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26 Fall-blooming Flowers to Grow in Your Autumn Garden

Use these tried-and-true fall flowers to brighten up your landscape with a final burst of color before the season winds down. 

Contributors: Susan Martin

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FALL ANNUAL FLOWERS

 

African Daisy

Despite their common name, these daisy-like flowers thrive in the cooler seasons of spring and fall. Collect all the colors in the Bright Lights series including Bright Lights Red which pairs perfectly with purple pansies and ornamental grasses in fall containers and landscapes. 

Annual except in zones 9-11, part sun to sun, 8-12” tall.

 

Calibrachoa

This classic summer annual is surprisingly cold tolerant, so it’ll last until frost in your upright containers, window boxes and hanging baskets. Whether you choose a variety with single or double flowers, you can expect all of our Superbells® calibrachoa to act as long-lasting fillers and spillers in your combinations. Choose from over 40 varieties to match your fall color scheme.

Annual except in zones 9-11, part sun to sun, 6-12” tall.

 

Petunia

You might be familiar with our most popular pink petunia, Supertunia Vista® Bubblegum®. But did you know that Supertunia® petunias also come in shades of near-black, rich purple, magenta, red, honey apricot and yellow to coordinate with your fall garden? All are cold tolerant and bloom until frost, so the only question is, which color best fits your fall décor? 

Annual except in zones 10-11, part sun to sun, 4-12” tall.

 

Nemesia

Looking for a cute annual to mix with your ornamental peppers and kale this fall? The bubbly blooms of Aromance®, Sunsatia® or Bluebird nemesia are perfect for such use in patio pots and window boxes. Choose from a broad range of colors from cool blues to warm reds, oranges, pinks and yellows.  

Annual except in zones 8-10, part sun to sun, 6-18” tall depending on cultivar.

Salvia

Annual salvias are some of the longest-lasting annuals in our lineup, flowering from planting until frost in large containers and landscapes. You’ll find pollinators enjoying the violet blue flower spikes of Rockin’® Playin’ the Blues® salvia up until the last bloom drops when frost hits. Pay close attention to the size on the tag when you shop, since salvias can range greatly in size.

Annual, zone varies by variety, part sun to sun, height varies by variety, deer resistant.

 

Sunflower

Sunflowers are the quintessential fall flower, a staple for all your bouquets. Unlike seed varieties which grow tall and produce just a few blooms, our shorter, broadly mounded Suncredible® sunflowers produce hundreds of flowers per season. Plus, you won’t need to wait for fall to enjoy the blooms. They start early in the summer and keep right on blooming continuously until frost without deadheading.

Annual except in zones 9-11, full sun, 2-3’ tall, deer resistant

 

Sweet Alyssum

Proven Winners sweet alyssum truly does “grow” the distance! Plant it in the spring and it will bloom non-stop until frost. Or start fresh in fall with either a white or purple-flowering variety and enjoy its sweet fragrance on those sunny, crisp fall days. This fluffy-textured annual looks amazing planted along a pathway, spilling out of window boxes, or filling a hanging basket.

Annual except in zones 9-11, part sun to sun, 8-16” tall.

 

Verbena

Once you try our durable and prolifically blooming Superbena® verbena, you’ll want to grow them every year. Blooming from planting time until frost in shades of pink, red, peach, purple and white, these spreading, trailing annuals are gorgeous massed in landscapes, planted along the front of a border, or in all types of containers. No need to pick off any spent blooms­—these verbenas are self-cleaning.

Annual except in zones 8-11, part sun to sun, 6-12” tall, deer resistant.

 

Lantana

While not all lantanas work for fall planting, you can count on all Proven Winners Luscious® lantana varieties to bloom until frost thanks to their low to no seed set. Instead of pumping the breaks on blooming, these lantanas power on, blooming in shades of red, orange, yellow, fuchsia and purple—all the best colors to work with your fall décor. Plant them in spring to have large plants by autumn, or plant fresh in fall for tighter spots like window boxes and porch pots.

