We all know spring and summer are prime flower seasons. Flowers are in bloom thanks to gorgeous weather and when the season comes to an end, flowers wilt and leaves fall off leaving your landscape looking dull and lifeless for the fall season. However, with the right plants and timing, you can always avoid this.
If you are an experienced gardener, you would know the importance of planting ahead for lush, colorful fields of flowers even as the temperatures begin to dip. We have rounded up 20 beautiful flowers for the fall to plant in your yard. There are also tips on how you can get them blook in time for the fall season.
1. Chrysanthemum
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun
Height/Spread: 4 to 36 in. tall and 12 to 36 in. wide (size varies depending on the variety)
One of the many signature flowers for autumn and fall is chrysanthemum, lovingly known as mums. They come in various shapes, colors, and sizes, but the most popular is the Moonbeam. A pom pom variety, these flowers have large, striking, white to pale yellow reminiscent of a full moon.
Most chrysanthemums are available in nurseries or garden centers right before or as they are blooming. If you want a full and dense bloom, regular pruning will go a long way. Prune them when the stems are only six to eight inches long until buds appear.
2. Dahlia
Zones: 8-10
Exposure: Sheltered spot with full sun
Height/Spread: 1 to 6 feet tall, and 1 to 2 feet wide, but size varies depending on the variety)
Dahlia is one of the most beautiful ornamental plants that flowers in the fall. They are as tiny as a button or as large as a dinner plate. You can find them in red, orange, yellow, purple, white, and green, but the only color you will not find is blue.
You start them from seeds, plant tubers, or buy flowered plants, but whatever you choose, ensure that it is the right type for your garden because they come in various sizes and need the right conditions to grow.
3. Goldenrod
Zones: 2-8
Exposure: Full sun to dappled shade
Height/Spread: From less than a foot to over 6 feet tall and wide
Goldenrod is a welcome addition to any garden and landscape. They produce clusters of tiny fluffy and spiky florets in various shades of yellow with attractive semi-evergreen foliage.
Goldenrod is easy to grow and maintain, but beware, they spread aggressively, so if you want to keep it contained, you can grow these plants in containers. Use a container at least 12 inches in diameter with large drainage holes, as they need well-draining soil.
Also, these plants cause allergies, so you might want to plant them in a less frequented corner of your garden.
4. Japanese Anemone
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Height/Spread: 2 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide
Japanese anemones flower single or double paper-like blooms that are white, pink, or purple with yellow stamens in the center. These flowers give off a light vanilla scent and sway in the breeze, hence the nickname windflower. This plant also produces striking, deeply lobed foliage reminiscent of maple leaves.
Japanese anemones are easy to grow and maintain, but if they are not blooming, they probably need more sunlight or nutrients. Move the plant somewhere sunnier and add fertilizer to the soil to increase nutrition.
Balloon flowers are herbaceous perennials that belong to the bellflower family, even though they look nothing like a bell. As the name suggests, the flowers are lavender-blue to white and start as a puff resembling a hot air balloon before popping open to a star shape.
These plants thrive in organically rich, loamy soil with good drainage, and their ideal temperature is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything hotter and the plants might require afternoon shade. They do not require any maintenance except for the occasional stem cutting to prevent flopping.
6. Blue Pitcher Sage
Zones: 5a-9b
Exposure: Full sun to dappled shade
Height/Spread: 35-60 inch tall, 20-50 inch wide
Blue sage is a shrubby, clumping perennial with sky-blue, two-lipped tubular flowers. These flowers are perched atop upright stems with long and narrow grayish-green leaves. It looks perfect in garden beds or borders that have other flowers.
They thrive in moist sandy soils, and other than that, they are easy to grow and care for. Cut the stems back by 1/2 the late spring for healthier growth and to avoid flopping. This plant is resistant to browsing by deer. Propagate it by division or seed.
7. Asters
Zones: 3-10
Exposure: Full sun
Height/Spread: 1 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide
Another one of the many beautiful flowers for fall is the aster. They are quintessential fall flowers that produce daisy-like flowers in cool shades of purple, pink, blue, and white.
You do not need special techniques or extra caution to grow these flowers. Just plant them in the right location with rich, slightly acidic, and well-draining soil. Also, water them well during periods with little to no rainfall.
Additionally, asters do need much feeding. They receive enough nutrients from the soil. Fertilizing plants in garden borders with aged manure or compost each spring should suffice.
8. Perennial Sunflower
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun
Height/Spread: 1 to 10 feet tall and wide, depending on the variety
The first thing that comes to mind when we think of sunflowers is the common sunflower, which has yellow petals and a brown disc in the center.
This is an annual sunflower which can grow up to 12 feet tall. But there is also a different variety known as perennial sunflower that blooms in the fall. These flowers produce smaller daisy-like flowers but in larger quantities. They come in varying shades of gold and yellow.
You can directly sow the seeds in your garden bed after the frost or get a head start indoors. Seeds planted in spring could flower by autumn, though it may also take until next spring.
9. Russian Sage
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun
Height/Spread: 2 to 4 feet tall and wide
Russian Sage is a perfect flower for fall and lazy gardeners. It elevates the garden with its silvery gray-green foliage and long-lasting lavender-blue flowers. The best part, though, is the ease of growing and caring for this plant.
You can plant and ignore it, and it will still hold its own for months. It does not demand much except for full sun and well-drained soil. It is also deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.
Just buy container-grown and bare-root plants, fulfill their sun and soil needs, and let them do their magic.
Straw evokes images of tan withered strands of plants, which is not how anyone wants to picture a flower. But you will be surprised at how beautiful strawflowers are.
