This post may contain affiliate links.
Perennial flowers are a great way to bring lasting color to your garden, returning year after year with little effort. The plants in this list are especially known for their impressive height, making them perfect for adding vertical interest to any garden space.
Each one offers its unique beauty, helping to create a more dynamic and layered look. If you’re looking to add both height and vibrant color to your outdoor space, these 14 tall perennials are a great place to start.
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
Hollyhocks are a cottage garden favorite that produces towering stalks with blooms in nearly every color imaginable. Though technically short-lived perennials in warm climates, they’re usually grown as biennials. They grow best in full sun and moist, rich, well-drained soil.
Hollyhocks are also suitable for USDA Zones 3–8. If you sow seeds in summer, it’ll be enough time for them to flower the following year. Provide support for tall varieties and watch for rust, a common fungal disease that affects hollyhock.
False Sunflower (Heliopsis Helianthoides)
The false sunflower lights up gardens with its lemon-yellow flowers and golden centers. It thrives in full sun to part sun, blooms from mid- to late summer, and grows in a wide range of soil types. Its tall stems and large blossoms make it a favorite for cutting gardens.
Ligularia
Ligularia is a perennial with bright yellow flowers that appear in summer. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil and prefers partial to full shade, making it an ideal choice for adding color and texture to shaded garden areas. Suitable for zones 4-9.
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Also known as Echinacea,
Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
The tall spikes of purple flowers of the Blazing Star serve as an eye-catching attraction for butterflies. This plant prefers sunny spots and well-drained soil, offering a striking vertical element to the garden while providing nectar for visiting butterflies.
Globe Thistle
Distinctive for its spherical blue flower heads, globe thistle can be planted in June to enjoy blooms from mid-summer to fall. It’s a striking addition that brings texture and a hint of wild nature to your landscaping.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja Davidii)
True to its name, this bush attracts butterflies with fragrant flowers from summer to fall. It prospers in full sun and well-drained soil, reaching up to 10 feet tall in zones 5-9.
Agastache
Agastache is a favorite among bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. It features tall spikes of fragrant purple, pink, and orange flowers. Agastache requires full sun and well-drained soil. This plant is fairly pest-free and will bloom through the summer. Zones 4-10
Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker)
Red hot pokers (Kniphofia), also known as torch lilies, are eye-catching herbaceous perennials with tall flower spikes that bloom in vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow during spring and summer.
Native to Africa, these plants typically take around four years to reach full maturity. Their bright blooms are a magnet for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. Red hot pokers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and are hardy in USDA Zones 5-9.
Eucomis (Pineapple Lily)
Eucomis, commonly known as pineapple lily, is a summer-blooming bulb with striking, unusual flowers that resemble a pineapple, thanks to the tufted cluster at the top of its sturdy stem.
This unique appearance gives the plant its popular name. Flowering from late summer through early autumn, Eucomis is easy to grow and adds a tropical flair to sunny borders or sheltered gardens. They come in shades of white, pink, and violet.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
With its tall spikes of striking red flowers, cardinal flowers are the perfect disease-resistant plant for shaded corners of your garden. This hardy perennial produces mounds of evergreen leaves through the winter and grows to 2-4 feet tall every summer.
Sneezeweed
Its bright, daisy-like flowers bloom in late summer and fall, bringing vibrant yellow, red, and bronze hues to sunny gardens. These flowers are perfect for cutting and arranging. Despite its name, it does not trigger sneezing or allergies. Zone 3-10
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Foxglove features tall spikes of bell-shaped flowers, making it perfect for adding height to shaded gardens. It blooms from late spring to early summer and is suitable for Zones 4-10.
Lavender (Lavandula)
With its striking purple color and soothing aroma, lavender attracts butterflies and is perfect for low-maintenance gardens. It thrives in sunlight with minimal water, keeps deer at bay, and fills the garden with a wonderful scent. It’s perfect for easy-care gardens while keeping the deer away.
Delphinium (Delphinium spp.)
Delphiniums are renowned for their tall spikes of deep blue flowers, adding a striking vertical element to garden borders. They do best in full sun and rich, well-drained soil, requiring regular watering and support with stakes. Zones 3-8.
Penstemon
Penstemon is deer-resistant and known for its colorful, tubular flowers that attract bees and hummingbirds. Its unappealing taste and texture to deer make it an excellent choice for gardens seeking beauty and wildlife attraction without attracting deer. Zones 3-9
Speedwell
Speedwell displays spikes of vivid blue flowers and is appreciated for its durability and long blooming period. It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade and needs well-drained soil. Speedwell is easy to care for, requiring only occasional watering once established, and adds vertical interest to gardens. Zones 3-8.
