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After the heat and humidity of summer in northeastern Ohio, fall is refreshing.
It has become a “second spring” for me and I find that I look forward to fall gardening more than ever- especially fall flowers.
I want to make sure that my landscape is just as vibrant and beautiful in autumn as it is at other times of the season.
Fall flowers are an important part of my overall landscape.
Perennials bring color and texture to the garden year after year, while annuals add a pop of color wherever needed.
Here is a list of easy-to-grow beauties that won’t disappoint:
Fall Flowers- Perennials:
Perennial Sunflower
If you love sunflowers, but don’t want to plant them each season, consider the perennial sunflower (Helianthus spp.).
It has similar yellow, cheery blooms that will start in summer and last until the first frost.
There are many different species of perennial sunflowers to choose from.
This can create lots of interest and diversity in your fall garden.
Plant in a sunny area toward the back of a bed as these will reach a height of 3′-6’.
Benefits of Perennial Sunflower:
- Attracts songbirds
- Makes a great cut flower
Montauk Daisy
Montauk Daisies are a bright and cheery addition to any garden.
They are similar to shasta daisies but bloom later in the growing season.
They bloom from mid-summer through fall until the first frost.
They thrive in well-drained soil (even sandy soil is ok) and full sun.
Deer and rabbits are not a fan of this plant, another advantage.
Benefits of Montauk Daisy:
- Attracts butterflies
- Makes a great cut flower
- Deer resistant
Helenium
Helenium flowers are shades of red, yellow, and orange.
It reaches a height of 3′-4’ so it is a great addition to the back of a flower bed or used to conceal an unsightly view.
Helenium thrives in full sun and can tolerate drought.
It isn’t fussy to grow, so it is great for the beginner gardener. Helenium is rarely eaten by deer.
Benefits of Helenium:
- Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinators
- Will grow in dry, hot areas that may otherwise be challenging to plant
Aster
Many fall flowers bloom in shades of yellow, orange, and red.
Asters are unique in that they are available in blue, pink, purple, and white.
Asters are sun-loving and thrive in soil that is well-drained.
There are varieties available in various heights.
Taller varieties work well toward the back of a flower bed, while shorter varieties are better seen when planted toward the front of a flower bed.
Benefits of Asters:
- Attract butterflies (Monarch too!)
Autumn Joy Sedum
Every garden should have an Autumn Joy Sedum. They are incredibly easy to grow.
Once they are established, they thrive in full sun and little water.
Not only are they a fall flower, blooming in shades of red and pink, but they also have beautiful bright green foliage that adds interest to the garden all summer.
In addition, they rarely have any pest or disease problems.
Benefits of Autumn Joy Sedum:
- Drought tolerant, so ideal for dry areas that most plants can’t tolerate
- Attracts butterflies and pollinators
Japanese Anemone
Japanese Anemone has a light and airy daisy flower that adds a unique texture to the fall garden.
They bloom prolifically in shades of white and pink adding masses of color.
Full sun with well-drained soil is their preferred location.
Most varieties grow quickly to a height and spread of 2’-4’ so they are ideal for the middle or back of a flower garden.
Benefits of Japanese Anemone:
- Attracts butterflies
- Deer resistant
- Rabbit resistant
Autumn Crocus
Autumn crocuses resemble spring-blooming crocuses, bringing a cheery bouquet of flowers at an unexpected time of the year.
Plant autumn crocuses in mid-late summer as dormant corms (similar to bulbs) and they will bloom in September.
The blooms are generally 4″-6” high, so it is best to plant towards the front of a bed where they are most visible.
Plant corms 2″-4” deep and 4″-6” apart in groupings to get a large drift of color.
All parts of the autumn crocus are poisonous, so it may not be best to grow if you have pets that enjoy nibbling on plants.
Benefits of Autumn Crocus:
- Require little maintenance
- Can be grown in containers or in flower beds
- Deer resistant
Igloo Mums
Igloo Mums (Dendranthema) look very similar to Chrysanthemums.
However, they are much more consistently winter hardy than Chrysanthemums.
Igloo Mums have the quintessential mum-like bloom and come in traditional fall colors.
They are a staple for every fall garden.
Benefits of Igloo Mums:
- Relatively pest and disease-resistant
- Reliably winter is hardy to U.S. Zone 5
Fall Flowers- Annuals
Sunflower
A field of sunflowers in bloom is an amazing site.
It is hard to believe that they are so easy to grow from seed.
Their main requirement is obviously a sunny location.
There are many different varieties to choose from.
Some are quite tall while others are much shorter and some are even considered dwarfs.
There is a size to fit any garden.
As the seed heads dry, the plant continues to bring beauty to the fall landscape.
The seeds of most varieties are edible if the birds don’t get to them first!
Benefits of annual Sunflowers
- Attracts butterflies
- Deer resistant
- Smaller, non-pollinating varieties make great cut flowers
Fall Pansies
Pansies are great for fall as they thrive in cooler temperatures and make a great addition to containers and flower beds that need a touch of color.
They are available at most garden centers in late summer in a myriad of colors.
Last fall, I planted them in my front flower bed and virtually all of them survived the winter (I am in zone 6).
They were a welcome sight in late March and April.
I still regard pansies as an annual as they are not reliably winter hardy.
As one of my favorite plants, I highly recommend trying them!
Benefits of Pansies:
- Relatively pest and disease-resistant
- Can be grown in containers or in flower beds
Ornamental Kale & Cabbage
Ornamental kale and cabbage technically aren’t “fall flowers” as their beauty is in the brightly colored, ruffled leaves that emerge in the cooler weather.
These leaves develop in shades of red, pink, purple, and white, bringing texture and interest to any container or flower bed.
Ornamental kale and cabbage are not edible as they were bred for their aesthetic qualities.
Although they are winter hardy, I don’t consider them a perennial as they tend to struggle in the heat of summer and rarely return to their beauty from year to year.
Benefits of Ornamental Kale and Cabbage:
- Plants do not need to be fertilized again this season once purchased from the garden center
- The leaf colors become more intense as temperatures get colder, so their beauty lasts
Fall Mums (Chrysanthemum)
Fall mums (Chrysanthemums, aka mums) are a fall flower staple.
The rainbow of colors and flower types makes them a symbol of autumn.
They are perfect for containers, hanging baskets, and flower beds.
Although technically a perennial, their winter hardiness is unreliable.
Therefore, I consider them an annual.
Benefits of Chrysanthemums:
- An economical plant that adds a lot of color for the price
- Fall mums purchased in late summer and early fall have been adequately fertilized by the grower and don’t need any additional fertilizer this growing season
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Gardeners also tend to share the produce they grow, thus improving the vegetable intake of their friends and family and keeping them connected to their social network.