Late Summer and Fall-Blooming Perennials for Long-Lasting Color

Late Summer and Fall-Blooming Perennials for Long-Lasting Color

Photos by Doreen Wynja

Even though Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, there are still a handful of weeks before our cool-zone gardens give way to autumn’s chill.

Why not use this time to grow more late-summer and fall-blooming perennials? You’ll make summer last while Nature slowly simmers into fall.

We've selected some sensational fall-blooming flowers (and grasses) to feature below, but they're just the beginning. Use the My Plantfinder tool and filter by "Flowering Season" to get a long list of fall-blooming plants. Once you find your perfect plants, Find a Garden Center to get your favorite Monrovia plants.

Above: Mariachi™ Bandera Helenium helps your late-summer borders sing with bold brick-red petals tipped in showy gold. Up close, its globe centers burst into a golden halo. Enjoy flowers from late summer into fall, often until first frost. Up to 15" all and 18" wide. Zones 3-9.

Rich Red and Gold Late-Summer and Fall-Blooming Perennials

Celebrate fall with the traditional, but always satisfying palette of bold red and gold. These colors can bring late-season bloomers into dramatic focus. They also look great in late-season containers!


Attracts Hummingbirds

Jazzy Jewel® Ruby Hibiscus has large, long-lasting and vibrant red flowers that bloom until first frost. Hummingbirds love the prolific blooms as much as we do. Visually arresting as an annual in containers. Zones 9-11, grow as an annual in cooler zones.

*Try Honeymoonâ„¢ Deep Red Hibiscus as a perennial option in zones 4-10.

Brings Butterflies

EvolutionTM Yellow Falls Coneflower adds intense sunny color to your borders and container gardens. Short, sturdy stems hold up beautiful cones that bring butterflies in summer and attract birds in the fall and winter. Up to 20" tall and 18" wide. Zones 4-9.

Bold Blooms

Sunset Flash Blanket Flower offers easy-care, low-water color from late spring all the way through fall. Plant in containers, borders, and beds for continuous bold color and nectar for bees. Up to 14" tall and wide. Zones 5-9.

Cool Purple Late-Blooming Perennials

Contrast the traditional fall palette with soft shades of lavender and purple. These colors add depth and sophistication to your landscape. The cool shades of purple balance the traditionally warm colors of fall. 

Late, Vibrant Color

Grape Crush New England Aster bursts with loads of deep-purple flowers on nicely rounded mounds from late summer through fall. Add this little beauty to a rock, butterfly, or cottage garden and enjoy the beautiful flowers all summer and beyond. Up to 2' tall and 3' wide. Zones 3-8.

Photo by Walter's Gardens

Drought Tolerant

SunSparkler® Firecracker Sedum is topped with burgundy-red flower clusters that blush soft pink come late summer. The iridescent, tonal foliage is just as beautiful as the blooms. Tuck this succulent into your borders, rock gardens, and containers. Up to 8" tall and wide. Zones 4-10.

Pollinator Magnet

Lollipop Verbena sends up dense clusters of lavender flowers on airy, delicate stems for an abundant source of nectar. It is wonderful as a cut flower, fresh or dried. Grow it as a perennial in mild regions, and treat as an annual elsewhere. Up to 36" tall and wide. Zones 7-11, grow as an annual in cooler zones.

Photo by Visions Pictures

Ornamental Grasses with Fantastic Fall Flowers

Every great show-stopper needs a stage. Interplant short grasses with perennials or plant tall varieties as a backdrop. Together, in late summer light, the pairings are always wow-worthy.

Summer Shimmer

The seedheads of Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass glow in late-summer and fall sunlight, adding golden color and movement to the garden. Use en masse or as accents in any kind of garden design. Up to 3' tall and wide. Zones 4-9.

Plush Plumes

Dwarf Fountain Grass has blades that turns a rich russet color in fall. Fluffy, buff-colored seed heads arch above the lush fountain of foliage. Plant for late-season contrast. Up to 3' tall and 2' wide. Zones 4-11.

Golden Spires

Overdam Feather Reed Grass delivers feathery foliage, shifting from bronze-brown into rich gold come fall. Plant for a striking vertical effect as an accent or use, with gusto, en masse. Foliage up to 2' tall and wide, bloom stalks up to 6' tall. Zones 4-9.

Wildlife Gardening Tip

Late summer blossoms, including ornamental grasses, feed local pollinators and migrating birds before food gets scarce. Provide food and cover for wildlife all year long with pollinator-friendly shrubs.

For more ideas to help you host and nourish birds, bees, and butterflies, check out the best shrubs to attract pollinators in your region:

Learn More

Read More About Pollinator Plants and Fall Color

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2021-09-07 17:42:00
Jane Lax
What is the plant in the original photo?
reply Reply
Lynn Morse
In California, it has been a tough summer due to the heat and Covid. Thank you for your great suggestions for fall. Lets hope for a bountiful fall. I like blonde ambition and lollipops verbena for the reasons you discussed.
reply Reply
Gail+Liebeknecht
Hi, I've rooted a ninebark and a salvia. They're not very big, but I was wondering if I can put them in the ground now? Zone 6b.
reply Reply
Sharon Djurich
I live in zone 5...my Shasta daisy blooms in July,so many blooms,I daedhead the spent blooms one by one and I see. Buds but they never bloom..what am I doing wrong. Thanks
reply Reply
Nancy McGillilvray
I have talked to Calloways Nursery in Flower Mound TX (75028) regarding my trying to order from Monrovia online and have it delivered to them. Just thought I should let you know that there must be something wrong with the zone number portion as it continually would send me to a nursery in Oklahoma. Could you please look into this as I am wanting to order some Golden Japanese forest grass. Thank you.
reply Reply
Joy Krull
I live an hour away from retailers who carry your products . Your website says I can purchase on-line. I have 33 acres , fruit trees, 12 acres of arbequina olives, bees, and lavender and a variety of gardens on my property. I would like to expand on plantings and develop new areas. How do I purchase from you? I have made inquiries like this before from you with no response. My closest retail nursery that carries your product is Lowe's in Paso Robles. When I try to work with them, they say, they don't know anything about ordering direct from you from customers and delivering products to them. Is this an on-line function for your customers or not? . Please clarify and help me with this matter. Thank you for your consideration. Joy Krull
reply Reply
Linda Skyler
Thank you for all of your gardening tips and wonderful photos. I always enjoy and have often added some to my gardens.
reply Reply
clarence pennington
I would like to buy 2 red ace potentilla. would you make this possible. tried lowes and evergreen in my area for last two years. thank you.
reply Reply
Jeff Crummett
Can you please post the zones. I live in San Diego.
reply Reply
Georgia
Love this blog. Do wish you would tell us where to get the plants you recommend.
reply Reply

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