Who says you need sparklers to show your patriotic spirit? With just a few thoughtful plant choices, your garden can wave the red, white, and blue all season long. I love how simple blooms can set the tone for summer celebrations without needing a single flag.
Planting red salvia, white petunias, and blue lobelia in a container or along a walkway creates that classic color combo with a soft, natural twist. It’s festive without being over-the-top—and the bees and butterflies will thank you too.
What I enjoy most is how this kind of display grows with the season. While fireworks last a night, these blooms bring that 4th of July feeling to your yard week after week. It’s a sweet way to celebrate all summer.
1. Red Salvia
The tall spikes of Red Salvia create instant drama in any patriotic garden arrangement. I’ve found they work beautifully as a backdrop for shorter white and blue flowers.
Hummingbirds absolutely adore these tubular blooms, making your garden both patriotic and full of lively visitors. They handle heat remarkably well, which is perfect for July celebrations.
Plant them about 12 inches apart to give them room to spread their scarlet glory. They’ve survived even my most neglectful gardening seasons with minimal watering.
2. White Petunias
Cascading over containers or spreading through flowerbeds, white petunias bring a cloud-like softness to patriotic displays. Their trumpet-shaped blooms catch morning light beautifully, almost glowing against darker foliage.
Last summer, I lined my walkway with these easy-going flowers, creating a welcoming path to our backyard barbecue. They kept blooming through September with regular deadheading.
For best results, give them well-draining soil and don’t overwater – they’re surprisingly drought-tolerant once established. Morning sun with afternoon shade keeps them happiest.
3. Blue Delphinium
Nothing says summer elegance like the towering spires of blue delphinium. These stately flowers bring height and true blue color—something genuinely rare in the plant world.
My neighbor’s delphiniums always steal the show during our block’s July 4th celebration. They create a gorgeous backdrop against a white fence, almost mimicking the sky filled with fireworks.
They appreciate morning sun but shelter from strong afternoon heat. Stake them early as they grow tall quickly and can topple in summer storms. A second bloom is possible if you cut them back after flowering.
4. Cardinal Flower
Cardinal flowers deliver an intense scarlet that few other plants can match. Native to North America, they feel particularly appropriate in a patriotic garden display.
Along my garden stream, these beauties attract hummingbirds all day long. Their vertical growth habit means they don’t take up much horizontal space but still make a dramatic statement.
Unlike many red bloomers, they actually prefer partial shade and consistently moist soil. Plant them where they’ll get morning sun but afternoon protection for best results. They’ve been reliable returners in my garden for years.
5. Shasta Daisies
The classic white petals with sunny yellow centers of Shasta daisies bring cheerful energy to any patriotic planting. They remind me of fireworks frozen in mid-burst.
These carefree perennials have graced my garden borders for over a decade now. They multiply generously each year, allowing me to spread their joy throughout the landscape.
Cut them frequently for indoor arrangements – this encourages more blooms. They pair wonderfully with blue cornflowers and red zinnias for an instant flag-inspired bouquet that lasts over a week in a vase.
6. Blue Hydrangeas
The rounded blue clusters of hydrangea blooms add a soft, cloudlike texture to patriotic plantings. The shade can range from sky blue to deep indigo depending on your soil.
After struggling with getting true blue color, I discovered the secret was adding aluminum sulfate to my soil. Now they provide the perfect blue accent beside my front porch every July.
They prefer morning sun with afternoon shade in most regions. The large blooms make excellent cut flowers for indoor displays too. Just remember they’ll wilt quickly if cut during the heat of the day.
7. Red Geraniums
Hardy and heat-loving, red geraniums deliver reliable color all summer long. Their rounded flower clusters create instant impact whether in containers or garden beds.
My grandmother always lined her porch steps with these trusty plants. The tradition continues in my garden, where they serve as the red component in my star-spangled display.
Deadhead spent blooms regularly to keep them producing. They’re surprisingly drought-resistant once established and can even be overwintered indoors. Their slightly fuzzy leaves add interesting texture among smoother-leaved companions.
8. Candytuft
Masses of pristine white candytuft flowers create a snowdrift effect in early summer gardens. Their low-growing habit makes them perfect for edging or spilling over stone walls.
The evergreen foliage keeps looking good even after blooming finishes. I’ve used them to create a white river through my garden that connects other patriotic plantings.
These Mediterranean natives thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, they’re remarkably drought-tolerant. A light shearing after the main bloom encourages a smaller second flush perfect for July 4th celebrations.
9. Blue Forget-Me-Nots
The delicate sky-blue flowers of forget-me-nots bring a touch of whimsy to patriotic plantings. Their tiny five-petaled blooms appear in clouds above fuzzy foliage.
They’ve naturalized in the damper corner of my yard, returning faithfully each year. The soft blue color provides a perfect contrast to bolder reds and whites in the arrangement.
These short-lived perennials self-seed readily, ensuring continued presence in your garden. They prefer partial shade and consistent moisture. Plant them where spring bulbs are finishing to hide fading foliage while adding fresh color.
10. Red Hot Poker
Also known as torch lily, these dramatic plants feature spikes of tubular flowers that transition from fiery red to orange to yellow. They create instant vertical interest in any patriotic planting scheme.
The architectural quality of these plants makes them stand out even from a distance. My specimen near the mailbox never fails to draw compliments from passing neighbors during summer gatherings.
