Favorite Fall Flowers

Sunshine Blue bluebeard offers bright yellow foliage on upright branches from late spring through the rest of the growing season. Light blue flowers cover the tips of the branches beginning in late summer and last until fall, attracting butterflies. A mass planting or low hedge is stunning, but you can also grow it in a mixed border or as a specimen.

In northern gardens, bluebeard often dies back to the ground, but flowering isn’t affected because blooms form on new growth. Prune the previous year’s stems down to the ground in spring. In the South, prune plants to about 6 inches to encourage fresh foliage.

Type Shrub Blooms Light blue flowers in late summer through fall Light Full sun Soil Moist, well-drained Size 2 to 3 ft. tall, 3 to 4 ft. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9

Blooming for about six weeks in fall, this native aster’s white daisylike flowers have yellow centers that turn red as they age. It puts on a very late display — even after several hard frosts. Frost aster’s appearance is a little on the wild side, with branches going this way and that, but it’s hard-working in challenging conditions. If you want a tamer look, you can pinch stems in late spring like you would with other asters. Frost aster spreads by seeds and rhizomes so it can be considered aggressive, give it some room where it can spread.

Type Perennial Blooms White flowers with yellow centers in fall Light Full sun to part shade Soil Average to dry Size 24 to 40 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10

This 3- to 4-foot-tall showy perennial stands out in any sunny part of the garden, especially at the back of the border or as a specimen plant. Mexican bush sage forms a nice mound of long arching stems with aromatic, gray-green foliage that grows about 2 feet wide or larger and has dark purple and white flowers at the tips.

Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, it’s an easy-care perennial in USDA zones 7 and warmer. Give it plenty of sun so plants don’t get leggy, but some afternoon shade is best where summers are very hot. Prune to the ground in spring to remove frost-damaged foliage and give your plants a fresh look.

Type Perennial Blooms Dark purple calyxes with white blooms from late summer to frost Light Full sun to part shade Soil Moist, well-drained Size 24 to 40 in. tall, 28 to 36 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10

In late summer, space bulbs 4 to 6 inches apart in groups of five or seven 3 to 4 inches deep. They’ll bloom in just a few weeks the first year. After that, you’ll notice that foliage appears in spring and dies back then flowers appear in fall.

It’s a good idea to mark where you planted autumn crocus, so you don’t accidentally dig into bulbs or pull out foliage in spring. Wear gloves when handling any part of this plant as it’s poisonous and can cause a rash.

Type Bulb Blooms Orchid-pink or white flowers in fall Light Full sun to part shade Soil Moist, well-drained Size 3 to 6 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9

Japanese anemone stands out in a fall garden, where it adds height and elegant blooms in late summer through fall, sometimes for up to two months. ‘September Charm’ has sprays of pale pink flowers with yellow centers at the end of long stems. It looks great in a cottage garden or planted near a wrought-iron fence where it can peek through. A fence can also offer plants a little protection from wind.

Don’t worry about early fall frosts — they generally don’t affect the flower show. Cut back foliage after a hard freeze or you can leave it in place to protect the crown through winter.

Type Perennial Blooms Pale pink blooms with yellow centers in late summer through fall Light Full sun to part shade Soil Moist, well-drained Size 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9

While there are hundreds of dahlias to choose from, ‘Babylon Bronze’ above is a pretty fall pick because its rich salmon-orange petals aren’t brash and can be combined with pastels, as well as dark blues and purples. The giant 8- to 11-inch-wide, dinnerplate type, double orange blooms are close to eye level where they’re easy to appreciate.

Plant tubers 4 inches deep in spring once the soil has warmed and the chance of frost has passed. Dahlias begin blooming midsummer and keep going until frost. Stake tall cultivars and ones with large flowers. Deadhead spent blooms to keep them looking good.

Type Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual) Blooms Large double salmon-orange flowers from midsummer to frost Light Full sun to part shade Soil Moist, well-drained Size 40 to 44 in. tall, 20 to 24 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11

Here’s an exotic looking fall flower for the shade or woodland garden. Upright ‘Tojen,’ is larger than most, at 2 to 3 ft. tall. Plant it in a spot where you can see its orchidlike white flowers with purple edges up close.

Last to arrive and last to go is the toad lily’s way. Plants emerge in late spring and grow slowly until temps warm up. Toad lilies can be susceptible to anthracnose fungal disease, which causes orange spots on the leaves. Although it doesn’t kill the plant, it can spread in wet weather. Be sure to provide plenty of room for good air circulation and water at the base of the plant, not on the leaves.

Type Perennial Blooms White or yellow flowers with purple spots or edges Light Part to full shade Soil Moist, well-drained, slightly acid Size 2 to 3 ft. tall, 1 to 2 ft. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9

Seven-son flower is very versatile. Not only can it be grown as a single-stemmed ornamental tree or multistemmed large shrub, you can use it in a variety of garden situations and prune it to fit your needs. Add a specimen to your bed or border or plant several to screen an area and add privacy.

With graceful tiered branches and shiny narrow green leaves, it has clusters of seven whorled fragrant white flowers that provide nectar for butterflies. Perhaps even showier, though, is when the petals fall off and pink calyxes remain, as you can see in the photo above.

Type Tree Blooms Fragrant white flowers in late summer maturing to pink in early fall Light Full sun to part shade Soil Moist, well-drained Size 15 to 20 ft. tall, 8 to 10 ft. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9

Mistflower has great lavender-blue blooms that begin when many other perennials are done with their show for the season. Pinching plants in late spring makes them bushier with more flowers.

Spreading by rhizomes, it can be rather vigorous. If it grows larger than you want, dig up part of the clump to add to another part of the garden.

Type Perennial Blooms Lavender-blue flowers in late summer to fall Light Full sun to part shade Soil Moist, well-drained Size 18 to 24 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8

Are you looking for something unique for a late-season show in large containers? The strappy chartreuse foliage and dark brown seedheads of ‘Jade Princess’ ornamental millet provide an eye-catching bold contrast. At 3 to 4 feet tall, it makes a showy backdrop for late-season flowers in beds and borders.

Growing best in moist, well-drained soil and warm summer temps, ‘Jade Princess’ forms a tidy dense mound of varied lime to chartreuse leaves. Then in summer, thick pollenless seedheads form above the leaves and continue through fall. Keep plants looking their best by fertilizing every couple weeks with a balanced liquid feed and removing spent seedheads.

Type Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual) Blooms Bronze to dark brown seedheads from summer through fall Light Full sun to part shade Soil Moist, well-drained Size 36 to 48 in. tall, 18 to 24 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11