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Fall is the perfect season to start planning and planting perennials for your flower garden. The cooler temperatures and increased rainfall provide an ideal environment for new plants to establish strong roots. In this guide, I’ll share the best perennials to plant in fall, giving you plenty of options to create a stunning and resilient garden.
YayImagesBenefits of Planting Perennials in Fall
Planting perennials in the fall comes with several advantages. The soil is still warm from the summer sun, which encourages root growth before the winter chill sets in.
Additionally, fall planting allows perennials to focus their energy on establishing roots rather than producing flowers, leading to stronger and more robust plants in the spring. This head start can result in more vigorous growth and earlier blooming.
Furthermore, fall planting often means fewer pests and diseases to contend with, giving your perennials a healthier start.
YayImagesBest Perennials to Plant in Fall
Let’s take a look at the best perennials to plant in the fall:
1. Hellebore
Jessica Joh / PixabayHellebores, also known as Lenten roses, are a wonderful addition to any garden due to their early bloom time and shade tolerance. These perennials thrive in partial to full shade and prefer well-drained soil.
Their cup-shaped flowers come in various colors, including white, pink, and deep purple. Plant these perennials in fall and they will add a splash of color to your garden in late winter to early spring when most other plants are still dormant.
2. Phlox
YayImagesPhlox is a versatile perennial that can add color and fragrance to your garden. Available in a range of heights and colors, from creeping varieties perfect for ground cover to tall types suitable for borders, Phlox thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Planting Phlox in the fall ensures a robust root system that will support lush, fragrant blooms come spring and summer.
3. Butterfly Bush
YayImagesThe Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) is a magnet for pollinators, attracting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds with its fragrant, nectar-rich flowers. These hardy perennials prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
With their long blooming period from summer to fall, Butterfly Bushes provide continuous color and activity in your garden. Plant these perennials in the fall to give them time to establish strong roots and adapt to their new location.
4. Coral Bells
YayImagesCoral Bells, or Heuchera, are known for their striking foliage that comes in various colors, including purple and silver. These perennials are excellent for adding texture and color to shady areas of the garden.
They prefer partial shade and well-drained soil. Planting Coral Bells in the fall allows them to settle in and produce their best foliage display in the spring.
5. Astilbe
YayImagesAstilbe is a shade-loving perennial with feathery plumes of flowers in shades of pink, red, and white. These plants thrive in moist, well-drained soil and are perfect for adding a touch of elegance to shaded borders and woodland gardens.
By planting Astilbe in the fall, you give them the opportunity to develop strong roots and prepare for a beautiful display of blooms in the summer.
6. Anemone
YayImagesFall is the ideal time to plant Anemones, especially the fall-blooming varieties like Anemone hupehensis. These perennials produce daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, white, and purple, adding a delicate touch to your garden.
Anemones prefer partial shade and well-drained soil. Fall planting ensures they establish quickly and are ready to bloom profusely the following year.
7. Daylilies
YayImagesDaylilies are beloved for their hardiness and stunning, trumpet-shaped flowers that come in a variety of colors. These perennials thrive in full sun to partial shade and adapt well to different soil types.
Planting Daylilies in the fall allows them to establish a strong root system, resulting in more vigorous growth and an abundance of flowers during their blooming season.
8. Hostas
YayImagesHostas are shade-loving perennials known for their attractive foliage, which ranges from deep green to variegated patterns. They thrive in partial to full shade and prefer well-drained, rich soil.
Fall is an excellent time to plant Hostas, giving the perennials a chance to develop strong roots and prepare for robust leaf production in the spring.
9. Shasta Daisy
YayImagesShasta Daisies are classic garden perennials that produce large, white, daisy-like flowers with yellow centers. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them a bright and cheerful addition to any garden.
Planting Shasta Daisies in the fall ensures they establish well before winter, leading to a robust display of blooms in the late spring and summer.
10. Parrot Tulips
YayImagesParrot Tulips are known for their ruffled, vibrant petals that resemble the feathers of a parrot. These striking perennials thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.
Planting Parrot Tulips in the fall gives them the necessary cold period to bloom beautifully in the spring, providing a dramatic and colorful display in your garden.
11. Crown Imperial
YayImagesCrown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) is a bold and exotic perennial that produces tall stems topped with clusters of bell-shaped flowers in shades of orange, yellow, and red. These plants prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
Fall planting is essential for Crown Imperial, as it allows the bulbs to undergo the cold period they need to produce their stunning blooms in the spring.
12. Grape Hyacinth
YayImagesGrape Hyacinths (Muscari) are charming perennials that produce clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, purple, and white. They thrive in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Planting Grape Hyacinths in the fall ensures a delightful burst of color in the spring, as they naturalize and spread to create beautiful drifts in your garden.
