Beautiful Fall Flowering Perennials
by Mystify on Aug 15, 2009 with 9 Comments
Revive your fall garden by adding some of these fall blooming perennials which will be sure to add life to any dull situation.
A list of beautiful fall blooming perennials by Tanya Kime-Wallace including,descriptions,growing information and floral photography.
Although September and October are the beginnings of Autumn which reminds us winter is just around the corner,your garden does not have to look dull and bleak as a further reminder. Perennial plants such as the Rudbeckia, Aster and Sedum along with many others are at their finest at this time of year, so why not add some fall color and reinvigorate your garden. By doing so it will extend the Autumn season by making your garden go out in a blaze of glory and a much more pleasant gardening experience.
Aconitum carmichaelii
Description:Height 3 feet. Spread 1-1 ½ feet. Dark green,glossy,lobed leaves with spikes of distinctive hooded violet-blue flowers appearing in September-Oct. Every part of the aconitum is poisonous so place in area it is safe from being ingested or away from animals and children.
Grow in light shade in moist fertile soil.
Anemone bupebensis.
Description:Height 2-3 feet. Spread 2 feet. Coarse-leaved,fibrous-rooted border plant with lovely pink saucer-shaped flowers 2 inches across blooming in July-October. The plant known in gardens as well as many catalogues as Anemone.japonica is in fact bupebensis japonica,a natural variety.
Grow in full sun,dappled with shade in free-draining moist loam. Protect from wind.
Aster novae-angliae. -Michaelmas daisy.
Description:Height 4-5 feet. Spread 2 feet. Tall,erect plant with light-green pointed leaves mainly occurring on upper parts of woody stems. Attractive flowers in clusters on the ends of stems,2 ½ inches across,pink or rose red blooming in September- October. Very good flowers for cutting. Place this plant at the back of border with other flowers in front to hide the bare lower stems.
Grow in full sun in well drained soil,fertile and moist in open situation,with a free flow of air to reduce mildew.
Aster novi-belgii-Michaelmas daisy
Description:Height ranges from 6 inch hummocks to erect plants 3-4 feet tall. Spread up to 2 feet. All have a dense,bushy habit,stiffly erect with rather woody stems and smooth lance-shaped leaves. The flowers reach 1 ½ inches across in broad domes clusters. Comes in many forms, single, semi-double or completely double in colors of white,pink,red and many shades of blue flowering in September-October.
Grow in full sun in well drained soil,fertile and moist in open situation,with a free flow of air to reduce mildew.
Clematis heracleifolia, ‘Wyevale’ And ‘Alan Bloom’
Description:Height and spread 3 feet. Semi woody plants that produce fragrant,showy spikes of single blue flowers.’Alan Bloom’ has dark blue flowers with fluffy seed heads and it is the improved form of this type of perennial clematis. Both have toothed leaves divided into three lobes with dark green foliage. Blooms August- September. This is one of my favorite perennials in the fall for the beautiful blue flowers.
Grow in full sun in well drained area. This plant does require some support.
Colchicum speciosum
Description:Height and spread 16 inches. Leaves oblong-eliptic, lustrous; flowers about 10 inches tall,lilac rose to red-purple in color blooming in mid-autumn. Several hybrid cultivars are avaible ranging from single to fully double.
Grow in a sunny area in well-drained soil.
Cortaderia.selloana-Pampas grass
Description: Height 6 ½ -10 feet. Spread 6 ½ feet. Forms dense clumps, with slender, pointed, greyish-green leaves with tall, showy, plume-like flower panicles appearing in September.
Grow in full sun. Must be well-drained and moderately fertile soil. Give shelter from north winds.
Crocus.speciosus.
Description: Height and spread 4-5 inches. Flowers bright lilac- purple-blue with darker veining,opening before the leaves in autumn.
Grow in full sun if the flowers are to open properly in a well-drained moderately fertile soil.
