Many of the best late-season garden flowers are hardy perennials that bloom from midsummer through autumn. Asters, Chrysanthemums, Sedum, Coreopsis, Gaillardia, Agastache, Nepeta, Russian Sage, Nippon Daisy, Balloon Flower, Oriental Lily, Goldenrod, Joe Pye Weed, Helenium, and Japanese Anemone can extend garden color and provide valuable food for pollinators later in the growing season.
Late-Blooming Perennials at a Glance
Plant size, bloom time, and cold hardiness can vary by species, cultivar, climate, and growing conditions.
| Plant | Bloom Time | Mature Height | Cold Hardiness Zone | Garden Value |
| Aster | Late Summer-Fall | 1-4 ft | 3-8 | Valuable late-season nectar; available in purple, blue, pink, and white |
| Chrysanthemum | Fall | Varies by Variety | Varies by Variety | Versatile fall color for containers or garden beds |
| Sedum | Late-Summer-Fall | 24-36 in | 3-8 | Drought tolerant; attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators |
| Coreopsis | Summer-Fall | 1-4 ft | 3-9 | Long blooming, daisy-like flowers; heat- and drought-tolerant once established |
| Gaillardia | Summer-Fall | 12-36 in | 3-10 | Bright, warm-colored flowers; performs well in sunny, dry conditions |
| Agastache | Summer-Fall | 1-4 ft | Varies by Variety | Aromatic foliage and nectar-rich flower spikes that attract pollinators |
| Nepeta | Late Spring-Fall | 12-36 in | 3-8 | Long-blooming flowers, fragrant foliage, and a spreading habit |
| Russian Sage | Summer-Fall | 3-4 ft | 4-9 | Airy blue-purple flowers; handles heat and dry conditions |
| Nippon Daisy | Fall | 24-36 in | 5-9 | Frost-tolerant foliage and flowers; attracts butterflies |
| Balloon Flower | Late Summer | 12-20 in | 3-8 | Deer resistant and a beautiful cut flower |
| Oriental Lily | Late Summer | 4-6 ft | 5-9 | Large, fragrant flowers in a wide range of colors |
| Goldenrod | Late-Summer-Fall | 18-24 in | 3-9 | Bright yellow flowers attract bees and butterflies |
| Joe Pye Weed | Late-Summer-Fall | 3-7 ft | 4-10 | Large nectar-rich flower clusters attract bees and butterflies |
| Helenium | Late-Summer-Fall | 3-4 ft | 3-8 | Warm-colored flowers attracts pollinating insects |
| Japanese Anemone | Late-Summer-Fall | 2-4 ft | 4-8 |
Adds height and late-season color
|
Here's a closer look at these late-blooming perennials, including their growing conditions, mature size, and cold-hardiness zones.
Aster
No late-season flower garden is complete without Aster. These dependable perennials burst into bloom from late summer through fall, covering themselves with daisy-like flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink, and white. Asters are among the most valuable late-season nectar sources for butterflies and other pollinators, making them as beneficial as they are beautiful.
Most Asters grow 1 to 4 feet tall and thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Their vibrant flowers pair beautifully with Chrysanthemums, Sedum, Goldenrod, and ornamental grasses for a classic autumn display. Newer varieties are also more compact and tidy than older selections, making them easy additions to modern landscapes.
Zones 3-8
In photo: Symphyotrichum novi-belgii; Common name: New York Aster
Chrysanthemum
When you think about fall color, Chrysanthemums are probably the first plants that come to mind. That’s because these versatile plants are available in an almost unlimited selection of colors, sizes, and flower forms that look amazing planted by themselves or mixed with other flowers.
Use Chrysanthemums in containers or directly in the landscape. All they require is a sunny location and a drink whenever the surface of the soil begins to dry.
In colder climates, cover newly planted garden Chrysanthemums with a few inches of shredded leaves or compost after the foliage dies. This helps protect them during their first winter in the ground.
Know what you’re buying: Garden Chrysanthemums, sometimes sold as hardy Chrysanthemums, are bred for outdoor growing and should return as perennials when the
variety is suited to your hardiness zone. Florist Chrysanthemums are bred primarily for
temporary indoor display and are generally treated as annuals. Check the plant label before planting because hardiness varies by variety.
In photo: Chrysanthemum
Sedum
If you’re a “plant it and forget it” style of gardener, you definitely need to put Sedum on your shopping list. These rugged plants are virtually indestructible and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
Sedums have fleshy foliage that makes them super drought tolerant. Just plant them in a sunny spot and stand back. Taller varieties, which can grow 24 to 36 inches tall, produce large, flat heads of pink or red flowers through late summer and fall.
The nectar-rich blooms also attract scores of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Zones 3–8
In photo: Sedum 'Frosted Fire'
Coreopsis
Coreopsis brings a sunny burst of color to late-season gardens with masses of cheerful, daisy-like flowers. Depending on the variety, blooms may be yellow, gold, orange, red, pink, or bicolored. Many selections begin flowering earlier in the growing season and continue producing color into fall.
These easy-care perennials perform best in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, many varieties handle heat and periods of dry weather with ease. Removing faded flowers can help encourage additional blooms and keep plants looking tidy. Coreopsis works well in garden beds, borders, pollinator gardens, and containers. Its flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
Zones 3–9, depending on variety
In photo: Coreopsis UPTICK™ Cream & Red (‘Balupteamed’); common name: Tickseed
Gaillardia
Also known as Blanket Flower, Gaillardia turns up the heat with daisy-like flowers in glowing shades of red, orange, yellow, and bicolor. The plants often bloom over a long period, helping bridge the gap between summer and fall.
