Looking for flowers that start with L to bring lasting beauty to your garden? You’re in the right place. This list focuses on lovely and long-lasting options that will give you more color for your effort. From classic perennials to stunning annuals, these ‘L’ flowers offer a fantastic range of colors, shapes, and growing needs. Let’s get started.
Choosing plants that last is smart gardening. It means more time enjoying your space and less time replanting. Many of these flowers are also excellent for cutting, so you can bring their beauty indoors.
Flowers That Start With L – Lovely and Long-Lasting
This core list is your starting point. Each entry here is known for its durability, whether it’s through a long blooming season, hardy perennial nature, or excellent performance as a cut flower. We’ll break down the details for each one to help you pick the perfect fits.
Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender is the ultimate long-lasting choice. Its fragrant purple spikes bloom for weeks in summer, and its silvery foliage looks good all year. Once established, it’s incredibly drought-tolerant and hardy.
- Type: Perennial shrub
- Sun Needs: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Late spring to summer
- Why It Lasts: Blooms dry beautifully on the plant, foliage is evergreen in mild climates, and plants live for many years.
Lily (Lilium)
True lilies are bulb that make a dramatic statement. Their large, often fragrant flowers are superb in the garden and in vases, where they can last over a week.
- Type: Perennial bulb
- Sun Needs: Full sun to partial shade
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Why It Lasts: Bulbs are perennial and multiply over time. Individual flowers are large and the bloom sequence on a stalk is prolonged.
Lantana
Lantana is a non-stop bloomer from frost to frost. Its clusters of tiny flowers come in vibrant colors like red, orange, yellow, and pink, often mixing on the same plant.
- Type: Tender perennial, often grown as an annual
- Sun Needs: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Continuously from late spring until fall frost
- Why It Lasts: Extremely long blooming season. It’s also heat and drought resistant once established.
Lupine (Lupinus)
Lupines offer tall, spectacular spires of pea-like flowers. They are a classic cottage garden plant that adds vertical interest and come back reliably each year.
- Type: Short-lived perennial
- Sun Needs: Full sun to light shade
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Why It Lasts: As a perennial, it returns. Deadheading can encourage a second, smaller flush of blooms.
Lobelia
There are two main types. Annual lobelia (Lobelia erinus) is a trailing plant perfect for containers. Perennial cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) has stunning red spikes that attract hummingbirds.
- Type: Annual or perennial
- Sun Needs: Full sun to part shade (depends on species)
- Bloom Time: Summer to fall
- Why It Lasts: Annual types bloom profusely all season. Perennial types are reliable and long-lived in the right conditions.
Lychnis (Campion)
This is a tough, often overlooked perennial. Varieties like Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion) have bright magenta flowers against fuzzy silver foliage and self-seed readily.
- Type: Perennial
- Sun Needs: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Early to mid-summer
- Why It Lasts: Very drought tolerant and hardy. It often perpetuates itself in the garden through self-seeding.
Liatris (Blazing Star)
Liatris is unique because it blooms from the top down. Its purple flower spikes are a magnet for butterflies and make exceptional cut flowers.
- Type: Perennial
- Sun Needs: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
- Why It Lasts: The corms are long-lived perennials. Flowers dry well on the plant and in arrangements.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
Lungwort is a fantastic shade plant. It blooms very early in spring with pretty pink or blue flowers and has attractive spotted foliage that remains attractive all season.
- Type: Perennial
- Sun Needs: Partial to full shade
- Bloom Time: Early spring
- Why It Lasts: The decorative foliage provides interest long after the flowers fade, and it’s a very hardy, low-maintenance plant.
Limonium (Sea Lavender)
Limonium is famous as a dried flower. Its clusters of tiny, papery flowers retain their color perfectly when dried, making them last for years indoors.
- Type: Perennial or annual
- Sun Needs: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Why It Lasts: The ultimate long-lasting cut flower for drying. It also has good salt tolerance for coastal gardens.
Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)
Shasta Daisies are the cheerful, classic daisy. They produce loads of white petals with yellow centers over a long period and are excellent for bouquets.
- Type: Perennial
- Sun Needs: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Early summer to early fall
- Why It Lasts: Long blooming period, especially with deadheading. Strong perennial that forms large clumps.
How to Plant for Long-Lasting Success
Choosing the right flowers is only the first step. How you plant them makes a huge difference in their health and longevity. Follow these steps for the best results.
Step 1: Pick the Right Spot
Always match the plant to your garden’s conditions. Check the sun requirements. A sun-loving lantana will not thrive in a shady corner, and a lungwort will scorch in full afternoon sun.
- Use a sun calculator app or simply observe your garden over a day.
- Check soil drainage. Most plants, especially lavendar, need well-drained soil.
Step 2: Prepare the Soil
Good soil is the foundation. Most flowering plants appreciate soil rich in organic matter.
- Loosen the soil to a depth of about 12 inches.
- Mix in 2-4 inches of compost or well-rotted manure.
- For heavy clay soil, add grit or sand to improve drainage.
Step 3: Planting Correctly
Don’t plant to deep or to shallow. This is a common mistake.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the plant’s root ball.
- The depth should be so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.
- Backfill, water thoroughly, and add a layer of mulch to conserve moisture.