Cyclamen hederifolium
Description:Most widespread and popular dwarf cyclamen. Ivy shaped leaves with attractive marbling on upper surface makes them the center of interest when they are not in bloom. Blooms in august and the flowers last well into October coming in colors of white, pink and mauve.
Grow in sun or shade but looks best under the base of tree. Prefers well-drained but moisture retentive soil.
Chyrsanthemum.uiginosum-Moon daisy.
Description:Height 6 feet spread 2 feet. Clump forming, erect plant,elegant with narrow,lobed leaves. White daisies appear in October-November.
Grow in sunny position in fertile, wet soil. Thrives in wet soil.
Echinacea.purpurea-Purple cone flower
Description:Height 3-4 feet. Spread 1 ½ feet. Vigorous,erect plant with stout stems,covered in rough, dark-green,lance-shaped leaves. Broad petalled flowers 3 ½ – 4 inches across,purple with raised central cone of brownish orange blooming in July- September.
Grow in full sun with well-drained moderately fertile soil.
Liatris spicata, ‘Kobold’ and ‘Alba’
Description:Height 2 feet. Spread 1- 1 ½ feet. Dense tufts of broad green grassy foliage. Dense spikes of attractive fluffy purple flowers blooming in August- September. ‘Alba’ is white and ‘Kobold’ is dwarf pink-mauve.
Grow in open,full sun. Prefers well-drained but moisture-retentive soil, however;will grow in wet areas such as a pond or poolside.
Lirope.muscari-Lilyturf
Description: Height and spread 1–1 ½ feet. Clump-forming,with leaves arching, about 1 foot long. Rounded flowers ¼ – ½ inches wide in dense racemes in autumn. Flowers are lavender-purple.
Grow in partial shade. Prefers well-drained but moisture-retentive soil;ideally humus-enriched.
Lobelia cardinalis-Cardinal flower
Description: Height 1-2 feet. Spread 1 foot. Very upright habit with lance-shaped green leaves. Terminal spires of scarlet flowers in June-September.
Grow sunny site dappled with shade. Prefers rich,moisture -retentive soil.
Persicaria campanulata
Description: Height and spread 3 feet. Clump forming deciduous or semi-evergreen plant with sparse lance-shaped leaves and numerous stem leaves are all hairy with conspicuous veins,mid-green in color on the top and white or brown at the bottom of leaf. Slender stems produce short-stalked, clusters, 6 inches long of attractive,fragrant bell-shaped flowers in colors of pink and white from late summer to autumn.
Grow in full sun or partial shade in moist soil. Very undemanding border plant.
Physostegia.virginiana-Obedient plant
Description: Height 2-3 feet. Spread 2 feet. Sturdy,erect plant with stout stems and light green,pointed, toothed leaves. Terminal spikes of showy tubular,pink flowers, pinched and lipped at ends 1 ½ inches long ,ranked in distinct rows around stems in August-September. Flowers stay in position if moved from side to side, hence the plant’s common name Obedient.
Grow in a preferably sunny open area in reasonable moist fertile soil.
Rudbeckia.laciniata-Coneflower,’Golden Glow’
Description: Height 6 ½ feet. Spread 3 feet. Upright branched stems, with dense,hairy,green leaves. Large, showy double yellow flowers with some what drooping petals on flowers,raised dark green cones blooming in August- September.
Grow in open, sunny position but dappled shade is tolerated. Revels in a medium to heavy,moisture-retentive loam.
Rudbeckia.nitida, ‘Goldquelle’ and ‘Herbstsonne’
Description: Height 4 feet. Spread 3 feet. Bright green leaves on dense, bushy upright growth. Soft yellow flowers up to 4 inches across with green central disks. ‘Goldquelle’ has double yellow flowers and ‘Herbstsonne’ has single yellow flowers.
Grow in open, sunny position but dappled shade is tolerated. Revels in a medium to heavy,moisture-retentive loam.
