As the year draws to a close, there are always flowering plants in the garden. Autumn bloomers can immerse it again in a sea of flowers and also offer insects a source of food. These are 20 of the most beautiful late summer perennials.
In a nutshell
- many fall bloomers show up in bold colors like pink or yellow
- flowering autumn perennials come in all sizes
- autumn-flowering original species are often very robust
- many species are easy to care for
Table of contents
- Autumn bloomers: late summer perennials from A to D
- with H
- From K to R
- From S to W
- frequently asked Questions
Autumn bloomers: late summer perennials from A to D
Arkansas mock aster (Vernonia crinita)
It may take some time for this fall bloomer to show its first blooms, but it's well worth the wait as the Arkansas mock aster produces intensely glowing blooms.
- Growth height: 160 to 180 cm
- Flowering period: August to October
- Flower color: violet
- Location: sunny
- Varieties: Mammoth
Flower Dost (Origanum laevigatum)
The flower dost is also suitable as a border along paths and is easy to care for.
- Growth height: 40 to 60 cm
- Flowering period: August to September
- Flower color: purple pink, light pink
- Location: sunny
- Varieties: Hopleys, Herrenhausen
Chinese pea (Astilbe chinensis)
The Chinese sparrow can spread quickly, which is why you should always ensure sufficient distance when planting.
- Growth height: 50 to 100 cm
- Flowering period: August to September
- Flower color: pink, pink, white
- Location: semi-shady to shady
- Varieties: Veronica Klose, Finale, Vision in White, Vision in Red, Purpurlance
Chinese leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)
The Chinese Plumwort is an ideal ground cover that bathes large areas in a strong blue.
- Growth height: 15 to 30 cm
- Flowering period: August to October
- Flower color: blue
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Varieties: So far only commercially available as an original variety
Deam coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. demii)
Hardly any of the late summer perennials takes the summer into autumn as long as the Deam coneflower with its bright yellow flowers.
- Growth height: 80 to 100 cm
- Flowering period: August to September
- Flower color: intense yellow with a black centre
- Location: sunny
- Varieties: so far only one breed available in the trade
with H
Autumn cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium)
Under good conditions, autumn cyclamen can be propagated from seeds. So they can form a lush flowering carpet within a few years.
- Growth height: 10 to 15 cm
- Flowering time: September to October
- Flower color: pink, white
- Location: partially shaded
- Varieties: Ivy Ice Light Rose, Album, Amaze Me Pink, Amaze Me White
A notice: The foliage of this autumn bloomer is similar to that of ivy, which is why it is often referred to as ivy-leaved cyclamen.
Autumn Anemone (Anemone hupehensis)
The autumn anemone is one of the undemanding late summer perennials that develop well even in difficult locations.
Source: Photo by David J. rod, Anemone hupehensis var. japonica Bressingham Glow 1zz, Edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Growth height: 60 to 90 cm
- Flowering period: August to October
- Flower color: pink, pink, white
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Varieties: Pink Saucer, Wild Swan, Mont Rose, Ariel, Cinderella, Pamina, Serenade
Tip: Varieties with several rows of flowers such as "Bressingham Glow" or "Whirlwind" appear fuller and more attractive.
Monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii)
The autumn aconite is hardy and can survive in harsh climates.
- Growth height: 60 to 120 cm
- Flowering period: August to September
- Flower color: white, violet, bluish
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Varieties: Cloudy, Arendsii
Danger: Like all monkshood, this autumn bloomer is poisonous.
Autumn Catchfly (Silene schafta)
The autumn catchfly is suitable as a flowering perennial, for example for troughs and roof gardens.
- Growth height: 10 to 15 cm
- Flowering period: August to September
- Flower color: pink
- Location: sunny
- Varieties: Splendens
Autumn marguerite (Leucanthemella serotina)
The autumn daisy is an ideal one cut flower and looks particularly good in autumn bouquets.
- Growth height: 70 to 160 cm
- Flowering time: September to October
- Flower color: white
- Location: sunny
- Varieties: so far only available as original species
Tall Bacopa (Sedum telephium)
The Bacopa forms attractive umbel-like inflorescences that a magnet for insects are.
