Round, papery flower heads in deep purple appear all season on bushy, heat-loving plants that ask very little once established. Gomphrena thrives in the kind of heat that wilts tender annuals and won't need coaxing to bloom through July.

Deadheading extends the show, but even neglected plants keep flowering. Use them in beds, borders, or as cut flowers—the blooms dry beautifully if you want them to last.