If your flowerbeds and container gardens are looking a little flat and dull, they need a quick makeover with an instant boost of color. You may think the growing season is over but the good news is that there are plenty of plants you can pick right now that will add little bursts of heavenly flowers to see you through fall.
Late-season perennials and cold-season annuals are the last flowering delights the garden can offer before the onset of winter. Another advantage is that their colors tend to be intense and saturated because the sunlight is not as intense at this time of year. Choose varieties like chrysanthemums and coneflowers, and on sunny days, the flowers will be covered in pollinators too, busy collecting nectar before winter arrives.
So enjoy the September days by getting out in the backyard to do some gardening. Now find out what plants to plant in September with our expert-led suggestions for adding a little joie de vivre to your outdoor space.
1. Autumn sage (Salvia greggii)
Salvia greggii ‘Mirage Cherry Red’ (autumn sage) adds rich color to the September garden
(Image credit: Sundry Photography/Alamy Stock Photo)
“Fall is the ideal planting season, between September and November,” says Amy Hovis, co-owner of Barton Springs Nursery in Austin, Texas. “When the weather starts to cool, there is usually more consistent rainfall, making it a good time to establish plants. We suggest planting native perennials. A few of our favorites are autumn sage (Salvia greggii), lantana, and Blackfoot daisy.
Autumn sage is one of our favorite September plants to see in flower beds as well, as it still blooms profusely into late summer and fall. It grows quickly to a mature size of 2 to 3 feet tall, and likes a hot climate, full sun, and dry soil. It has masses of tiny blooms in a range of colors including red, pink, white, mauve, peach, and orange, so there’s one to suit every color scheme.
Fall planting extends the growing season for plants. This gives them more time to establish strong root systems and gather resources before winter arrives. As a result, they are better equipped to face difficult conditions such as heat and drought the following summer.
price: $62.90
measuring: 1 gallon
2. Coneflowers
(Image credit: David Miller/Getty Images)
“The best plants to grow right now depend on where you live,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms, experts in growing perennials based in Florida and the Carolinas. “In northern regions, early fall is the perfect time to plant most perennials. Planting now allows them to root well before winter so they have a much stronger start in the spring.
“Planting perennial varieties such as coneflower (Echinacea), bee balm (Monarda), or phlox now will result in more blooms next year than if you waited to plant the same plant in spring.”
The long-lasting coneflower blooms are synonymous with September, as well as one of the best flowers for bees. They have dark purple-pink flowers with a distinctive orange cone in the middle. They do well when planted in drifts with ornamental grasses and other perennials in the fall, and are popular with pollinators, too. Plant them in rich, well-drained soil in full sun for a colorful, long-lasting display in September.
price: $5.99
amount: 500
color: Pink color
3. Chrysanthemum
(Image credit: Valogaimage/Alamy Stock Photo)
Choose chrysanthemums this fall if you want an outdoor plant that will continue to bloom through rain, wind, and snow. When most other flowering plants have already died, ‘mothers’ are one of the best flowers for adding a splash of color during the fall months. It’s a great late-season pollinator as well.
“It’s not too late to plant and enjoy fall-flowering perennials like chrysanthemums, as well as asters, sedums and Montauk roses, which all look good now, go dormant, and will return to provide more flowers next fall in your landscape,” says Justin Hancock. It may also persist if you live in a warm climate or have mild winters.
We love all types of chrysanthemums, but especially the ‘Reflex’ flower-shaped ones, which have full blooms that can be up to 6 inches in diameter, and graceful petals that curve downward. If you love pink and purple fall flowers, plant one of the pretty pink varieties of these chrysanthemums with asters, coneflowers and stoneflowers for a soft autumn palette that looks stunning in the September garden.
Live chrysanthemum plants
measuring: 8″
amount: 1000
4. Pansies
(Image credit: Coolpicture/Getty Images)
As temperatures drop, September is a great time to incorporate cool-season annuals for a splash of fall and winter color in your garden or planting.
“I’m currently growing some essential fall flowers in my garden,” says Alex Cantor, owner of Perfect Plants Nursery in Monticello, Florida. ‘In addition to zinnias and chrysanthemums, I grow a lot of pansies. These plants are classic favorites for the autumn season. September is the perfect time to plant them, as the soil temperature and texture are ideal for establishing their roots.’
These cool-weather-loving plants will display their vibrant colors and blooms throughout the fall. While they can be treated as perennials in some areas, they are mostly used as annuals.
Choose your favorite colors and place them in your flower beds and planters. “The variety of pansies never ceases to amaze me, making them a great choice for September planting,” says Alex. “Playing with colors in the garden adds a touch of inviting charm that you can enjoy before winter comes.”
Frizzle Sizzle Cranberry Seeds
5. Ornamental brassica
(Image credit: TasnaiArt/Getty Images)
While chrysanthemums and pansies are generally the dominant plants for seasonal color in the fall garden, cheerful ornamental cabbage and cabbage varieties are great for replacing faded summer annuals for a long-lasting fall display.
“I’ve been experimenting with growing ornamental plants as borders in my garden,” says Alex Kantor. “This gorgeous cabbage can be used in flower beds, in pots, or even in small gardens to add a unique touch to your landscape. The deep green edges of these rose-shaped perennials will gradually unravel to reveal a center of vibrant purple and lilac color throughout the season.”
These showy plants are grown for their large rosettes of colorful leaves, and come in a variety of colors, including pink, violet and red. The luxuriously ruffled leaves won’t have much color until they cool, and actually begin to glow after frost and cold weather, and get their most vibrant colors below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They are truly cool weather plants, and once acclimated they persist into November and December.
Plants will generally not get larger after being planted so be sure to purchase appropriately sized plants for best effect. Use them in group plantings in flower beds or to edge paths. It looks beautiful in front of the flowerbed with sedum and asters. Alternatively, make it the centerpiece of a fall container garden with pansies planted around the edge for a long-lasting display.