Annual except in zones 9-11, full sun, 12-30” tall depending on variety, deer resistant.

 

Large Firecracker Plant

Heat tolerant, cool weather tolerant, drought tolerant and a hummingbird magnet–what more could you ask for from such a unique plant? Reaching the size of a small shrub in a single season, Vermillionaire® cuphea adds a bright pop of orange-red to garden beds all season. Or plant in fall as a thriller or filler in large containers paired with purple fountain grass, garden mums and ornamental peppers.

Annual except in zones 8-11, full sun, 18-28” tall.

 

 

Globe Amaranth

Though it’s been blooming like crazy through the heat of summer, Truffula Pink globe amaranth shows no signs of slowing down until frost strikes in late fall. Its papery textured blooms cut and dry beautifully and there are plenty to spare, so harvest them to your heart’s delight for summer and fall bouquets and crafts. This sizable annual is best suited to landscapes or large containers.

Annual except in zones 9-11, full sun, 22-28” tall.

 

Purple Fountain Grass

While not a traditional “flower”, you’ll fall in love with the silky textured, purplish plumes of purple fountain grass for your fall garden. The slightest breeze causes them to sway gracefully as they dance above shorter lantanas, calibrachoas and garden mums you’ve paired them with in a large porch pot. It’s a must-have thriller for all of your fall containers.

Annual except in zones 9-11, part sun to sun, 30-36” tall.

 


FALL PERENNIAL FLOWERS

fall anemone

 

Japanese Anemone

Blooming at a time when many other perennials are waning, Fall in Love® ‘Sweetly’ Japanese anemone produces masses of rich rose pink, semi-double flowers. You’ll find pollinating bees feeding on the bright yellow pollen at the center of each bloom all the way until frost. Try mixing this slowly spreading perennial in with other perennials in a border garden, foundation planting or near the edge of a wood line.

Hardy in zones 4-8, part sun to sun, 20-26” tall, deer and rabbit resistant.

Russian sage

 

Russian Sage

Blue flowers are always a treat in the garden, especially when they are paired with the warm golds and oranges that are so prolific in fall. Use the taller, upright spiky flowers of Russian sage as a backdrop or middle layer in a border with shorter, mounded plants like coral bells and sweet alyssum planted in front.

Hardy in zones 4-9, full sun, 28-36” tall, deer resistant.

sedum

 

Stonecrop

Stonecrop, also known as sedum, is a diverse group of perennials that come in all shapes and sizes, many of which bloom in late summer and fall. Whether you need a mid-sized plant to fill the middle of your border or a short, mounded or spreading perennial, there is a stonecrop that will fit the need. These plants love plentiful sunshine and drier soils, and they are very low maintenance in the landscape.

Hardy in zones 3-9, full sun, height varies by variety, rabbit resistant.

 
sedum

Stonecrop

Sedum are carefree drought-tolerant plants that produce clusters of star-shaped flowers that bloom in August and beyond. Use as edging, in rockeries or waterwise borders. Rock ’N Round ‘Pure Joy’ has bubblegum pink flowers that fade to darker pink.

Hardy in zones 3-9, sun, 10-12” tall, rabbit resistant

Anise Hyssop

One of the longest blooming series of perennials in our lineup are the Meant to Bee® anise hyssops. You’ll find pollinating bees, butterflies and hummingbirds enjoying their colorful, tubular blooms from midsummer into fall, but thanks to aromatic foliage, deer tend to pass them by. These are “end of the hose” plants like stonecrop, so find a sunny, drier spot with good soil drainage and they will return year after year.

Hardy in zones 5-9, full sun, 28-36” tall, deer resistant.

Garden Mums

We couldn’t go without mentioning this quintessential fall flower that comes in every shade of pink, red, orange, yellow and lavender that you can imagine. Both single and double-flowered forms of garden mums are available, all blooming on mounded plants that look fantastic planted in landscapes and used for fall decorating. Though they overwinter most reliably in zones 7-9, you might get lucky in a bit cooler climate if you have reliable snow cover. 