- Growth height: 40 to 60 cm
- Flowering period: August to October
- Flower color: pink, dark pink, brown-pink, creamy white, creamy yellow
- Location: sunny
- Varieties: Xenox, José Aubergine, Hab Gray, Class Act, Lajos, Karfunkelstein
Tip: Some species convince with attractive foliage color. Black-red or blue-green leaves provide an additional eye-catcher in autumn.
From K to R
Candleweed (Bistorta amplexicaulis)
The candle knotweed is a very delicate autumn bloomer and is also suitable as a low-maintenance ground cover.
- Growth height: 60 to 100 cm
- Flowering period: August to October
- Flower color: red, pink, white
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Varieties: Blackfield, Pink Elephant, Fat Domino, Alba Junior, Rosea, Atropurpurea, Speciosa
October black cohosh (Cimicifuga simplex)
The October silver cohosh is a particularly beautiful autumn bloomer that can be an eye-catcher, especially in front gardens.
- Growth height: 140 to 200 cm
- Flowering period: August to October
- Flower color: pink white, white
- Location: semi-shady to shady
- Varieties: Brunette, White Pearl
Pearl daisy (Anaphalis triplinervis)
The pearl basket is one of the versatile late summer jams and can be used, for example, as a dried flower for arrangements.
- Growth height: 30 to 40 cm
- Flowering period: August to October
- Flower color: white
- Location: sunny
- Varieties: silver rain, summer snow
borage aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Aster species such as the tawny aster are among the most popular autumn bloomers and are characterized by a variety of colours.
- Growth height: 50 to 100 cm
- Flowering time: September to October
- Flower color: pink, white, crimson, violet
- Location: sunny
- Varieties: Rudelburg, Rosa Sieger, Barr's Blue, Herbstschnee, Herbstlieder, Alma Pötschke
Ruthenian globe thistle (Echinops ritro)
The advantage of the globe thistle is that even faded inflorescences still look attractive.
- Growth height: 50 to 80 cm
- Flowering period: August to September
- Flower color: blue
- Location: sunny
- Varieties: Veitchs Blue, also available as a parent variety
From S to W
Perennial Sunflower (Helianthus decapetalus)
In order not only to look good, but also to form many flowers, the perennial sunflower needs a location in full sun.
Source: H. cell, Helianthus decapetalus 001, Edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Growth height: 150 to 180 cm
- Flowering period: August to September
- Flower color: yellow
- Location: sunny
- Varieties: Capenoch Star, Soleil d'Or, Loddon Gold, Meteor
Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
Many know Jerusalem artichoke as a tasty vegetable, but the plant is also decorative and forms attractive flowers.
- Growth height: 150 to 300 cm
- Flowering time: September to November
- Flower color: yellow
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Varieties: So far only commercially available as an original variety
A notice:The beginning of the harvest season incidentally announces itself in this root vegetable with the death of the above-ground plant shoots in autumn.
Interleaved cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum)
The wild perennial, originally from America, is often referred to as a flower miracle, as it blooms almost continuously from summer to autumn.
- Growth height: 70 to 100 cm
- Flowering period: July to October
- Flower color: yellow
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Varieties: Mayan
A notice: The autumn bloomer is often found in the trade under the name of mixed silphie.
Winter aster (Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum)
Compared to other chrysanthemum species, the winter aster is hardy and does not require additional protection in winter.
Source: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum 'Mandarine' Chryzantema wielkokwiatowa 2019-10-26 02, Edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Growth height: 50 to 120 cm
- Flowering period: August to December
- Flower color: yellow, white, pink, orange, rusty, red, violet
- Location: sunny
- Varieties: Anastasia, Bienchen, Hebe
A notice: The winter aster is not only characterized by a wide variety of colors, but also has variable flower shapes. In addition to open and filled variants, it also forms radial flowers.
frequently asked Questions
Cultivated varieties are usually selected for certain optical characteristics such as large flowers. This is often at the expense of the robustness of the plants. Original species are visually less appealing, but survive extreme cold or longer periods of drought much better.
Most perennials prefer a sunny to partially shaded location. At these places you can really make the most of the fewer and fewer hours of sunshine in autumn. But there are also exceptions, such as the autumn anemones, which prefer a partially shaded to shady place.
Some autumn bloomers continue to flower until the first frost. It is advisable not to cut the plants when the frost period has already begun, as the cuts can then die unplanned deep inside. In addition, the perennials also provide a wintering opportunity for various insects.