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 are only just now hitting their peak bloom.
- Long Bloomers—Others have been at it awhile but are still going strong, offering yet another flush of blooms.
- Graceful demise—Look for plants with a pleasing seasonal flow. For example: interesting seed heads, decorative berries, or attractively aging blooms.
Flowers that power through fall are especially welcome. Some, like the much-loved Geranium 'Rozanne', have been blooming on and off for months. Others, like the asters and black-eyed Susans, are just getting going. But all will add reliable color, extending the show until late into the year. Our site is chock full of plant combination recipes you can use—be sure to click through for specific ideas for how to include these doers in your garden.
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 perennials that offer extended interest by virtue of their late blooms, an interesting seasonal progression that extends into autumn, and/or plants that peak in the late summer into fall.
20+ Perennials for Fall Flower Power
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! If you're out of the area and looking for a mail-order source, consider Little Prince Nursery (disclosure: affiliate link).