Hardy in zones 7-9, full sun, 12-24” tall.

Hardy Fountain Grass

Unlike purple fountain grass, you can count on hardy Prairie Winds® Pennisetum to return year after year in zones 5-9. They’ll produce the foxtail-like plumes you love about annual fountain grass, but with chartreuse or green foliage. Prairie Winds hardy fountain grasses are excellent for foundation plantings, focal points or even large containers in warmer zones.

Hardy in zones 5-9, full sun, 3-4’ tall, deer resistant.

Bluestar

Though technically ‘String Theory’ bluestar blooms in late spring, fall is the season when it is in its prime. That’s when the willowy foliage turns such a sumptuous shade of golden orange that it rivals any fall blooming perennials. Grow this perennial in place of a small shrub in your landscape where a single plant will easily fill three square feet of space with its gorgeous textured foliage.

Hardy in zones 4-9, part sun to sun, 18-30” tall, deer resistant.

 


FALL FLOWERING SHRUBS

 

Reblooming Azalea

Azaleas that bloom in autumn? Yes! Perfecto Mundo® reblooming azaleas provide double the color, blooming first in spring and then again later in the summer until frost. Choose from single and double-flowered cultivars in an array of pink, purple, red, orange and white tones. These broadly mounded cultivars are excellent for foundation plantings and low maintenance landscapes. 

Hardy in zones 6b-9, part sun to sun, height ranges by variety.



Bluebeard

Honeybees go crazy for the late summer to fall blooms of bluebeard. You’ll find them enjoying this shrub every sunny day it is in bloom. Depending on which cultivar you choose, it could have blue or pink flowers and green or gold foliage. All mix effortlessly into perennial gardens and mixed borders. 

Hardy in zones 5-9 (Beyond Midnight® and Sunshine Blue® II) or zones 7b-9 (Beyond Pink’d®), full sun, 2-3’ tall, deer resistant.

 

Butterfly Bush

Blooming from summer well into fall, our Lo & Behold®, Miss and Pugster® series of butterfly bush bloom with rich jewel-toned purple, magenta, pink and white flowers. The colors transition seamlessly from a summer to fall palette, attracting butterflies and other pollinators but not deer. Be sure to find a very sunny spot in well-drained soil to grow your butterfly bush.

Hardy in zones 5-9, full sun, height ranges by variety, deer resistant.


Panicle Hydrangea

As the cooler days of fall approach, panicle hydrangeas take on their richest colors of the season as they transition from white to pink and red. Since they bloom on new wood, it won’t hurt the plant at all to clip a few stems to use in your fresh and dried fall bouquets. These sun-tolerant hydrangeas are very easy to grow in average soil and bloom reliably every year.

Hardy in zones 3-8, part sun to sun, height ranges by variety.


Reblooming Hydrangea

You might think of bigleaf hydrangeas as summer flowers, but those that are strong rebloomers like those in the Let’s Dance® hydrangea series offer plentiful fall color, too. Cooler fall temperatures can draw even more intense colors out of the blooms which look spectacular backed by gold fall foliage from perennials like bluestar, mentioned above.

Hardy in zones 4 or 5-9 depending on variety, part sun to sun, height ranges by variety.

Firecracker Bush

Hummingbird sitings will happen all season long when you grow one of our Estrellita® firecracker bush cultivars. They can’t resist the fiery red and orange, tubular blossoms of this warm climate shrub that flowers non-stop from spring through fall. Plant it as a short hedge around your patio, near your kitchen window or in a large porch pot where you can watch the show up close.

Hardy in zones 8-10, full sun, 1.5-2’ tall, deer resistant.

Camellia

Beautiful even when they are not in bloom, Just Chill fall and winter flowering camellias were selected for their attractive evergreen foliage, an extra helping of cold hardiness and abundant, colorful blooms. These tall shrubs make a gorgeous backdrop in borders and look right at home planted along the edge of a sunny wood line.

Hardy in zones 6b-9, part sun to sun, deer resistant.

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