Tall perennial flowers are essential for adding vertical interest and drama to any garden landscape. With their towering heights and stunning blooms, they create focal points that command attention. From majestic sunflowers reaching for the sky to elegant foxgloves swaying in the breeze, these tall perennials offer a diverse range of colors, shapes, and textures.
Whether you’re seeking vibrant hues or delicate pastels, there’s a tall perennial flower to suit every taste and style, ensuring your garden stands out as a true masterpiece of nature’s design.
Different Types of Tall Perennial Flowers
Delphinium
With some types growing up to six feet tall, delphiniums are among the tall perennial flowers. From vibrant blue spikes that enhance the drama around your plants, they give spectacular color to your garden regardless of height. Plants that grow to be 4–6 feet tall and appropriate for growth zones 3–7 thrive in full sun and well-drained, wet soil. These vivid blooms will add impact to your outdoor arrangement.
Daylily
Daylilies can be used to provide a stunning backdrop for your garden or home’s exterior. In addition to withstanding drought and scorching temperatures, the flowers’ tropical hues flourish in the summer heat, making for a gorgeous garden all year round. These hardy plants can reach a height of five feet and thrive in full sun and well-drained, moist soil. Ideal for growth zones 3 through 9.
Boltonia
Make a graceful statement in your garden with daisy-like Boltonias, blooming from late summer into fall. These bushy perennials, reaching 5–6 feet tall and spreading 2-4 feet wide, add impressive volume to your space. Ideal for growing zones 3–10, they thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, ensuring a beautiful display through the seasons.
Joe Pye Weed
The Joe Pye weed is a versatile, tall perennial, perfect for limited garden space. These flowers grow 3 to 8 feet tall, blossoming into beautiful purple, pink, and red petals. Ideal for growing zones 4–9, they thrive in full sun and fertile, moist soil, providing a stunning vertical accent in any garden.
Canna
Cannas give any scene a tropical vibe with their big flowers and vivid hues. They are annuals that are grown from bulbs; they can be winterized and transplanted in late spring. Cannas grow to a height of 3 to 8 feet and have lush foliage and thick green stalks that make for a beautiful summer garden. They grow well in full sun and rich, moist soil, making zones 2–10 ideal.
Russian Sage
Russian sage will provide height and pollinators for your garden. With their bushy form, these tall perennials offer more depth and bloom into bright purple spikes that are darker than violet. They grow to be 3–5 feet tall and love full sun and well-drained soil, making them perfect for growing zones 5–9. Savor a vibrant, lush garden that draws helpful pollinators throughout the whole growing season.
Oriental Lily
Beautiful in white, purple, or pink, oriental lilies are also great for making fresh-cut flower arrangements at home. Growing to a height of 2 to 8 feet, these lilies also contribute a rich, traditional fragrance that intensifies the aroma of your garden. They grow best on well-drained, acidic soil with full or partial shade, and are best suited for growing zones 3 through 9.
Bellflower
Bellflowers that are resistant to freezing conditions can bring vibrant color to your garden during the summer and fall. Water these 4 foot-tall, reasonably tall, low-maintenance flowers at least once a week. They are a beautiful and hardy addition to any garden, growing best in growth zones 4–8 and thriving in full sun and well-drained, alkaline soil.
Garden Phlox
Though they are not the tallest perennials, garden phloxes provide elegant aesthetics with their lovely pink and white blossoms. These four-foot-tall flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. They grow best in growth zones 4–8, love full sun, and have well-drained soil. They will easily bring wildlife and beauty to your environment.
Blazing Star
Furry, deep purple spikes adorn blazing stars, which are higher and thicker than spike perennials like catmint and Russian sage. Standing at a height of six feet, they look stunning when used with ornamental grass for extra volume and Boltonias for color contrast. Perfect for zones 3 through 9, they look great in any garden because they like full light and well-drained soil.
Wild Indigo
Use wild indigo to add height and color to your landscape. These five-foot-tall perennials have delicate, azure blooms that don’t need to be staked. While some species begin to bloom as early as April, most species do so in late spring. They grow well in full sun and well-drained, wet soil, making them an eye-catching and low-maintenance addition to any garden. They are ideal for zones 3–9.
Maximillian Sunflower
Create your own sunflower field in your backyard with Maximillian Sunflowers. These tall perennials boast classic golden-yellow petals and dark centers with a unique twist. Growing up to 10 feet tall, they add impressive height to your garden landscape. Ideal for zones 3–9, they thrive in full sun and moist, clay-like soil, offering a stunning and grand addition to any outdoor space.