Strawflowers look like daisies, with vibrant petals surrounding a center disk. However, unlike daisies, strawflowers have firm, paper-like petals, which is why they are called so.
You can sow them from seeds as they grow quickly. You should put them in sandy and rocky soil with a mildly acidic to neutral pH and ensure good drainage. You do not have to water them much as they are drought-tolerant. Weekly watering should suffice.
11. Sweet Alyssum
Zones: Annual up to 8; short-lived perennial in 9-11.
Exposure: Full sun
Height/Spread: 4 to 10 inches tall, spreading up to 4 feet
Sweet alyssums have tiny, hairy, elongated blue-green leaves with delightful honey-scented flowers in white, pink, rose, lavender, purple, and apricot colors.
They have branches that trail along, making them suitable for containers, hanging baskets, and garden beds.
You can sow the seeds in your garden bed with well-amended soil or grow them in containers with high-quality, well-draining soil. Newer plants need no pruning, unlike older plants that have to be shared in half and fertilized.
12. Sweet Autumn Clematis
Zones: Annual up to 8; short-lived perennial in 9-11
Exposure: Full sun
Height/Spread: 4 to 10 inches tall, spreading up to 4 feet
Sweet alyssums have tiny, hairy, elongated blue-green leaves with delightful honey-scented flowers in white, pink, rose, lavender, purple, and apricot colors.
They have branches that trail along, making them suitable for containers, hanging baskets, and garden beds.
You can sow the seeds in your garden bed with well-amended soil or grow them in containers with high-quality, well-draining soil. Newer plants need no pruning, unlike older plants that have to be shared in half and fertilized.
13. Tickseed
Zones: 2-11
Exposure: Full sun
Height/Spread: 2–4 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
Coreopsis or tickseed is a stunning addition to a fall perennial garden. They produce golden-yellow, daisy-like flowers that add pops of color to your landscape and are highly attractive to pollinators.
These plants are relatively easy to grow. You can sow them outdoors directly after your last frost or start them in containers and transplant the seedlings outdoors.
New plants need water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, but after they are established, they can tolerate droughts. But they will bloom prolifically with regular watering.
14. Turtlehead
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun with dappled shade
Height/Spread: 2-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
Turtlehead is a clump-forming perennial that is sometimes confused for snapdragons. The flowers are two-lipped and tightly packed along the flower spikes in shades of pink and white. They remind you of a turtle poking its head out of its shell.
Turtlehead plants prefer moist soil with filtered sun. They will never survive in dry soil, so water regularly or add a layer of leaf mulch to keep the soil cool and moist. Avoid fertilizing in the first year of growth. After that, a yearly spring feeding will suffice.
Helenium, commonly known as sneezeweed, has over 40 species of annuals and perennials. It is a small daisy-like flower in gold, orange, red, and bronze shades with a brown globe-shaped center. They sit atop lance-shaped, sturdy branching stems.
Sneezeweed can tolerate many kinds of soil but must be well-draining and moist. They also require water regularly for dense blooms. Insert your finger 2 inches deep in the soil to check if it is dry. If it is, it needs more water.
16. Autumn Crocus
Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun with filtered shade
Height/Spread: 6-9 inches tall and wide
Autumn Crocuses are unique perennials of the lily family. These flowers bloom in purple, pink, and white shades without leaves, giving them their uniqueness and the nickname, naked ladies.
These garden plants are low-maintenance. They are not prone to serious pest problems and diseases. They thrive in sandy loam or rocky soil with good drainage.
They also need water weekly during spring but reduce it in fall. As for feeding, they do not need much, but if your soil is poor quality, you might need fertilizers at planting time.
17. Bengal Tiger Canna Lily
Zones: 8-11
Exposure: Full sun
Height/Spread: 4 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide
The Bengal tiger canna lily can easily stop one of their tracks with its beauty. It has iris-like bright orange flowers with striking green and yellow striped leaves perched atop tall and sturdy stems.
These lilies need full sun for prolific bloom. Unlike other plants that can tolerate partial shade, it will become leggy and will not produce as many or as bright flowers as in full sun. You will need to water these plants deeply once a week.
18. Leadwort
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full/Partial sun
Height/Spread: 6 to 12 inches and 12 to 18 inches
Leadwort is a low, perennial ground cover that does not require much. It can tolerate tough growing conditions. It grows in droughty soil, provided they are rich and well-drained. They are also generally deer and pest-resistant.
As boring as its name sounds, the plant produces bright blue flowers with a bronze-red fall leaf color. It can be grown as a shrub, vine, or potted plant and works beautifully in hedges and cascading over walls and fences.
19. Zinnia
Zones: Usually grown as an annual
Exposure: Full sun
Height/Spread: 6 to 12 inches tall and wide or up to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, depending on variety
Zinnias are one of the most manageable flowers of autumn. They grow quickly and reliably, making them a favorite amongst gardeners. They come in so many colors, shapes, sizes, and forms that there are over 100 varieties.
They germinate quickly from seeds and bloom year-long, but only if you prune them consistently. Wilted flowers should be deadheaded to prolong flowering late into the season.
20. Mexican Bush Sage
Zones: 8-10
Exposure: Full sun to dappled shade
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
Mexican bush sage or velvet sage is an evergreen shrubby perennial that is easy to grow and maintain. It does not self-seed, meaning it does not spread and affect other plants. It produces velvety flower spikes in purple bi-color above lance-shaped leaves.
This bush variety prefers sunny locations and fertile, well-drained soil. They are prone to various infestations and fungal diseases, so be on the lookout for signs like yellow leaves.
