Show your patriotic spirit with sparkling red, white and blue flowering plants in your garden or container. Check out the following summer-blooming combination suggestions.
For Sun to Part Sun
Two Perennials and a Shrub: Coneflower 'Kismet Red' (blooms for 6-8 weeks with deadheading), Panicle Hydrangea 'Bobo' (blooms 6 weeks or more), and Bellflower 'Blue Clips' (blooms 6 weeks or more with deadheading).
Annuals: Red Geranium (blooms for months with deadheading - bring indoors before frost and use as a houseplant), Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' (blooms for months with no deadheading), and 'Beth's Blue' Star Flower (lavender-blue flowers blue non-stop for weeks with no deadheading).
For Part Shade to Shade
Two Perennials and a Shrub: Cardinal Flower (a native perennial that is highly attractive to hummingbirds), Astilbe 'Snowdrift' (early to mid-summer blooms), and Mountain Hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' (stunning lacecap flowers - add sulfur to soil for bluer blooms)
Annuals: Coleus 'Redhead' or others with similar shimmering red leaves, white flowering wax Begonia, and blue Torenia (Wishbone Flower). All require little or no deadheading.