We all know that classic orange and yellow mums are everywhere come autumn, but are they really your only option for late-season color? Not by a long shot!
Today, we’ll look at ten fantastic plants that will give you gorgeous blooms and foliage when summer flowers start to fade.
If you’re looking to expand your garden palette beyond the typical garden center offerings, these beauties will provide months of color with far less fuss than you might expect.
1. Native Asters (Symphyotrichum species)
But what makes native asters so special? These North American wildflowers produce masses of small, daisy-like blooms in shades of purple, blue, pink, and white that literally cover the plants from late summer through frost.
You’ll want to try varieties like New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) or aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) for the best garden performance.
Native asters are incredibly forgiving plants that thrive in full sun and tolerate both drought and poor soil once established. They’re also absolute magnets for butterflies and beneficial insects when other food sources are scarce.
Plant them in spring, and you can expect 2-4 feet of height depending on the variety.
Does maintenance worry you? Don’t let it!
A simple cut-back in late spring will keep them compact and prevent flopping, while their natural hardiness in zones 4-8 means they’ll return year after year with minimal care.
2. Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis/×hybrida)
If you’re looking to add elegance to your late-season garden, Japanese anemones are pure poetry in plant form. These graceful perennials produce delicate, cup-shaped flowers in soft pink or pristine white that seem to float above deeply lobed, dark green foliage.
The blooms appear on tall, wiry stems from late summer well into autumn, creating a cottage garden feel that’s hard to match.
Japanese anemones prefer partial shade to part sun, making them perfect for those tricky spots where many plants struggle.
You’ll want to plant them in rich, moist but well-draining soil, and while they’re slow to establish the first year, they’ll reward your patience by slowly spreading into lovely colonies.
Hardy in zones 4-8, these plants reach 2-4 feet tall and combine beautifully with ferns, hostas, and other shade lovers. And here’s a bonus: deer tend to leave them alone!
3. Helenium (Sneezeweed) (Helenium autumnale)
Don’t let the common name fool you – sneezeweed won’t make you sneeze! This cheerful native perennial produces an abundance of bright yellow, orange, and red daisy-like flowers with distinctive, prominent centers that butterflies and bees absolutely love.
The blooms have uniquely notched petals that give them a charming, informal appearance perfect for naturalistic gardens.
Helenium thrives in full sun and actually prefers moist soil, making it an excellent choice for rain gardens or areas that stay consistently damp. You can expect plants to reach 3-5 feet tall, so plant them toward the back of borders or use them as a stunning backdrop for shorter perennials.
Hardy in zones 3-8, these plants are remarkably low-maintenance once established.
However, if you want to prevent self-seeding, simply deadhead the spent blooms. For bushier plants and more flowers, try pinching them back in early summer – they’ll thank you with an even more spectacular display!
4. Sedum (Stonecrop) (Hylotelephium spectabile)
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ has earned its reputation as one of America’s most reliable perennials, and for good reason! These succulent beauties start the season with thick, blue-green foliage that looks attractive all summer long, then burst into bloom with flat-topped clusters of tiny pink flowers that gradually deepen to rust-red as temperatures cool.
You’ll want to place sedums in full sun and well-draining soil – they’re practically indestructible once established and can handle drought, poor soil, and neglect better than almost any other perennial.
The plants form neat, dome-shaped clumps about 18-24 inches tall and wide, making them perfect for front-of-border plantings or container gardens.
Hardy in zones 3-9, they require virtually no care beyond an optional spring cleanup. But here’s what makes them truly special: the flower heads provide winter interest if you leave them standing, and they’re beloved by late-season pollinators when little else is blooming.
5. Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii)
Have you ever seen a flower that looks exactly like its name suggests? Turtlehead does just that – its pink to rose-purple blooms really do resemble a turtle’s head poking out of its shell!
This native North American perennial is one of fall’s best-kept secrets, producing clusters of tubular flowers that butterflies absolutely adore.
What makes turtlehead particularly exciting for fall gardens? While most perennials are winding down, this beauty is just getting started.
You’ll see the first blooms appear in late summer and continue well into October, providing much-needed nectar for migrating butterflies and late-season pollinators.
If you’re looking to fill a challenging spot in your garden, turtlehead might be your answer. It thrives in moist to wet soil conditions where many other plants struggle – think along stream banks, in rain gardens, or those soggy areas where nothing else seems happy.
Plant it in partial shade to full sun, and you can pretty much forget about it. This is one forgiving perennial that actually prefers consistent moisture.
