Best Types of Perennials for Fall
Fall plantings are not limited to just mums anymore. This is just a small sampling of the many perennials you can plant in the fall found at any of our locations in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and DC. Many of these perennials either bloom in the fall or have great fall color in their foliage. Plus, all perennials benefit from being planted in the fall as the cool temperatures and abundant rainfall are perfect for perennial root growth. To learn more about these and many other varieties of perennials, annuals, trees, and shrubs, visit our Plant Finder Tool.
Achillea (Yarrow)
Though typically thought of as a summer bloomer, many varieties of Yarrow bloom well into the fall. Yarrow is a herbaceous perennial with mounded forms of flowers. These flowers are irresistible to butterflies, making them a great plant for sustaining local pollinators. Yarrow is not particularly attractive to deer, making them a great color choice for deer-infested gardens. They also make a great cut or dried flower for indoor and patio arrangements. Plant them in full sun and you’ll have a colorful summer and fall display year after year.
Anemone
Fall-blooming Anemone is a perennial that comes in a multitude of colors which are a lovely accent to existing plantings. Anemone is great in partial shade but will tolerate full sun as well. Even when not in bloom, anemones have very attractive, glossy foliage that is relatively free of pest and disease damage during the worst of the summer months. The branching flower stems of an anemone are great for cutting for an indoor arrangement and are at peak performance from late summer into early fall.
Asters
Asters are a wonderful fall-blooming perennial for full sun that can easily couple with or take the place of chrysanthemums in your garden space. They are easy to grow and deer resistant, making them one of the best options for color in a deer populated area. Blooms range from rich lavender to creamy white and are great for pollinators. Asters are a low maintenance perennial that blooms in both full sun and light shade. They are great for mass flower plantings in a flower bed but can also be showy in outdoor pots and containers.
Echinacea (Coneflower)
A prolific summer bloomer, coneflowers provide excellent color options into the fall season when planted in groupings of other coneflowers. In fact, there are so many colors now available through breeding over recent years that you’re sure to find a variety to suit your needs. They are great for areas of full sun, attract pollinators, and are deer resistant as well, so you really can’t go wrong. Most varieties produce large, showy blooms which are excellent for cuttings. Some varieties, such as the ‘Magnus,’ are natives to our area, and are great additions for those looking to start a perennial native garden. To learn more about the various varieties of Echinaceas, visit our Echinacea page for more.
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
This wonderful full shade to part sun perennial has excellent foliage for the fall (as well as the spring and summer). Heuchera comes in a multitude of different shades and hues giving you a full-color showing just with its foliage. This means that the color lasts throughout the entirety of the growing season. It tolerates dry soil and is deer-resistant, making them perfect for a woodland garden or any gardens plagued by deer. Some varieties even produce tiny flowers on tall, thin stalks during the spring and summer season, adding another layer of interest to these versatile plants. To learn more about the various varieties of Heuchera, visit out Heuchera page for more.
Sedum
The upright sedum are a classic fall perennial blooming in shades of pink in September and blooming strong into October. Its thick, succulent leaves give sedum an attractive and interesting foliage aspect in the garden which helps it tolerate periods of drought, and its clusters of blooms are great attractants for butterflies and bees. Sedums are perfect for mass plantings to add a splash of fall color to a perennial bed. Some varieties of spreading Sedum can even act as a sunny groundcover for rock gardens. A true fall favorite! To learn more about the various varieties of Sedum available, visit our Sedum page for more.
Ornamental Grasses
A mainstay for any landscape, ornamental grasses provide four seasons of interest and their plumes give off a firework show every fall. There are so many different varieties of ornamental grasses with various plumes and blade shapes and sizes that there are too many to list here. They are great for full sun locations and some varieties can even tolerate wet areas. They are easy to maintain and provide constant aesthetic benefits every season, but it is in the fall when ornamental grasses really shine! During the fall their bloom season gets into full swing, producing the showy plumes that make grasses so popular.
Planting Perennials in the Fall
The fall season is one of the best seasons for planting your perennials. By planting them in the fall, you’re helping them to establish healthy root systems.
Perennials planted in the spring only have a short amount of time to prepare their root systems to survive the summer heat and drought. Their young root systems must not only deal with these harsh conditions but must also produce enough nutrients and water to support months of growth and flowering as well.
By planting your perennials in the fall instead, their root systems will have ample time to grow throughout the fall and winter months. That’s right! Even when the perennial has died back for the winter it’s roots are still growing and expanding beneath the surface without the stress of having to provide nutrients like it must in the spring. This ensures that your perennials will have a head start next summer with a stronger and deeper root system that will give them a better chance of surviving the harsh conditions of our summers.
How to Plant Container-Grown Perennials
Fall is also a great time to start planting perennials in container gardens. Container-grown perennials are so easy to plant. Start by digging a hole that’s a little wider but no deeper than the growing pot of your new perennial. Loosen the roots by hand and spread them out prior to placing them in the hole. This will make sure the roots do not continue to grow in the shape of the container they were in but instead grow downward. Add some potting soil or planting mix and firm the soil around the roots. Top all new plant material with 2 – 3 inches of mulch for winter protection and then water well.
Maintaining Perennials in the Fall
Dividing
Among the most critical fall chores is splitting or dividing perennials. While many people divide their perennials in the spring, by doing it in the fall you are giving your plants ample time to reestablish their root systems throughout the fall, winter, and spring seasons ensuring that they are well prepared for the ensuing summer heat and drought.
There are many reasons why dividing perennials are advantageous to the gardener. Some perennial plants become woody in the center and lose vigor over time causing them to grow and bloom less. Division of these plants encourages vigorous new growth and better blooming in future seasons.
Dividing perennials also allows you to control the spread of large, clumping perennials into areas of the garden that you don’t want them in. Finally, dividing perennials is the cheapest and easiest way to keep plants spread throughout your garden. A crop of well-established Hostas, Garden Phlox, or Black-eyed Susans can be easily divided and scattered throughout the garden, saving you money year after year.
Cutting Back
While our first instincts are to cut back perennials in preparation for the winter, you should think twice before reaching for the garden shears. Several varieties of perennials have beautiful forms and foliage in the wintertime, giving you an excellent focal point in your garden when everything else is barren.
If you’re a bird lover, leaving your flowering perennials uncut through the winter may attract birds to your yard. Leftover seed heads are an excellent source of nourishment for birds, while the leftover foliage provides some cover for them to hide as needed.
If your perennials are marginally hardy varieties such as chrysanthemums or trailing verbena, leaving the old stems intact helps the plant to overwinter and survive into the following spring. Plus, if you cut back your perennials too much, it might be difficult to determine where they are when you’re cleaning out your beds next spring. Don’t accidentally dig up a perennial because you couldn’t see where it was!
There are some instances where cutting back perennials may be beneficial. Any perennials you have that suffered through any sort of disease throughout the growing season should be cut back and the cuttings removed to help prevent spreading in future seasons. Perennials like Monarda, which deal with a common disease like powdery mildew, is a prime example of a perennial that could benefit from early cut back once it’s finished for the season. When cutting any perennials back, it is best to leave two to three inches above the crown to help prevent any winter damage.
Get Perennials from Meadows Farms Today
At Meadows Farms, we well many different types of perennials, along with the tools needed to plant and maintain. Come visit your local Meadows Farms store today to find the perfect perennials for your home or garden!