Care Tips to Extend Bloom and Life
Proper ongoing care is what makes a garden truly long-lasting. These simple habits will keep your flowers looking their best.
Watering Wisely
Deep, infrequent watering is better than frequent sprinkles. It encourages roots to grow deeper, making plants more drought-resistant.
- Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation.
- Focus water at the soil line, not on the leaves, to prevent disease.
- Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation for efficiency.
The Art of Deadheading
Deadheading is simply removing spent flowers. This stops the plant from putting energy into making seeds and tells it to produce more blooms instead.
- Use clean pruners or your fingers.
- Snip the flower stem back to just above a set of leaves or a side bud.
- For plants like lavender or liatris, you can cut back the whole flower spike after it’s done.
Feeding Your Flowers
Plants need food to perform. A balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in spring is often enough for perennials.
- For heavy bloomers like lantana, a monthly liquid feed during summer can help.
- Always follow package instructions—more is not better.
- Adding compost around plants each spring feeds the soil naturally.
Design Ideas with ‘L’ Flowers
Now, let’s think about how to use these plants together. Good design creates a garden that is beautiful across seasons.
A Long-Blooming Border
Combine plants with staggered bloom times. Start with lungwort and lupines in spring, move to lavender and lilies in summer, and finish with liatris and perennial lobelia in late summer.
- Place taller plants like lilies and lupines at the back.
- Use mid-height plants like lavender and leucanthemum in the middle.
- Put trailing lobelia or low lantana at the front.
A Fragrant Corner
Create a sensory spot. Plant lavender where you can brush against it. Add a climbing lily like ‘L. longiflorum’ for evening scent. The aroma will make your garden feel even more special.
A Cutting Garden Patch
If you love bouquets, dedicate a sunny row or bed to cut flowers. Lilies, liatris, leucanthemum, and limonium are all stars for this. Plant them in blocks for easy harvesting.
- Prepare the soil very well with compost.
- Plant in rows, leaving space to walk between them.
- Cut flowers in the morning when they are most hydrated.
Overwintering and Long-Term Health
Protecting your perennials ensures they come back stronger every year. A little fall care goes a long way.
Fall Cleanup
Remove diseased foliage, but leave healthy seed heads and stems for winter interest and wildlife. Many ‘L’ flowers, like liatris, have attractive winter structure.
Mulching for Protection
After the ground freezes, apply a fresh layer of mulch around the base of perennials. This prevents frost heave and protects roots from extreme temperature swings.
Dividing Perennials
Every few years, plants like leucanthemum and lychnis get crowded. Dividing them restores vigor.
- Do this in early spring or fall.
- Dig up the entire clump.
- Use a sharp spade or knife to cut it into smaller sections, each with roots and shoots.
- Replant the divisions and water well.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Even with the best care, issues can arise. Here’s how to handle common problems with these flowers.
Poor Flowering
If a plant isn’t blooming well, check these factors:
- Not enough sun: This is the most common cause. Most long-bloomers need full sun.
- Too much nitrogen: This promotes leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Use a bloom-booster fertilizer (higher phosphorus).
- Improper pruning: Some plants bloom on old wood. If you prune at the wrong time, you cut off the flower buds.
Leggy Growth
Plants like lantana can get leggy. Don’t be afraid to pinch or cut them back by one-third in early summer. This encourages bushier growth and more flowers.
Pests and Diseases
Keep an eye out for common issues.
- Aphids: Blast them off with a strong jet of water or use insecticidal soap.
- Powdery mildew: Improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering. Fungicides can help in severe cases.
- Slugs: They love young lupine leaves. Use beer traps or iron phosphate bait.
FAQ: Flowers That Start With L
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about these lovely plants.
What is the longest blooming flower that starts with L?
Lantana is arguably the champion for continuous, season-long bloom, especially in warm climates. In perennial terms, deadheaded ‘Lobelia cardinalis’ and ‘Leucanthemum’ can have a very long display.
Which L flowers are best for shade?
Lungwort (Pulmonaria) and some types of Lobelia (like Cardinal Flower) are excellent for partial to full shade. They provide great color in darker corners of the garden.
Are there any climbing flowers that start with L?
Yes! Clematis varieties like ‘Lambton Park’ or ‘Lasiandra’ are beautiful climbing vines. Also, some species of Lilium, like the climbing lily, can be trained on a support.
What L flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds?
Liatris (Blazing Star) is a butterfly magnet. Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower) and Lonicera (Honeysuckle) are irresistible to hummingbirds. Lantana also attracts butterflies.
Which of these flowers are deer resistant?
Deer tend to avoid Lavender, Lantana, Lychnis, and Liatris. They are good choices if deer are a problem in your area, though remember, no plant is completely deer-proof if they are hungry enough.
How do I make my cut L flowers last longer in a vase?
Cut stems at an angle in the morning. Strip leaves that will be below water. Use a clean vase and fresh water with flower food. Change the water every two days and recut the stems.
Adding these flowers that start with L to your garden is a sure way to build a beautiful, resilient landscape. By choosing the right plants for your conditions and following simple care steps, you can enjoy their lovely and long-lasting presence for many seasons to come. Start with one or two that catch your eye, and you’ll likely find yourself wanting to try more.