August is the month when gardens really show the results of a season's worth of growth. Summer blooms are at their peak, trees are full and lush, and landscapes take on a rich, established look. It's also the perfect time to notice which plants continue to perform despite the heat, adding dependable color and interest long after spring has passed. This month's featured plants highlight late-summer beauty with long-lasting blooms, eye-catching foliage, and standout landscape appeal.
Chocolate Fountain Sedum is beginning to hit its stride with rich, dark foliage and clusters of blooms that attract bees and butterflies late into the season. Berry White Hydrangea Tree offers large white flower panicles that gradually blush to soft pink, creating an elegant focal point in the landscape. Summer Shimmer Aspen brings movement and brightness with its shimmering leaves and crisp white bark, making it a beautiful shade tree that catches the eye from across the yard. And FlowerFull Hydrangea lives up to its name, producing an abundance of colorful blooms that keep the garden looking fresh well into late summer.
Whether you're adding another season of color, looking for a new focal point, or planning ahead for next year's landscape, these plants are well worth a closer look. After checking out their specs below, stop by the nursery to see them in person and find inspiration for the final stretch of the growing season.
Chocolate Fountain Sedum
Image source: Monrovia Nurseries
Description:
Bred for strong basal branching with compact stems that do not fall open, this delectable sedum produces a dense mound with multiple crowns of attractive, dark chocolate-colored, succulent foliage that is salted with pretty rose-pink blooms in the summer. Adds depth to borders, rock gardens, and container plantings. Evergreen in mild winter regions. A Monrovia exclusive.
Species Specs
Height: 15”
Spread: 15”
Exposure: Full Sun
Zone: 4-9
Plant Care:
Thrives in average to very lean, well-drained soils. Benefits from light shade in very hot summer climates. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system; reduce frequency, once established. Space 12 to 15 inches apart as groundcover; closer for faster fill. Fertilize sparingly.
Berry White Hydrangea Tree
Image source: Bailey Nurseries
Description:
This long-awaited introduction is a step forward in paniculata breeding. With strong, upright stems and large cone-shaped flower panicles that stay upright, this plant is a summer stunner. The flower color starts out white in July then progresses to dark pink, beginning at the bottom and developing up to the top of the panicle. Berry White® blooms a little later than Strawberry Sundae® and about the same time as Vanilla Strawberry™. Color shades can vary by location, climate, and type of soil. This tree-form hydrangea is perfect for garden focal points or containers.
Species Specs
Height: 6-7’
Spread: 4-5’
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Zone: 4-8
Plant Care:
Berry White Hydrangea Tree grows best in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil and benefits from about an inch of water per week, especially while getting established. A layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture, and a slow-release fertilizer applied in early spring encourages healthy growth and abundant blooms. Since it flowers on new wood, prune in late winter or early spring by removing dead branches and cutting back the upper growth to promote larger, stronger flower clusters.
Summer Shimmer Aspen
Image source: Bailey Nurseries
Description:
Discovered in windbreak by Kendall Klaus in Hastings, MN, this hybrid tree has increased disease resistance over P. tremuloides or P. deltoides. Named for the shimmer of light that is reflected by the white bark and silver undersides of its large, dark glossy green leaves that turn shades of yellow each fall. The fluttering leaves create a rustling sound that is quintessential summer and hard to resist. Summer Shimmer® suckers dramatically less than other quaking aspen, making it a better choice for smaller landscapes as a specimen or in groves. Preferring relatively cool summers, full sun, and moist but well-drained soil, this poplar is adaptable to a range of conditions once established.
Species Specs
Height: 60-70’
Spread: 35’
Exposure: Full Sun
Zone: 3-6
Plant Care:
Summer Shimmer Aspen thrives in full sun and appreciates deep, consistent watering, especially while young, to keep the soil evenly moist through the summer. A 2–3 inch layer of mulch helps keep the shallow roots cool and conserves moisture, but keep it a few inches away from the trunk. Avoid pruning during the growing season, as it can invite pests and disease. Instead, wait until late winter or early spring to make any necessary cuts.
FlowerFull Smooth Hydrangea
Image source: Bailey Nurseries
Description:
FlowerFull® Smooth Hydrangea boasts superior genetics that produce significantly bolder blooms and sturdier upright stems. With two-to-three times more blooms per season than other Hydrangea arborescens, FlowerFull® is a major improvement to the industry standard. That proliferation of blooms is held high on strong stems that don’t flop in the wind and rain. With fewer touch points from day one, this low-maintenance marvel has improved resistance to bacterial leaf spot and makes for an outstanding focal point in smaller landscapes and commercial settings alike.
Species Specs
Height: 3-4’
Spread: 4-5’
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Zone: 3-8
Plant Care:
FlowerFull Smooth Hydrangea grows best in rich, well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade, ideally receiving morning sun and afternoon shade. Keep the soil consistently moist by watering deeply at the base of the plant, and apply a layer of mulch to help retain moisture. Feed with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring, then prune in late winter or early spring to about 12–18 inches above the ground to encourage strong new growth and abundant blooms.