Welcome shorter days and longer nights with colorful late blooming fall perennials that light up your flower garden.
Fall perennials can be just as colorful and pretty as those in summer gardens—it just takes a little planning. Although these flowers catch your eye in autumn, the time to plant them is earlier in the year. Plan ahead and take this article with you next spring when you are purchasing your plants at the garden centers.
On This Page
Indian Summer Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta, Zones 3 to 7
Indian Summer is a low-maintenance cultivar of native black-eyed Susan with large, gold daisylike flowers. In full sun, these plants can reach 3 feet tall. Depending on location, they may be an annual, biennial or short-lived perennial.
Why we love it: If you plant several of these, you can cut for fresh bouquets inside and still have a mass of blooms outside. Leave seed heads on for the birds.
Autumn Fire Showy Stonecrop
Hylotelephium spectabile, Zones 3 to 9
Autumn Fire is an improved version of Autumn Joy boasting a longer bloom season of more intense brick-red flowers that sit above strong upright stems and fleshy succulent foliage. Drought resistant and heat tolerant, this is a reliable perennial and easy to grow in full sun.
Why we love it: Flower heads can remain on the plant for winter interest, so there is no need for deadheading.
Yellow Wax Bells
Kirengeshoma palmata, Zones 4 to 8
Emerging in the spring, this perennial grows to be a 3-to-4-foot shrub with maplelike foliage. Yellow wax bells produces spherical buds in clusters that elongate and open to bell-shaped, yellow flowers in the fall. The leaves may also turn gold if not hit by the first frost.
Why we love it: A unique shrublike woodland plant, yellow wax bells lights up shady areas with many yellow blossoms and its strong stems don’t require staking.
Sheffield Pink Chrysanthemum
Dendranthema, Zones 5 to 9
Sheffield Pink reaches 2 to 3 feet tall, blooming daisylike, apricot-pink flowers with gold centers from fall to frost. This plant can become covered with flowers if grown in full sun and is deer and rabbit resistant.
Why we love it: A reliable hardy mum that will come back every year, Sheffield Pink is compact and can be cut back before July for shorter, denser growth.
Mexican Bush Sage
Salvia leucantha, Zones 7 to 10
Mexican bush sage grows to 3 feet tall and wide, creating a bush effect in sun. Spikes of fuzzy purple-and-white flowers appear above the foliage, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.
Why we love it: The woody purple undersides of the white flowers remain after the bloom, making the stems perfect for dried flower arrangements.
Toad Lily
Tricyrtis hirta, Zones 4 to 8
These unique orchidlike fall perennials are purple and white spotted with a raised center structure. To better enjoy them, plant along a garden border in a shady area with moist, rich soil.
Why we love it: Toad lily flowers face upward along arching branches, similar to bamboo, adding to the exotic appearance.
Honorine Jobert Japanese Anemone
Anemone x hybrida, Zones 4 to 8
Honorine Jobert produces pearly buds that open to 2-inch flowers with white petals and yellow centers. At 3 feet tall, buds and blooms dance atop wiry stems.
Why we love it: This versatile anemone can be grown in full sun or part shade, and in perennial borders, or cottage, rock or woodland gardens.
Baby Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium dubium, Zones 3 to 9
Baby Joe has the beauty and benefits of Joe Pye weed without the height. Baby Joe only grows to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, but still blooms the same purple flowers that support beneficial insects and pollinators.
Why we love it: Because of its compact size, Baby Joe does not flop, can be cut for arrangements and can be grown in large containers
Autumn Gold Willow-leaved Sunflower
Helianthus salicifolius, Zones 5 to 10
This 2-foot cultivar of a native blooms a multitude of golden yellow flowers with brown centers from fall to frost. Autumn Gold prefers full sun and is drought tolerant. Its compact form is ideal for small gardens. It doesn’t need staking if grown in the right conditions.
Why we love it: Butterflies love the flowers and finches eat the seeds. You can leave the seed heads on for winter interest. Deer and rabbits tend to steer clear of these fall perennials.
Raydon’s Favorite Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, Zones 3 to 8
Compact at 3 feet tall and wide, this cultivar of a native blooms bright blue-purple, daisylike flowers. Raydon’s Favorite likes full sun and attracts pollinators but not deer and rabbits.
Why we love it: Known as aromatic asters, the flowers can be used for arrangements, and the foliage releases a minty fragrance when cut.
