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Five Favorite Fall Blooming Perennials
As the long summer days begin to shorten we start to notice changes in our gardens. The annuals and perennials which provided so much color are beginning to fade and yellow. It’s so nice to have plants which will come into full blooming splendor during the fall and give our gardens one more beautiful show before going to sleep for the winter.
The following is a list of some of our favorite fall blooming perennials. They are easy to grow and can be planted now.
Eupatorium maculatum "Gateway" - Gateway Joe Pye Weed
This native perennial has big, showy dusky pink flower heads, which attract butterflies, from mid-summer through the fall. It prefers full sun or a bit of shade. Joe Pye Weed looks great in the back of a perennial border and grows 5 to 6 feet tall. It is best to space the plants 3 to 4 feet apart when planting.
Physostegia virginiana "Vivid" - Vivid Obedient Plant
Everyone asks the name of this plant when it comes into bloom at the Nursery! Its snapdragon shaped rose pink flowers bloom in mass from July through October. The flowers are fragrant and never require staking. This robust plant stays neat and grows 2-2 ½ feet tall and spreads nicely. Provide well-drained soil and a full sun location.
Aster frikartii "Monch" – Monch Aster
These asters are cheery plants covered with daisy-like flowers that bloom continually from July through October. Monch aster have blue-lavender flowers that attract butterflies and fills the garden with masses of color. This upright growing plant grows 24 to 30 inches tall and spreads 24 to 30 inches wide. Plant in full sun and well drained soil.
Aster novae-angliae – Purple Dome Aster
This aster is just like the Monch except that the flowers are a showy deep purple. Try planting masses of both together for a beautiful combination!
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides – Plumbago
Plumbago makes a terrific groundcover for a part-sun or part-shade location. It grows 8 to 10 inches tall and spreads nicely. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart. The plant is covered in cobalt blue flowers from mid-summer through fall and the leaves turn brilliant red in the late fall. This plant is late to emerge in the spring so give it time to come up!
Chelone lyonii "Hot Lips" – Pink Turtlehead
This hardy native plant likes moisture and is wonderful to plant along ponds and streams. Its rosy pink snapdragon-like flowers bloom in late summer. An upright growing plant, its dark glossy foliage reaches 30 to 36 inches. Space the plants 15 to 18 inches apart and provide partial shade.
Try a few of these selections in your fall garden and see how they thrive. Enjoy this burst of fall color during these crisp, sunny fall days!
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