Show Your Patriotism with These Red, White, and Blue Flowers That Return Each Season

What better way to decorate your yard and show pride for your country than with a patriotic display of red, white, and blue flowers? The bold, vibrant colors of the American flag can make for an eye-catching floral theme Even better are plants that come back to bloom year after year so your patriotic garden keeps looking great every summer.

Certain flowering plants grow reliably in the same spot, providing a blanket of iconic red, white, and blue blooms without needing to be replanted annually. Read on for some top recommendations for perennial flowers and bulbs that will keep your 4th of July landscaping looking festive season after season.

Red Perennial Flowers

Red blooms evoke fireworks, festivals, and the American flag. For patriotic red flowers that return reliably, consider:

• Begonias – Wax begonias and tuberous begonias produce abundant red blossoms from spring to first frost. Grow in containers or beds.

• Canna Lily – Tropical-looking cannas bear stunning red flowers on tall stalks over summer. Mass in beds or borders.

• Dianthus – Also called Sweet William or carnations, dianthus produces frilly, fragrant red flowers for cutting.

• Geranium – Tough, heat-loving geraniums bloom all season in shades like red, burgundy, and scarlet.

• Lantana – A versatile shrub with clusters of small red, orange, or multicolored flowers beloved by butterflies.

• Pentas – Star-shaped red blooms on these compact plants attract hummingbirds. Grow in beds or pots.

Patriotic White Flowering Plants

White represents purity and innocence in the American flag. Choose perennials like these for long-lasting white blooms:

• Shasta Daisy – Classic white daisies with yellow centers bloom all summer. Deadhead for more flowers.

• Gaura – Airy white flowers dance along thin stems, giving common name Whirlybird. Tough, drought-resistant perennial.

• Bee Balm – White varieties like ‘White Velvet’ produce abundant flowers loved by pollinators.

• Artemisia – Small white flower clusters top silvery-white leaves. Tolerates heat and dry soils.

• Yarrow – Flat-topped white flower heads contrast finely cut, ferny foliage. Withstands some foot traffic.

• Sedum – Succulent sedums like ‘Angelina’ have starry white blooms and colorful yellow foliage.

Best Blue Perennials for Patriotic Theme

Blue can be the trickiest patriotic color to find in perennial flowers. Fortunately, these plants bloom in blue-purple shades year after year:

• Russian Sage – Airy lavender-blue flower spikes contrast gray-green foliage. Drought-tolerant and hardy.

• Hosta – Many hostas produce pale blue flowers on tall scapes in summer. Shade-loving with bold foliage.

• Salvia – Heat-loving salvias include blue varieties like ‘Mystic Spires’ and ‘Indigo Spires’. Great for pollinators.

• Catmint – Catmints produce masses of blue-lavender blooms on attractive silver foliage that spreads nicely.

• Hyssop – Pretty blue flowers appear on this rugged, bee-friendly herb in summer. Prune after bloom.

• Speedwell – Delicate-looking but hardy, speedwell blooms in blue, purple and white shades depending on variety.

Patriotic Flower Bulbs to Plant Once

Flower bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and crocus offer colorful spring blooms year after year when planted just once. Combine red, white, and blue varieties together for stunning impact.

Red tulips and geraniums planted with white daisies and blue lobelia make for an iconic patriotic display. For an extra festive touch, intersperse miniature American flags throughout the flower beds or line a walkway.

With some planning, you can create a 4th of July landscape that bursts with our flag’s iconic colors. Mixing red, white and blue perennials and bulbs results in a patriotic garden that keeps looking great with minimal fuss every Independence Day.

Designing a Red, White, and Blue Flowerbed

Follow these simple tips when planning your patriotic flower garden:

• Choose a prominent location like the front yard or entryway garden beds where the display will attract attention.

• Select a balance of heights and growth forms for visual interest. Mix bushy, upright and trailing plants.

• Mass plants of the same variety and color together for bold blocks of color rather than dotting individual plants sporadically.

• Include pollinator-friendly picks like salvias, bee balm and lantana to encourage birds, bees, and butterflies.

• Use white flowers as neutrals to provide separation between the bold red and blue hues.

• Underplant bulbs like tulips and daffodils with lower-growing perennials to disguise fading foliage.

• Add vertical elements like obelisks, trellises or poles adorned with American flags for height.

• Include patriotic garden ornaments like statues, benches, gazing balls, and even a red white & blue mailbox.

With thoughtful design, you can create a stunning and symbolic red, white, and blue flower display right in your own yard.

Caring for Red, White and Blue Perennial Gardens

Perennial gardens are naturally low maintenance, but here are some tips for keeping your patriotic plants looking their best:

• Prepare soil well with compost before planting. Most perennials like average, well-drained soil.

• Group plants according to their sun and water needs. Put thirsty plants together, drought-tolerant ones together, etc.

• Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Replenish as needed.

• Stake tall flowers like cannas, salvia, and daisies as needed to prevent flopping.

• Prune spent flowers (deadheading) to encourage more blooms. Cut back by 1/3 after main flower period.

• Divide overcrowded clumps every 2-3 years in spring or fall to rejuvenate growth.

• Water thoroughly during drought and avoid wetting foliage to discourage disease.

With proper care focused on their cultural requirements, your patriotic perennials will keep performing their star-spangled show year after year!

Alternative Patriotic Plant Ideas

While red, white and blue flowering plants are ideal for Fourth of July landscaping, they can be challenging to find, especially the blue. Here are a few creative alternatives that can pull off a patriotic theme using red, white and green instead:

• Red – Pentas, lantana, geraniums, begonias, kniphofia (red hot poker)

• White – Daisies, artemisia, yarrow, sedum, baby’s breath, Gaura

• Green – Hostas, ferns, grasses, arborvitae, boxwood

Green represents the abundant natural beauty of the American landscape. White keeps things bright and fresh, while red injects festive color.

The red, white and green scheme offers versatility while still creating a patriotic feel. Flowering annuals like petunias, marigolds, and zinnias also bloom faithfully in red, white, and other colors to supplement your perennial beds each season.

So don’t be limited to red, white and blue in your 4th of July garden. Explore all the possibilities to design your own unique patriotic landscape!

Show Your Love of Country with Flowers

Gardens planted in patriotic themes make a bold statement by tying nature’s beauty to celebrating our nation’s independence. Whether you opt for classic red, white and blue perennials or alternative red, white and green plantings, let your flowers show your national pride.

With the proper selection and care of non-fussy plants, your efforts will pay off for many years as your perennial beds keep displaying that star-spangled spectacular each summer. A patriotic garden created with flowering plants that return every spring is a beautiful way to show your family’s love for this country.