Late Summer Flowers in Flagstaff: Beautifying Your Home amid the High Country

As summer wanes and monsoon clouds retreat, Flagstaff’s high-country landscapes burst with late summer blooms. These vibrant displays not only elevate your home’s curb appeal—they also offer ecological benefits and an inviting, high-altitude welcome.

Late Summer Floral Stars in Flagstaff

• Sunflowers (Maximilian’s Sunflower): These bright yellow blooms grace fields and meadows through summer into fall and thrive in full sun with minimal watering.  City of Flagstaff

• Coral Bells (Heuchera sanguinea): With enchanting pink-magenta flowers, coral bells flourish in late summer and demand moderate water—perfect for shaded or semi-sun areas.  City of Flagstaff

• Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa): A butterfly magnet! With creamy to lavender flowers from summer into fall, this native perennial thrives in full sun and low water conditions.City of Flagstaff   Dave’s Garden

• Scarlet Gilia or Skyrocket (Ipomopsis aggregata): Spectacular trumpet-shaped red blooms attract hummingbirds through the season, fading to pink or white in early fall to entice moths.  The Arboretum at Flagstaff!

• Arizona Bugbane (Actaea arizonica): Elegant, late-summer white flower spikes grow in shady, moist pockets—a rare, refined addition to high-elevation gardens.  The Arboretum at Flagstaff!

Blooming at Nature’s Shows: Best Local Spots to Inspire

• The Arboretum at Flagstaff: A 200-acre living museum full of native perennials, pollinator gardens, wildflower meadows, and meandering trails perfect for gathering design ideas.  sedonamonthly.com

• Campbell Mesa Loop Trail: A scenic 5.5-mile hike featuring sunflowers and desert marigolds, especially vibrant after summer monsoons.  Only In Your State

• Fort Valley Flower Field & Schultz Pass: Late July through August, meadows near Schultz Pass bloom into sea of golden sunflowers—truly Flagstaff’s “picture-perfect” floral show.  When In Your State

Homeowner Tips: Bring High-Country Beauty to Your Yard

1. Plant Native & Low-Water Perennials: Emphasize species like milkweed, coral bells, yarrow, and penstemons—beauty with resilience.  City of Flagstaffponderosapathways.comDave’s Garden

2. Create Wildlife-Friendly Landscapes: Incorporate nectar-rich blooms like skyrocket and showy milkweed to support hummingbirds, pollinators, and butterflies.  The Arboretum at Flagstaff!    sedonamonthly.com

3. Plan Successional Blooms: Layer early blooms (lupine, columbine) with late-season standouts for months of colorful interest.  flowers-flagstaff-az.sendbouquetds.comMormonLake

4. Use Design Inspiration from Flagstaff’s Gardens: Visit the Arboretum for layout ideas or hike Campbell Mesa to witness native combinations in their natural setting.