13. Mini Daffodil
YayImagesMini Daffodils (Narcissus) are petite and cheerful perennials that bring bright yellow blooms to your garden in early spring. These plants prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Fall planting allows Mini Daffodils to establish their roots and be ready to burst into bloom as one of the first signs of spring.
14. Lamium
YayImagesLamium, also known as Dead Nettle, is a versatile ground cover perennial that thrives in shady areas. With its attractive foliage and small, colorful flowers, Lamium adds texture and interest to your garden.
These plants prefer partial to full shade and well-drained soil. Planting Lamium in the fall gives them a head start, resulting in a lush and vibrant ground cover by spring.
15. Bee Balm
YayImagesBee Balm (Monarda) is a pollinator-friendly perennial that produces vibrant, tubular flowers in shades of red, pink, and purple. These plants thrive in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Fall planting allows Bee Balm to establish strong roots, ensuring a spectacular display of flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in the summer.
16. Scabiosa
YayImagesScabiosa, commonly known as Pincushion Flower, is a charming perennial that produces delicate, pincushion-like blooms in shades of blue, pink, and white. These plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.
Fall planting ensures Scabiosa develops a strong root system, leading to a continuous display of flowers from late spring through fall.
17. Salvia
YayImagesSalvia is a hardy perennial known for its spikes of vibrant flowers and aromatic foliage. These plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them a popular choice for borders and pollinator gardens.
Planting Salvia in the fall gives them time to establish roots, ensuring a robust and colorful display of blooms in the spring and summer.
18. Lungwort
YayImagesLungwort (Pulmonaria) is a shade-loving perennial that is prized for its unique foliage and delicate flowers. The leaves are often spotted or frosted, adding visual interest even when the plant is not in bloom.
Lungwort flowers range from blue to pink, often changing color as they mature. These perennials prefer partial to full shade and well-drained soil.Fall planting allows Lungwort to establish strong roots and prepare for a beautiful spring display.
For more shade-loving perennials, check out our list here!
19. Brunnera
YayImagesBrunnera, commonly known as Siberian Bugloss, is a charming perennial with small, blue, forget-me-not-like flowers. These plants thrive in partial to full shade and well-drained soil.
Their foliage often features silvery patterns that add a touch of elegance to shaded garden areas. Planting Brunnera in the fall ensures they develop robust roots, leading to a lush and vibrant display in the spring.
20. Toad Lily
YayImagesToad Lily (Tricyrtis) is a unique and exotic-looking perennial that produces intricate, orchid-like flowers in late summer to fall. These plants thrive in partial to full shade and well-drained, rich soil.
Toad Lilies are perfect for adding interest to shaded garden areas with their unusual and eye-catching blooms. Planting Toad Lilies in the fall allows them to establish strong roots and get ready for a stunning display the following year.
21. Hardy Geranium
YayImagesHardy Geraniums, also known as Cranesbill, are versatile perennials that produce a profusion of flowers in shades of pink, blue, and white. These plants thrive in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Fall planting allows Hardy Geraniums to establish strong roots, resulting in a vibrant and continuous display of blooms from spring through fall.
To learn more about Geranium care, check out our guide!
22. Stonecrop
YayImagesSedum, commonly known as Stonecrop, is a low-maintenance perennial that produces clusters of star-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, and yellow. These plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them an excellent choice for rock gardens and borders.
Fall planting gives Sedum the time to develop a strong root system, ensuring a beautiful and drought-tolerant display of blooms in the summer and fall.
Check out our list of sun-loving perennials for more plants that thrive in full sun!
23. Black-eyed Susan
YayImagesRudbeckia, commonly known as Black-eyed Susan, is a hardy perennial that produces bright, daisy-like flowers with yellow petals and dark centers. These plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, adding a cheerful and long-lasting burst of color to your garden.
Fall planting allows Black-eyed Susan to establish strong roots, resulting in a robust and vibrant display of blooms in the summer.
YayImagesConclusion
Planting perennials in the fall is a strategic way to ensure your garden is bursting with color and vitality come spring. The perennials listed above are not only beautiful but also hardy and resilient, making them excellent choices for any garden.
By taking advantage of the cooler temperatures and optimal growing conditions in the fall, you can give these perennials the best possible start, resulting in a stunning and thriving flower garden year after year.
You may also like:
- 23 Most Beautiful Perennials That Bloom Spring to Fall
- 18 Perennials You Should Never Cut Back In Fall
- 25 Best Fall Container Plants For A Stunning Porch
- 28 Best Fall Garden Vegetables For An Amazing Harvest
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