As Memorial Day approaches, it's the perfect time to pause and honor the brave souls who served our country. One heartfelt way to pay tribute is by filling your garden with red, white, and blue blooms. These flowers do more than look pretty; they flourish in late spring and early summer. Whether you're planting in beds, containers, or borders, we've got a flower to help you celebrate with style and meaning. Let's create a garden that truly speaks from the heart.
1. Red Geraniums
Red geraniums are a Memorial Day classic. Their bold blooms add vibrant color to containers or garden beds. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. These hardy flowers are also drought-tolerant, making them easy to care for. Red geraniums bloom continuously with deadheading. They're perfect for patriotic displays that last all summer. Their strong scent can also help repel some garden pests. You’ll find them in upright and trailing varieties to suit any setup.
2. White Petunias
White petunias provide a clean, bright contrast to red and blue flowers. Their trumpet-shaped blooms cascade beautifully from containers or hanging baskets. They love full sun and regular watering. Petunias are low-maintenance and bloom from spring to frost. Choose trailing or mounding varieties to suit your design. Their simplicity makes them a staple for Memorial Day arrangements. Their lush blooms fill out planters quickly and beautifully.
3. Blue Lobelia
Blue lobelia brings a true blue hue, often hard to find in flowers. Its delicate, low-growing blooms spill attractively from pots or edge borders. Lobelia thrives in cooler temperatures and part shade. Keep the soil moist for best performance. It pairs beautifully with red and white companions. This flower adds charm and softness to any patriotic garden. It also performs well in hanging baskets and window boxes.
4. Red Salvia
Red salvia offers upright spikes of scarlet blooms that attract hummingbirds. These flowers love the sun and heat, thriving in garden beds or containers. They're deer-resistant and great for pollinator gardens. Regular deadheading helps them bloom until fall. Salvia adds height and drama to mixed displays. Its intense red color is striking in patriotic themes. Their tidy growth habit also helps keep garden borders neat.
5. White Zinnias
White zinnias are bright, cheerful, and super easy to grow. Their daisy-like blooms come in various sizes and heights. Zinnias love the sun and tolerate heat well. They bloom quickly from seed, making them a fast addition to your garden. Deadheading encourages more flowers. Their crisp white color brightens up any red, white, and blue display. They are also excellent for cutting and indoor arrangements. Zinnias are a favorite for kids and beginner gardeners.
6. Blue Delphinium
Delphiniums provide tall spikes of vivid blue flowers, ideal for garden backdrops. They prefer cooler climates and rich, well-drained soil. Support stakes help prevent flopping as they grow tall. These flowers bloom in early summer and attract pollinators. Their bold color is perfect for a patriotic garden. Just keep them away from strong winds! Delphiniums are a dramatic focal point in mixed flower beds. Their elegant form makes them popular in formal garden layouts.
7. Red Poppies
Red poppies are symbolic and stunning with their papery petals and dark centers. These annuals love full sun and bloom in late spring. They add a nostalgic, classic touch to Memorial Day gardens. Sow seeds directly into the soil in early spring. Poppies don’t like being transplanted. Their rich red color makes a heartfelt statement. They also reseed easily for blooms year after year. These delicate-looking blooms are surprisingly hardy.
8. White Alyssum
White Alyssum produces clouds of tiny, fragrant flowers. It's a low-growing plant that works well in borders and containers. Alyssum blooms all season with little care. It attracts beneficial insects like pollinators and hoverflies. The soft white blooms create a lacy effect. It’s great for softening edges in a patriotic planting. Their honey-like scent is a bonus for garden ambiance. Alyssum also works well as a living mulch to suppress weeds.
9. Blue Salvia
Blue salvia, also called mealycup sage, adds vertical interest with vivid blue spires. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. This heat-tolerant flower is a magnet for bees and butterflies. It looks great paired with white and red blooms. Salvia blooms from spring through fall. It's low-maintenance and ideal for sunny spots. These flowers also retain their color well when dried. Blue salvia is a top choice for xeriscaping.
10. Red Dianthus
Red dianthus offers fringed blooms with a spicy scent. These flowers bloom in late spring and can rebloom with deadheading. They prefer full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Dianthus is compact and works well in borders or pots. Their deep red tones are dramatic and eye-catching. They add both color and fragrance to your Memorial Day garden. Many varieties are also resistant to deer and rabbits.
11. White Daisies
White daisies are cheerful and timeless, with sunny yellow centers. They thrive in full sun and attract pollinators. These perennials bloom year after year with minimal care. Daisies are perfect for naturalistic or cottage-style gardens. Their simplicity pairs well with bold red and blue flowers. They're a joyful tribute for Memorial Day. Their long-lasting blooms also make great cut flowers.
12. Blue Hydrangeas
Blue hydrangeas make a significant impact with their large, mophead blooms. Their color depends on soil acidity, so acidic soils yield true blue hues. They thrive in partial shade and need regular moisture. Hydrangeas bloom from late spring through summer. They work well as statement plants in beds or borders. Their lush blooms bring a calm, elegant tone. These flowers also dry beautifully for year-round arrangements.
