Unfazed by fall, these stalwart perennials finish strong—with style, and full of color.
In the coming weeks, to the extent that you can do so safely, be sure to continue visiting gardens, cruising garden centers, and keep your eyes peeled on your neighborhood walks. When you spot fall perennials that are still looking good and performing well, like the ones on this list, consider them top contenders for adding interest to your autumn garden. Adding plants that are solid contributors to the late-season scene is a great way to make your garden stronger, longer.
Be on the lookout for:
- Late Bloomers—Some fall-blooming perennials don't hit their peak bloom until autumn is underway.
- Long Bloomers—Others have been at it awhile but are still going strong by the time fall comes around, offering yet another flush of blooms.
- Finish with Grace—It's not always about the flowers. Look for plants with a pleasing seasonal flow. For example: interesting seed heads, decorative berries, or attractively aging blooms.
LONG BLOOMERS
Perennial flowers that bloom all summer into fall are especially welcome in my garden. For example: Agastache (hyssop), Abutilon (flowering maple), Geranium 'Rozanne', hardy Fuchsia, and Autumn sage. Many of these incredibly prolific bloomers have been flowering on and off for months already and will keep on keeping on from early summer right into fall. Other flowering perennials can be coaxed into delivering a strong repeat performance in late summer/early fall if they're cut back after their first round of blooms peters out. Classic examples of perennials that respond well to this treatment include Geranium 'Rozanne' and cat mints (Nepeta).
LATE BLOOMERS
Asters and black-eyed Susans—classic fall-blooming perennials—are just getting going in late summer. They will continue to add reliable color, extending the show until late in the year. Tip: continue visiting gardens and nurseries in August, September and onward. Doing so will give you an opportunity to see flowering perennials for fall that you might otherwise miss seeing.
FINISH GRACEFULLY
Coneflowers (Echinacea) are a widely-grown and well-known example of perennials that offer fodder for wildlife after their blooms fade. As the plants start winding down in late summer/early fall, stop deadheading and let the faded blooms to go to seed. Birds will feast on dried seed heads and bring lively activity to your garden even as the season wanes. Look beyond flowers and you'll find much to enjoy in your late season garden.
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20+ Fall Blooming Perennials with Flower Power
Other considerations, such as plants that are predominately valued for handsome, year-round foliage, and/or excellent seasonal fall color, are left for another post. In this list, we're looking at fall blooming perennials that offer extended interest by virtue of their late-season flowers, an interesting seasonal progression that extends into autumn, and/or flowering perennials that peak in the late summer into fall. And don't forget, the eGardenGo site is loaded with plant combination recipes you can use—click through for specific ideas on how to include these doers in your garden.
Agastache 'Blue Fortune'
Hybrid Hyssop
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
6, 7, 8, 9
Agastache 'Kudos Ambrosia'
Dwarf Hummingbird Mint
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies'
Butterfly Weed, Silkwood
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Aster nova-belgii 'Professor Kippenberg'
New England Aster
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Aster x frikartii 'Monch'
Frikart's Aster
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Canna 'Bengal Tiger'
Bengal Tiger Canna Lily
CANNA 'PRETORIA'
CANNA GENERALIS 'AUREOSTRIATA'
Type:
Bulb / Corm / Tuber, Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonlight'
Threadleaf Coreopsis
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
6, 7, 8, 9
Dahlia 'Happy Single Flame'
Happy Single Flame Dahlia
Type:
Bulb / Corm / Tuber, Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10
Eupatorium maculatum 'Gateway'
Joe Pye Weed
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Fuchsia 'Little Giant'
Little Giant Hardy Fuchsia
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Part Shade, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Fuchsia magellanica 'Aurea'
Golden Hardy Fuchsia
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Geranium 'Gerwat' Rozanne
Rozanne Hardy Geranium
Type:
Groundcover, Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Helenium 'Carnival'
Carnival Helen's Flower
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Full Sun, Full Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Helenium 'Mardi Gras'
Mardi Gras Sneezeweed
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Helianthus 'Lemon Queen'
Perennial Sunflower
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Burgundy Bunny'
Burgundy Bunny Fountain Grass
Type:
Grass / Grass-Like, Groundcover
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Golden Arrow'
Golden Arrow Knotweed
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'
Black-eyed Susan
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Little Henry'
Little Henry Black-eyed Susan
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Salvia greggii 'Radio Red'
Radio Red Autumn Sage
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun
Zone:
7, 8, 9
Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips'
Hot Lips Sage
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat, Morning Sun
Zone:
8, 9, 10
Sedum 'Matrona'
Matrona Stonecrop
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Zauschneria californica
California Fuchsia
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Shade, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10, 11
For even more fall flowering perennials, explore this search from the eGardenGo site.
A Sampling of Combos with a Strong Fall Finish
When you decide to add some of these fab perennials for fall, I'd appreciate it if you'd consider shopping at one of our site sponsors. For those in the Portland area, Portland Nursery is a top pick for south-siders. And for those to the west, visit Blooming Junction near Cornelius!
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