Fall Blooming Perennial Flowers

The perennials are a huge family virtually having flowers of every shape and color known. Although such a bonanza can also be a trial for a gardener planning a perennial border. He has to work like a designer, mixing and matching colors, shapes and sizes to create an overall pleasing effect. It is advisable to plan a perennial border from fall to spring and back to front. You have to choose from plant heights ranging from tall to short for each season. So let us start from fall. Here is a list of plants flowering in the fall, arranged according to their heights.

•  Tall plants

These plants are all over 3 feet and flower in the fall. They are ideal for the back row of the perennial border.

Hardy Aster

New England aster and New York aster are both also called hardy aster. The flowers close at night. Some varieties are Harrington's pink (clear pink), September Glow (ruby red) and Eventide (purple) and Marie Ballard (pale blue). The plants are 3-5 feet tall. All grow well in full sun in a well-drained soil. Propagate asters by digging up and dividing clumps.

Blue Sage

This 3-4 feet tall plant has slender spikes of sky blue flowers. They make excellent cut flowers. Blue sage grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. It can be grown from seeds to flower the nest year. Clumps should remain undisturbed indefinitely.

False Dragonhead

This snapdragon look-alike flower has 8-10 inch long spikes that are made up of four widely spaced vertical rows of small flowers. The plant grows 2-4 feet and has dark green willow like leaves. Some varieties are Vivid (deep pink), Summer Glow (pale pink) and Summer Snow (white). False dragonhead can be grown in sun or shade in almost any type of soil. New plants are started from division of clumps. Divide clumps every second year to prevent overcrowding.

Japanese Anemone

They have handsome pink or white flowers from late summer to mid fall. The leaves of this 2-3 feet tall plant are lobed and dark green. Varieties of Japanese anemone are Alba (single white flowers), Kriemhilde (pink), Margarette (double rose pink) and Profusion (rose-pink). They grow best in light shade and a well-drained soil liberally supplemented with peat moss. New plants, obtained from root cuttings or clump division in early spring, bloom the same year. Do not disturb the roots except for propagation.

Kamchatka Bugbane

Bugbanes have long spires of tiny flowers and impressive leaves. It grows to a height of about 3 feet. It needs light shade and soil supplemented with peat moss or leaf mould and needs to be watered deeply in dry weather. Mulch in fall with compost or cow manure. Do not disturb the roots except for clump division for new plants in early spring.

Boltonia

Boltonia has clouds of star like flowers in pink, lavender or white on willowy stems from midsummer to early fall. This 4 feet tall plant has narrow gray-green leaves. It grows in any soil in full sun. Start new plants from clump division. To prevent overcrowding divide clumps every other year.

•  Medium height plants

These plants are all between 2- 3 feet tall and flower in the fall. They are ideal for the middle row of the perennial border.

Coneflower

The rudbeckia or coneflower has daisy like blossoms of 3-4 inch diameter. In fact, they resemble the wild black- eyed Susan. They provide a splash of vivid color to any border. They come in shades of yellow, orange and mahogany. The 2-3 feet plant thrives in well-drained soil and full sun.

Narrow Leaved Plantain Lily

Plantain lilies or hostas produce attractive lily like flowers on slender stems. They are also valued for the mounds of attractive foliage. It grows 1-2 feet tall and has white edged leaves. It bears violet flowers lined with white. It thrives in compost enriched moist soil. New plants can be started by dividing clumps. Clumps should otherwise be left undisturbed.

Pink Turtlehead

It grows 2-3 feet tall and bears short spikes of flowers and dense shiny dark green leaves. Turtleheads are easy to grow, pest resistant and suitable for areas that get little sun. They require moist soil and light shade. The soil should be mulched with compost or peat moss in the summers to hold the moisture. For new plants, divide the clumps in early spring every 2-3 years.

Thread Leaved Coreopsis

It has star like yellow flowers on slender stems that bloom abundantly. The plant grows to 1-2 feet in height. Coreopsis can remain untended in fields, where they will thrive and multiply. Infertile soil is fine if it is well drained. New plants can be started by dividing clumps in early spring.

•  Short plants

These plants are all below 2 feet and flower in the fall. They are ideal for the front row of the perennial border.

Blue Cupflower

Cupflower plants grow 6-12 inches tall and bear violet flowers. They grow in moist well-drained soil and prefer light shade. To encourage new blossoms, pick off the old flowers. Blue cupflowers can be grown from seed. Divide clumps after three or four years of flowering.

Dwarf Hybrid Goldenrod

Goldenrods are more familiar as wildflowers than as garden blooms. Now some hybrids have been developed which grow very well in perennial beds. They have yellow flower heads made up of tiny blossoms. They grow in full sunlight and thrive in any soil. Clump division starts new plants. After three or four years, they become overcrowded and the clumps need to be divided.

Leadwort

Leadwort has cluster of tiny flowers that bloom from midsummer to early fall. The plant grows to a height of 9 to 12 inches. The upper leaves turn reddish bronze at the end of the blooming season. It grows well in full sun in a soil supplemented with peat moss or leaf mold. As the dormant plants cannot tolerate soggy soil, good drainage is essential in winters. Propagate by dividing clumps in early spring.

Sedum

Also called showy stonecrop, sedum grows about 1-2 feet tall. It bears clusters of tiny pink, ivory or red flowers. The plant is tolerant of drought and is pest free. Some varieties are Brilliant (raspberry red), Carmine (rose red), Meteor (deep carmine red) and Stardust (ivory). It grows in any type of soil in full sun. New plants can be stated from stem cutting in summer or clump division.

~ Shelly Masters