13. Red Pentas
Red pentas are tropical-looking plants that bloom nonstop in warm weather. Their star-shaped clusters attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Pentas love the sun and tolerate heat well. They do best in containers or garden beds with good drainage. These flowers are low-maintenance and long-blooming. Their deep red shade energizes patriotic displays. Pentas are also highly resistant to pests and diseases.
14. White Impatiens
White impatiens are perfect for shady gardens. Their soft, delicate blooms light up darker corners. They need regular watering and rich, well-drained soil. Impatiens bloom profusely from spring to frost. Their mounded habit looks great in beds or containers. These flowers bring balance and calm to your color scheme. Their continuous blooming habit makes them a garden favorite. Impatiens also mix beautifully with coleus or ferns.
15. Blue Bachelor’s Buttons
Bachelor’s buttons, or cornflowers, offer bright blue, fringed blooms. They're easy to grow and do well in poor soil. These annuals love full sun and bloom from late spring. Sow seeds directly for best results. The flowers attract bees and butterflies. Their whimsical look fits right into a Memorial Day garden. They also make charming additions to fresh-cut bouquets. Bachelor's buttons dry well for rustic floral crafts.
16. Red Begonias
Red begonias are versatile and bloom beautifully in sun or shade. Their waxy leaves add texture to your arrangements. These plants need regular water and well-drained soil. Begonias are great for containers, window boxes, or borders. They bloom continuously with minimal care. Their bold red flowers stand out in any garden. Some varieties also have striking foliage in bronze or green tones. They’re ideal for porch planters and shaded patios.
17. White Gaura
White gaura adds a delicate, airy texture with fluttery white blooms. Its long stems wave gently in the breeze. Gaura thrives in the sun and tolerates drought. It blooms from late spring into fall. This perennial is great for wildflower-style gardens. The white blossoms pair beautifully with bolder reds and blues. Gaura also attracts bees and hummingbirds to your yard. It gives movement to flower beds with its dancing blooms.
18. Blue Scaevola
Scaevola, or fan flower, features unique fan-shaped blooms in a soft blue. It’s a trailing plant ideal for hanging baskets or borders. Scaevola thrives in heat and sun with little maintenance. It resists drought once established. The blue color adds a cool note to patriotic plantings. It’s a standout for texture and toughness. Scaevola also keeps blooming even in high summer heat. It's a tidy habit that reduces the need for pruning.
19. Red Celosia
Celosia adds bold texture with its flame-like, velvety blooms. The red varieties are vivid and dramatic. These heat-loving annuals prefer full sun. Celosia works well in both beds and containers. It keeps blooming with regular watering and deadheading. Its unique look adds flair to any Memorial Day garden. Celosia is also available in feathery or crested forms for variety. They dry well for lasting floral arrangements.
20. White Cosmos
Cosmos brings dainty white flowers on airy stems. They thrive in full sun and poor soil. These annuals bloom for months with minimal effort. Deadheading encourages more blooms. Cosmos adds lightness and movement to the garden. They’re excellent in borders and cutting gardens. Their delicate foliage adds a soft, feathery texture to plantings. Cosmos reseeds easily for blooms next year. Their simplicity perfectly complements more structured flowers.
21. Blue Ageratum
Ageratum, or floss flower, has fuzzy blue blooms and a compact habit. It thrives in sunny locations and blooms all season. These flowers are great for edging or mixed containers. Ageratum resists deer and attracts pollinators. The blue hue is soft but distinct. It's a great filler in patriotic displays. The plants stay tidy and are easy to manage in small spaces. Their blooms also look lovely in front-row border spots.
22. Red Verbena
Red verbena produces clusters of tiny, vibrant flowers that bloom nonstop. It thrives in full sun and tolerates heat and drought. Verbena spills beautifully from baskets or containers. It’s easy to grow and great for filling gaps. These flowers attract butterflies. Their rich red color complements any Memorial Day palette. Verbena is also mildew-resistant, keeping your garden looking fresh. Use it for sunny borders or mass plantings.
When to Start Planting
Want your red, white, and blue flowers to bloom just in time for Memorial Day? Start planting in early to mid-spring, depending on your local frost date. Mid-April to early May works best for most zones. Annuals can be started indoors or bought as young plants to save time. Perennials are hardy enough to go in the ground even earlier. You’ll be all set to have a garden in full patriotic bloom by Memorial Day!
Celebrate with Color
And there you have it, a full palette of patriotic petals ready to shine for Memorial Day! Whether planting a whole garden or just a few cheerful containers, these red, white, and blue flowers will help you honor and remember beautifully. You don’t need a green thumb to bring these blooming beauties to life, just a little sun, soil, and love. Here's to creating a space that’s not only vibrant but full of gratitude and remembrance. Happy planting, and happy Memorial Day!