The Best Fall Flowers (That Aren’t Mums)
Updated: Sep. 14, 2020
Plan on adding some of these blooming plants to your garden to get more flowers and color in the fall.
The Best Fall Flowers
Q: Besides mums, what should I plant to get more flowers and color in autumn? — reader Judy Roberts, Graytown, Ohio.
A: Mums definitely signal the end of the growing season, but native asters (pictured below), turtleheads and goldenrods are also excellent options. Try sunny Ohio goldenrod or the cultivar Fireworks. They provide nectar for pollinators preparing for winter or migrating to their southern homes.
These are some of the best flowers for bees and other pollinators.
One of our favorite nonnative plants is toad lily (pictured above). The flowers remind us of orchids and appear along or at the tip of the plant’s stem. Native and noninvasive ornamental grasses also provide texture year-round, and many flower in fall, producing attractive seed heads that last through winter.
When landscaping, don’t forget about shrubs. These are the best fall shrubs for your garden.
