Autumn is a great season for annuals, low-maintenance perennials and evergreen shrubs to shine. In fact, some of the most popular flowers, like colorful mums, roses, dahlias, purple pansies and yes, even bright yellow sunflowers, all bloom around September and October.
From marigolds to coral bells (aka heuchera), standby blooms like chrysanthemums and pansies, and so many more, what's not to love? Hardy fall flowers allow you to fill your garden with color even as the nights get chilly and your favorite summer flowers fade away.
They should be well established and ready to show off their autumn colors. These fall flowers tend to bloom in jewel tones such as rusts, golds, deep purples, or scarlets. Asters, coneflowers, sedums, grasses, and chrysanthemums are a few examples of fall-blooming perennials.
FLOWERS – sow ageratum, alyssum, candytuft, carnation, cineraria, coreopsis, cornflower, cyclamen, delphinium, dianthus, everlasting daisy, Iceland poppy, impatiens, marigolds, sweet pea and viola.
Hellebores are one of the earliest perennials to bloom from spring to fall. The large bowl- or saucer-shaped flowers are delicate and lovely. Flowers bloom in white with splashy pink, yellow, or maroon markings.
Grow an Edible Garden With Fall Vegetables
For a cool-weather vegetable harvest, plant lettuce, collards, carrots, Brussel sprouts, spinach, broccoli, radish, and more. The general rule of thumb is to plant fall vegetables from seed 90 days before the first frost.
Autumn is a great season for annuals, low-maintenance perennials and evergreen shrubs to shine. In fact, some of the most popular flowers, like colorful mums, roses, dahlias, purple pansies and yes, even bright yellow sunflowers, all bloom around September and October.
Rudbeckia, also known as Black-Eyed Susans, are cold-hardy flowers that offer long-lasting blooms spring through fall. They're easy-to-grow, survive as perennials in zones 4-10, or can be grown as annuals. Cut back the stems and faded foliage when they naturally fade in winter, and they should return next spring.
Tip. Mid- to late-August is often an excellent time to plant fall flowers, as long as the weather isn't still so hot that the plants will suffer heat stress.
Fall gardens are a great time to get creative with warmly colored flowers in purple, orange and yellow. Plants like chrysanthemums, nasturtiums and asters are wonderful choices for seasonal planting arrangements.
October has two birth flowers: the Marigold and Cosmos. Both stems prosper during the summer and fall and have rich legacies in history, gardening, and folk medicine. The first October birth flower is the cosmo.
Asters (Aster Spp.)
One very popular variety is Aster 'Celeste', which forms a clump covered with dense purple daisy-like flowers in late summer and early fall.
Yarrow is one of the longest flowering perennials that grows best in full sun with well-drained soil of average fertility; over-fertilizing can cause the stems to flop over. Flower colours can range from soft pastels to rich jewel shades. Deadhead spent flowers by clipping the flower stem back to the main foliage.
Alyssum. Alyssum is a warm zone perennial plant, which means it can bloom all year in climates like California. It has small, fragrant white, pink or purple flowers and grows best in full sun.
From early fall through most of November is one of the best times of year to plant spring-blooming bulbs, cool-season annuals and vegetables, as well as many trees, shrubs, and perennials.
Late summer or early fall is an excellent time to plant mums, one of the symbolic flowers of the season. Practically any time in September that strikes your fancy is a good bet, so long as it's at least six weeks before the year's first frost.
The poinsettia plant! Known for being a classic symbol of the Christmas season, the poinsettia plants' vibrant red bracts and green leaves make it a wonderful addition to any winter home in need of a splash of color.
October is the season to plant spring-blooming bulbs, wildflowers, and many standard gardening favorites. The flowers that don't blossom this winter can spend the cold season in the ground, strengthening their root systems in preparation for a springtime bloom.