Schizostylis.coccinea- Kaffir lily, ‘Gigantea’, ‘Mrs Hegarty’ and ‘Sunrise’
Description: Height 2 feet. Spread 1 foot or more. Leaves narrowly sword-shaped,up to 16 inches long,evergreen except in hard winters. Spikes of attractive crocus-shaped six-petalled,crimson flowers 1½ -2 inches wide,appear in succession in early Autumn to early winter. ‘Gigantea’ has larger flowers; ‘Mrs Hegarty’ has clear pink flowers and ‘Sunrise’ has larger salmon-pink blooms. This is another of my favorite fall flowers,absolutely beautiful.
Grow in sheltered area preferably in full sun. Prefers rich, moisture-retentive soil.
Sedum.Herbstfreude ‘Autumn Joy’
Description:Height and spread 2 feet. Clump-forming,bushy deciduous plant with unbranched,mid-green,opaque stems bearing alternate opaque dark green leaves. Multiple star-shaped flowers cover clustered flowerhead 8 inches wide appear in early autumn in deep pink then turning to pinkish-bronze to copper-red.
Grow in full sun in well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Can tolerate light shade. Divide every 3-4 years to improve flowering.
Sedum ‘Ruby Glow’
Description: Height 10 inches. Spread 18 inches. Low growing deciduous plant with spreading,unbranched red stems, bearing opposite toothed,green-purple leaves. Flowers are in clusters, star-shaped reaching ½ inches across blooming from July -September.
Grow in full sun in well-drained, moderately fertile soil.
Solidago Golden Rod
Description:Height 1-3 feet. Spread 1- 1 ½ feet.Bushy plants, forming dense clumps of erect stems and narrow pointed leaves. Graceful sprays or plumes 6-12 inches or more long of tiny bright yellow flowers in July-September.
Grow in full sun,taller cultivars will grow well in light shade in well-drained;acid or alkaline soil .
Verbena bonariensis
Description: Height 6 feet. Spread 1 ½ feet. Stiff,upright, clump-forming plant with rough, branching stems bearing a few oblong-lance-shaped leaves that are wrinkled with toothed margins and hairy underneath.2 inch panicle-like cymes are borne with tiny salverform lilac-purple flowers from mid-summer to Autumn.
Grow in full sun in well-drained moderately moist and fertile soil.
All the plants mentioned above are perennials so for more in depth growing information visit:How To Grow And Care For Perennials
Links of Interest
Beautiful Fall Flowering Shrubs
Preparation For Perennials In The Spring
Popular Garden Plants and Their Meanings
Gardening With Long Term Herbs
How To Utilize Space For A Small Garden
How To Prepare Your Garden For The Winter
Create Your Very Own Rock Garden
Copyright © 2008 Tanya Kime-Wallace
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Published in: Gardening
deep blue | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
Only an expert writes best in her element. Well written.
Lostash | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
More great advice! I bet your garden is stunning all year round!
George W Whitehead | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
Great article, Tanya. Perhaps you should point out that every part of aconitum carmichaelii (Monkshood) is highly poisonous!
Mystify | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
You are very right George it is poisonous, I should have added that,infact I do so many descriptions,I am quite surprised that I didn’t,thanks for bring that to my attention.
Thanks for all of your comments.Lotash I did have a beautiful garden in Canada I had over 200 different species of plants but since I have moved to England I am lost now because I only have a small front garden,I live in a flat so I focus on my clients gardens and put my best into them.
Diverseblogger | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
Very interesting article. There are tips that I definitely use because I am a gardener.
Johanny Lisbeth | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
this is great by the way, my parents bought my gradma a small house and she loves gardening, I told her she should use your tips.
giftarist | Aug 16, 2009 | Reply
You really are an expert on this!
Well-written,
Thanks
Ruby Hawk | Aug 18, 2009 | Reply
You make me miss my gartden.
Sourav | Sep 24, 2009 | Reply
Very detailed and well written article.