Foxglove
Foxgloves are beloved for their unique color scheme, blending white and purple shades when in bloom. These perennials grow into spindle-like shapes with lush green foliage and deep purple blooms featuring toothed edges. Reaching a majestic height of 8 feet, they add vertical interest to any garden. Ideal for zones 3–10, they thrive in full sun and partial shade, preferring well-drained soil for optimal growth.
Helenium
Heleniums bring fun and whimsy to your garden with their vibrant blooms and contrasting green stems. Standing 3 to 5 feet tall, they provide height and color, adding life to your outdoor space. Ideal for zones 3–8, they thrive in full sun and rich, moist soil. These eye-catching flowers are sure to become a focal point in your garden, attracting attention and admiration from all who see them.
Globe Thistles
For a unique twist in your garden, consider planting globe thistles. These tall perennials offer a fun alternative to traditional flowers, easy to grow and care for. With blooms appearing from mid-summer to September, they bring a burst of color and texture to your landscape. Ideal for zones 3–9, they thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, reaching a height of 5 feet. Enjoy their quirky charm and low-maintenance beauty all season long.
Red Hot Poker
Renowned for its vivid hues and enduring blossoms, the red hot poker is an eye-catching accent to any landscape. It offers a distinctive flair with its innovative appearance of long bulbs coming out of brown stalks. For added depth and color contrast, pair it with green decorative grass at the base to create a breathtaking backdrop. It is best suited for zones 5 through 9, growing to a height of 3 to 4 feet in full sun and well-drained, wet soil.
Achillea
Achilleas will captivate you if you love daisies. These perennials, which are members of the daisy family, are colored brightly in shades of pink, red, yellow, white, and gold. Reaching only 4 feet, they are on the shorter side of tall perennials, yet their striking colors draw pollinators and improve the appearance of gardens. They are a beautiful addition to any garden design and are best suited for zones 2 through 10. They grow best in full sun and well-drained soil.
Peonies
Peonies are classic garden favorites, essential for any garden. Reaching up to 4 feet tall, they offer stunning color pops with red, pink, yellow, or white blooms, perfect for charming cut flower arrangements. Ideal for zones 3–8, they thrive in full sun and well-drained, moist soil, ensuring lush growth and abundant blooms to enhance the beauty of your garden year after year.
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susans, with their color scheme reminiscent of sunflowers, are instant eye-catchers in any garden. These easy-to-maintain perennials, which may reach a height of 6 feet, are resistant to heat and drought, making them ideal for enduring summertime heat. They are perfect for growing zones 3 through 9 since they like full light and well-draining soil. All season long, add a pop of color to your garden with these vivid flowers.
Perennial Hibiscus
Consider planting a perennial hibiscus for a truly brilliant and towering garden flower. Once the gorgeous 12-inch-wide pink, crimson, or white blooms on this plant begin to appear in late spring, they expand quickly. These flowers, which grow to be 3–7 feet tall and thrive in full sun and rich, moist soil, are ideal for growing zones 4–9. Perennial hibiscus will add amazing late-spring color to your landscape.
Coneflower
Popular perennials called coneflowers are prized for their brilliant hues, which draw pollinators and enliven a garden. These flowers withstand heat and drought well and are very easy to maintain. They provide your home with enduring beauty as they bloom for months. Coneflowers can grow to be four feet tall and are native to growing zones three through nine. They thrive in full sun and well-drained, loamy soil. For a colorful, low-maintenance garden, include them.
Hollyhock
Hollyhocks, which can grow up to 8 feet tall, are ideal for adding height to your garden since they mix vibrant blossoms with luxuriant greens. Keep in mind that taller hollyhocks require staking to shield them from wind harm. Fertile, well-drained soil, and full sun are ideal conditions for these perennials to grow. Hollyhocks are a great option for a colorful vertical garden feature and are suitable for growth zones 2 through 10.
Agapanthus
Agapanthus, sometimes referred to as the “African lily,” is a visually arresting tall perennial with blue and purple blossoms. It gives your landscape height and color, and the strap-like leaves at the base offer texture and dimension. Agapanthus grows up to 6 feet tall and thrives in soft, loamy soil that is in full sun to moderate shade. It is best suited for growing zones 7–11. Add this elegant plant for a vibrant garden display.
Catmint
Catmint plants will give your yard a hint of European charm. With purple stems that can reach up to three feet in height and width, these perennials have a volume akin to a shrub. Catmint, which looks like lavender, adds a delicate purple hue to your yard. Catmint is ideal for growing zones 3–8, flourishing in full sun and most soil types. For a lovely and low-maintenance garden feature, it’s the perfect option.
