds love. Plant now in moist soil for healthy fall growth.

Red Maple Seedlings If you're thinking ahead, now is a great time to plant Red Maples in summer for strong root growth before fall. Its fiery fall foliage makes it a showstopper.

Summer Planting Tips Plant early in the morning or late in the day to reduce transplant shock.

Water deeply after planting and mulch to retain moisture.

Group your plants by moisture and sun needs for easy maintenance.

Keep soil moist during establishment period (typically 2-3 weeks).

Don't use synthetic fertilizers-native plants usually don't need them.

Create a Purpose-Driven Garden You don't have to transform your entire landscape. Add a native garden bed, a pollinator patch, or even a few pots with coneflowers and milkweed. These choices this summer can make a lasting difference-not just in your yard but for your region's ecosystem.

Need help choosing plants? TN Nursery specializes in native species that are ready to ship and easy to grow. From pollinator kits to ground covers, everything is carefully curated for real performance and beauty.

Final Thoughts

You don't have to put your gardening on hold in the summer. In fact, now is the perfect time to plant smart with native perennials, grasses, and shrubs. These are tough, beautiful, and beneficial to wildlife. Whether you're starting from scratch or filling in gaps, planting now with natives will reward you for years to come.

Get started today with a few carefully chosen plants, and you'll be amazed by what's blooming by the end of summer.