Fall Flowers

Asters

One of the key players in the autumn garden is the Aster…from the light blue shades of Aster x frikartii ‘Monch’(shown) to the short and sweet Dwarf Asters, such as ‘Professor Kippenburg,’ a wisteria-blue, or cheerful “Rose Serenade.’

Plants bloom from mid-August to the end of October with very little trouble when situated in full sun.  They should be pinched back in summer to ensure a full, bushy plant with stems that won't topple over.

Shasta Daisies

Shasta Daisies, come in more than just white now (shown)!  Colors range from the salmon pink of ‘Clara Curtis,’  white ‘Snowcap,’ and the newest of the group, ‘Cobham Gold,’ almost pure yellow, add more color when needed with little care.

Situate in full sun and well-drained soil.  Divide the clumps every three to four years for best performance.

Coneflowers and Joe-Pye Weed

Coneflowers, Echinacea purpurea or alba, bring a wealth of pink daisy like flowers to the fall garden. 

With careful pruning you can keep Joe-Pye weed (shown), Eupatorium fistulosum, blooming until October.  This is another butterfly magnet with dusky rose flower heads.

Both Conflowers and Joy-Pye Weed prefer well drained soil but Joe-Pye weed requires extra moisture.  Coneflowers can take some shade, especially during the hottest part of the day.

Phlox

My phlox are blooming their heads off now, and will continue to do so until frost comes to central Massachusetts.  Keep deadheading, and the blooms continue from the side shoots.  My garden contains Phlox Paniculata ‘Starfire,’ cherry red, ‘David,’ a clear white, ‘The King’, an intense shade of purple, ‘Eva Cullum,’ pink florets with a red eye, ‘Franz Shubert,’ (shown) an old fashioned shade of lilac.  Most of the above are phlox are mildew resistant, and easy care.

Spreading Perennials

Russian sage, late blooming daylilies, helianthus (sunflower), and helenium (sneezeweed) are a few of the spreading or groundcover type perennials that will bring color to your garden. 

Don’t forget the sedums…from the taller varieties such as Autumn Joy, Meteor (shown), and my favorite, the variegated ‘Frosty Morn.’

Buddleia

Every garden should have at least one Buddleia (Summer Lilac or Butterfly Bush).

Choosing your favorite color is the hard part.  I’m partial to the hardier Buddleia  Davidii's like ‘Black Knight,’ a blue-black cultivar, and ‘Pink Delight,’ with dense pink trusses.  Both will grow 6 feet or taller in full sun and are rated zones 5-9.

Buddleia's often die back to the ground in zones 5 and 6, but be patient, as they quickly begin growing back during June.

Be prepared to support your buddleia should it get leggy, by putting large tomato cages or peony rings over then when spring growth begin.

Bluebeards and Summersweets

Don’t forget Caryopteris x clandonensis “Longwood Blue,” (shown) (Bluebeard), and fine fall bloomer.

Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet), blooms for a long season from late summer and is one of the best native American shrubs…comes in white, pink or the “Ruby Spice,” and smells of cloves.

Bluebeard needs full sun, and protection from the wind.  Summersweet needs a moister soil and prefers a bit of mid-day shade.

Oriental Lilies and Other Bulbs

Oriental Lilies are in full glory now…with color ranges in white, pink, and reds with some bicolors.  (Shown is the fragrant Oriental lily "Hotlips.")  Many of the Oriental Lilies are fragrant. 

Fall blooming crocus and colchicums can also be found at your local nursery.

Lilies and fall blooming bulbs prefer full sun and well drained soil.  Both can be divided in spring and replanted to propagate more glorious fall bloom.