Give them full sun and well-drained soil for best performance. Their drought tolerance makes them low-maintenance once established. The spiky foliage provides interesting texture even when not in bloom.
11. White Cosmos
Airy and elegant, white cosmos dance above ferny foliage on slender stems. Their daisy-like flowers have a carefree quality that softens more structured patriotic plantings.
From seed to bloom in just 8 weeks, they’re perfect for filling gaps in the garden. I scatter seeds directly in my borders each spring for reliable summer flowers that need almost no care.
They thrive in average soil and full sun, actually performing better without rich soil or fertilizer. Cutting promotes more flowering, so bring plenty indoors for breezy arrangements that capture summer’s essence.
12. Blue Lobelia
Tiny but mighty, blue lobelia creates rivers of true blue in the garden. The multitude of small flowers completely covers the plants when in full bloom.
Their compact habit makes them ideal for containers or front-of-border positions. Last year, I tucked them between stepping stones where they created charming blue puddles throughout the pathway.
They appreciate regular watering and afternoon shade in hotter climates. Feed lightly every few weeks to keep the flowers coming. A light trim mid-season refreshes plants that may have become leggy in summer heat.
13. Red Zinnias
Cheerful and heat-loving, red zinnias deliver non-stop color from early summer until frost. Their perfectly symmetrical blooms come in various sizes from button to dinner plate.
The cut-and-come-again nature of these flowers means more stems for both garden display and indoor arrangements. My butterfly garden is anchored by these reliable bloomers that attract monarchs all season.
Direct sow seeds after frost danger passes for the easiest success. They’re not fussy about soil but do need full sun. Deadheading spent blooms keeps them looking tidy and encourages more flowers throughout the season.
14. White Snapdragons
The classic spires of white snapdragons add vertical interest and old-fashioned charm to patriotic plantings. Their dragon-mouth flowers delight children and adults alike.
Cool weather brings out their best performance, making them perfect for early July displays. Mine return reliably each year from self-sown seedlings despite being sold as annuals.
Plant them in groups of at least five for best visual impact. They make excellent cut flowers, lasting over a week in arrangements. For bushier plants with more stems, pinch young plants when they’re about 6 inches tall.
15. Cornflowers
Also called bachelor’s buttons, these true-blue flowers have a wildflower charm that’s hard to resist. Their fringed petals create a distinctive texture among smoother blooms in patriotic arrangements.
Growing them from seed is remarkably easy – I simply scatter them where I want them to grow. They’ve naturalized in my meadow area, returning more abundantly each year.
These cottage garden classics prefer full sun and can handle poor soil. They’re drought-tolerant once established and make excellent cut flowers. Deadhead regularly to prevent excessive self-seeding if you prefer a more controlled garden.
16. Red Verbena
Low-growing red verbena creates a carpet of color that stands up beautifully to summer heat. The flat clusters of small flowers create a different texture from larger blooms in the garden.
After trying many red flowers for my pathway edges, these proved most reliable through humidity and dry spells alike. They spread gradually to fill spaces between stepping stones without becoming invasive.
Full sun brings out their richest color. Shear them lightly if they start looking tired mid-season to refresh the display. They’re particularly attractive to butterflies, adding movement to your patriotic garden scene.
17. White Alyssum
Creating a frothy carpet of tiny white flowers, sweet alyssum brings a delicate touch and honey fragrance to patriotic plantings. The scent is especially noticeable in the evening or after summer rain.
I use it to edge containers and garden beds, where it softens hard lines and fills gaps between larger plants. The cascading habit works beautifully in hanging baskets or spilling over walls.
It prefers cooler weather but will rebound if cut back during summer heat. Regular trimming keeps it compact and flowering. The plants attract beneficial insects that help control garden pests naturally.
18. Blue Ageratum
With fluffy powder-puff blooms in a rare true blue, ageratum adds a soft texture to patriotic plantings. Also called floss flower, their rounded form contrasts beautifully with spikier plants.
The compact varieties are perfect for containers and edges, while taller types work well in the middle of borders. They’ve been reliable performers in my part-shade garden spots where many blue flowers struggle.
They prefer consistent moisture and benefit from afternoon shade in hot climates. Deadheading isn’t necessary as they’re self-cleaning. Their fuzzy blue blooms attract butterflies while deterring deer and rabbits.
19. Red Dianthus
Often called pinks despite their red color, these spicy-scented flowers bring old-fashioned charm to patriotic gardens. Their fringed petals add intricate detail when viewed up close.
The blue-green foliage forms attractive mounds even when not in bloom. In my rock garden, they’ve thrived for years with minimal care, creating cushions of color each summer.
They need excellent drainage and prefer full sun. A light shearing after the first flush encourages reblooming. The clove-like fragrance intensifies in warm weather, adding another sensory dimension to your July 4th garden experience.
20. White Phlox
Fragrant clusters of white phlox create starry constellations throughout summer borders. Their sweet vanilla scent intensifies in the evening, perfect for outdoor July gatherings.
The tall garden varieties add height to mid-border positions while creeping types work well as ground covers. My grandmother’s original plants have spread throughout my garden over decades, proving their staying power.
They prefer rich soil and consistent moisture but established plants handle brief dry spells. Powdery mildew can be an issue in humid climates, so look for resistant varieties. Good air circulation between plants helps prevent problems.