At 2 to 4 feet tall, turtlehead makes an excellent backdrop for shorter fall bloomers or works beautifully naturalized in woodland gardens. The glossy, dark green foliage looks attractive all season long, even when the plant isn’t flowering.
6. Dahlia (Dahlia species)
When it comes to sheer flower power, dahlias are hard to beat!
These Mexican natives produce blooms in an incredible range of sizes, shapes, and colors – from tiny pompons to dinner-plate giants, in every color except true blue.
The variety is simply staggering: cactus dahlias with spiky petals, ball dahlias with perfectly rounded forms, and decorative types with broad, flat petals.
Dahlias grow from tubers and need full sun and rich, well-draining soil to perform their best. You’ll want to plant them after the soil warms in late spring, and taller varieties will need staking to prevent wind damage.
In zones 8-11, tubers can stay in the ground year-round, but in colder areas, you’ll need to dig and store them indoors after the first frost.
While this might sound intimidating, it’s actually quite simple – and you’ll have more tubers to plant next year!
Feed them regularly during the growing season, and they’ll reward you with continuous blooms until frost.
7. Toad Lily (Tricyrtis hirta)
But what exactly is a toad lily? This unique Japanese native produces some of the most unusual and beautiful flowers you’ll ever see – small, orchid-like blooms with creamy white petals heavily spotted with purple or lavender.
The flowers appear in clusters along arching stems, creating an almost exotic appearance that’s absolutely captivating up close.
Toad lilies are perfect for shaded areas where many plants struggle to bloom well. They prefer moist, humus-rich soil and partial to full shade, making them excellent companions for hostas, ferns, and other woodland plants.
The plants form slowly spreading clumps 1-3 feet tall, depending on the variety, and are hardy in zones 4-8.
You can expect blooms from late summer through mid-autumn, often continuing until hard frost.
And here’s a wonderful bonus: deer find them completely unappetizing!
If you’re looking to add something truly special to a shaded corner of your garden, toad lilies deliver understated elegance like nothing else.
8. Goldenrod (Solidago species)
Let’s clear up a common misconception right away – goldenrod doesn’t cause hay fever!
That honor belongs to ragweed, which blooms at the same time but has inconspicuous flowers and wind-borne pollen.
Goldenrod’s heavy, sticky pollen is carried by insects, not wind, making it a valuable late-season nectar source rather than an allergy trigger.
These native perennials produce magnificent plumes of tiny golden-yellow flowers that create stunning displays in naturalistic gardens.
You’ll want to choose garden-friendly varieties like ‘Golden Fleece,’ ‘Fireworks,’ or ‘Little Lemon’ rather than the aggressive roadside species.
These cultivated forms stay compact (2-3 feet) and well-behaved while still providing that gorgeous autumn color.
Goldenrod thrives in full sun and tolerates poor, dry soil better than most perennials.
Hardy in zones 4-9, they’re virtually maintenance-free once established and provide crucial food for migrating butterflies and other beneficial insects when few other plants are blooming.
9. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Russian sage brings an entirely different texture and color palette to the autumn garden with its silvery-gray, aromatic foliage and spikes of small lavender-blue flowers.
This woody perennial has an airy, see-through quality that makes it perfect for layering with other plants – you can plant right through it without losing the impact of plants behind.
If you’re looking to add a plant that thrives on neglect, Russian sage is your answer. It loves full sun, tolerates drought and poor soil, and actually performs better without rich, moist conditions that can make it floppy.
The plants reach 3-4 feet tall and wide, creating substantial presence in the landscape.
Hardy in zones 4-9, they require minimal care beyond cutting back to 6-12 inches in late winter or early spring.
The aromatic foliage naturally deters deer and rabbits, and the flowers attract beneficial insects well into autumn.
You can even use the cut stems in dried arrangements – they hold their color beautifully!
10. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula, also known as pot marigold, produces cheerful daisy-like flowers in brilliant shades of orange, yellow, and cream that seem to glow in the autumn light.
But here’s what makes them extra special – the petals are completely edible and add a peppery, slightly bitter flavor to salads and soups!
The flowers also make excellent cut flowers with good vase life.
These cool-weather annuals actually prefer the mild temperatures of spring and autumn to hot summer weather, making them perfect for extending your garden’s blooming season.
You’ll want to sow seeds directly in the garden in early spring or late summer, as they don’t transplant well.
Calendulas thrive in full sun to partial shade and average, well-draining soil. They’re remarkably cold-tolerant and will often continue blooming right through light frosts.
The plants typically reach 12-18 inches tall and will readily self-seed if you let a few flowers go to seed.
For continuous blooms, deadhead regularly – though you might want to leave some flowers to harvest for the kitchen!
