Fall is just around the corner but don’t let the thought of the impending arrival of cooler days and snow get you down for fall means more blooms and a colorful finale to the end of the growing season.
We’re listing 10 of our favorite fall blooms. Some you can buy to use to decorate in containers, others are hardy perennials in most zones that you can look to plant in your garden and add to your blooms next year for subsequent seasons of enjoyment.
Anemone x hybrida
The Japanese Anemone is a beautiful late summer, fall blooming perennial. They are a small elegant flower on the end of long stems full of foliage to fill gaps during the growing season until their blooms appear. Colors for the flowers may be white, pink, red, purple or blue and prefer sun to partial shade. Height can be from 3 to 5 feet. Zones: 3-9
Aster
Asters are a popular fall blooming plant available in blue, purple, red, pink or white. They can be use along borders starting as small as 6 inches up to a towering 8 feet. Plant them in a sun to partial shade location. They are also an excellent plant for containers.
Zones: 2-8
Chrysanthemum
Another popular fall plant, Chrysanthemums, or “mums,” are available in several colors and make an excellent container plant. They’re used often for fall bouquets and décor with their lush blossoms in white, yellow, orange, red, pink or purple. These colors typify fall and their varied heights from 1 to 5 feet over unlimited placement in the garden. Plant in full sun and pinch them back early to maximize blooming potential.
Zones: 3-11
Cimicifuga
This beautiful fall bloomer has some notorious nicknames that detract for the positive impact this plant will have on any fall garden. Called “bugbane,” “black cohosh,” or “snakeroot” certainly don’t artfully describe the ferny green leaves and white flower spikes that can be more than a few feet tall as the plant height ranges from 2 to 7 feet. Plant in sun to partial shade and let this ill-named plant brighten your fall-scape.
Zones: 3-8
Cuphea
This aptly nicknamed “Cigar plant,” has red flowers that look like glowing cigars. The long, thin flowers will provide a continuation of whimsical fall colors in containers and along borders as the plants reach from 12 to 30 inches. Cuphea requires hot, moist weather so it is used as an annual in zones 2 to 9. Cuphea should be planted in full sun in zones 2 to 7, and in partial shade in zones 8 and up. Other varieties have white, pink or blue flowers.
Zones: 2-9, annual
Zones: 10-11, perennial
Eryngium
Commonly known as Sea Holly, the spiky silver-gray, blue, or purple flowers on this unique plant are lovely to look at, but at a distance. Sea Holly will add texture to your garden with this well-established plant that doesn’t need a lot of maintenance. Plant in full sun and watch Sea Holly reach 1 to 6 feet.
Zones: 2-9
Helenium autumnale
This long-blooming fall perennial has also been docked with a misnomer of a nickname, “Sneezeweed.” Its rich gold, red, or yellow colors accompany the changing leaves and harvest time of fall. Growing in height from 3 to 5 feet, Sneezeweed will make a stunning addition to your garden. Plant in full sun.
Zones: 3-9
Helianthus
Sunflowers come in many varieties and sizes and typify the fall harvest season. This variety is a perennial that can be established to return every year, unlike ones that require replanting from seed each spring. It grows 4 to 8 feet tall in full sun with flowers 5 inches wide in various shades of yellow.
Zones: 4-9
Sedum spectabile
Sedum is available in many varieties that bloom throughout the growing season. This variety, called Autumn Joy, ranges in color from pink to brick red, perfect for fall. Plant in sun to partial shade and watch it bloom from 18 to 24 inches in borders and containers until frost.
Zones: 3-10
Solidago
Commonly known as Goldenrod and thought of as a wildflower, Goldenrod is a hardy, easy-care perennial with golden yellow colors that will illuminate your fall-scape as it grows 1 to 5 feet high. Plant in full sun.
Zones: 3-9