Gaillardia thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It performs especially well in hot, dry locations where some other perennials struggle. Depending on the variety, plants may
form neat, compact mounds or grow into larger clumps covered with colorful flowers.
Bees and butterflies visit the blooms, while the plants’ tolerance for heat and drought
makes Gaillardia an easy addition to sunny beds, borders, and containers.
Zones 3–10, depending on variety
In photo: Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Fanfare Blaze’; Common name Blanket Flower
Agastache
Agastache, also called Hummingbird Mint or Anise Hyssop, adds vertical color with spikes of tubular flowers held above aromatic foliage. Depending on the variety, the flowers may be purple, blue, pink, orange, red, or yellow.
Plant Agastache in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, many varieties tolerate heat and drought, but they do not perform well where the soil remains wet. Their nectar-
rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators from summer
into fall.
Compact varieties fit easily into containers and smaller garden beds, while taller selections add height and movement to perennial borders.
Hardiness varies by species and variety.
In photo: Agastache; Common name: Anise Hyssop
Nepeta
Nepeta, commonly called Catmint, creates soft sweeps of color with clusters of blue, purple, pink, or white flowers held above aromatic gray-green foliage. Many varieties begin blooming before summer and continue flowering into fall, especially when trimmed after their first flush of flowers.This easy-care perennial performs best in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, it tolerates heat and periods of dry weather. Its spreading habit makes it useful along walkways, at the front of garden beds, or as a softer edging around taller perennials.
The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, while the fragrant foliage is generally avoided by deer.
Zones 3–8, depending on variety
In photo: Nepeta 'Little Trudy'; Common name: Catmint
Russian Sage
Russian Sage brings an airy cloud of blue-purple flowers to the late-summer garden. The tiny blooms appear along tall stems held above finely textured, aromatic foliage, giving the plant a light appearance even when it reaches several feet tall.
This durable perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, it handles heat and drought with ease. Russian Sage works especially well in sunny borders, mass
plantings, pollinator gardens, and landscapes where water conservation is a priority.
Its flower-covered stems attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators and pair beautifully
with Asters, Coreopsis, Sedum, and ornamental grasses.
Zones 4–9
In photo: Perovskia atriplicifolia; Common name Russian Sage
Nippon Daisy
Often called Montauk Daisy, Nippon Daisy is prized for its late-in-the-season explosion of perky, white flowers. This easy-care plant grows 24 to 36 inches tall and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Both the leaves and flowers of Nippon Daisy are frost tolerant and will retain their color
right up until a hard freeze. The nectar-rich blooms will also lure colorful butterflies to your garden. Nippon Daisy is deer-resistant, too.
Zones 5–9
In photo: Nipponanthemum nipponicum; Common name Nippon Daisy/Montauk Daisy
Balloon Flower
Take your late-summer flower garden to new heights with Balloon Flower. Named for its eye-catching, balloon-shaped flower buds, Balloon Flower provides a burst of welcome color later in the growing season.
An easy-care perennial, Balloon Flower, which also goes by its genus name Platycodon, develops quantities of dark blue, pink, or white flowers. The plants grow 12 to 20 inches
tall and thrive in any sunny or partially sunny location.
Balloon Flower also makes a wonderful cut flower. And it’s deer resistant, too.
Zones 3–8
In photo: Platycodon grandiflorus 'Astra Pink'; Common name Balloon Flower
Oriental Lily
Enjoy color and fragrance in your late-summer garden with Oriental Lilies. These exotic-looking charmers grow 4 to 6 feet tall and produce magnificent stalks of huge, star-shaped blooms. Colors include pink, rose, red, cream, white, yellow, and orange; most flowers are also generously splashed with darker stripes and spots.
Oriental Lilies need a sunny to partially sunny spot with well-drained soil that has
plenty of organic matter mixed in. It may take a year or two to form a big, impressive
clump, but these super plants are worth the wait.
Zones 5–9
In photo: Lilium 'Tom Pouce'; Common name: Oriental Lily
More Late-Season Perennials to Consider
Looking for even more options? Goldenrod, Joe Pye Weed, Helenium, and Japanese Anemone bring their own distinctive colors, forms, and growing habits to the late-season garden. Several are also valuable nectar sources for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Goldenrod
Let the bright, yellow blooms of Goldenrod gild your late-season garden with color. Heat- and drought-tolerant, Goldenrod is an easy-care North American native that’s been given a modern makeover. Newer hybrids are a great choice for your garden because they’re more compact and produce more flowers than their roadside cousins.Hybrid Goldenrod grows 18 to 24 inches tall and is highly attractive to hungry bees and
butterflies.
By the way, it’s a myth that Goldenrod causes hay fever. Ragweed, which blooms at the same time as Goldenrod, is generally the sneeze-inducing culprit.
Zones 3–9
In photo: Solidago; Common name Goldenrod
Joe Pye Weed
Perennials don’t get much tougher than Joe Pye Weed. In fact, you can probably drive a truck over this rugged North American native and not faze it a bit.
Joe Pye Weed is a big plant—although compact varieties that grow about 3 feet tall are available—and many selections reach 6 to 7 feet tall. Give it plenty of room to stretch out.
It loves rich, slightly moist soil and produces handsome burgundy-green foliage topped
with large, showy heads of whitish-purple flowers in late summer and fall. Butterflies and
bees love the nectar-rich flowers. Joe Pye Weed can
be a bit of a bully, so plant it where it won’t encroach on its neighbors.
Zones 4–10
In photo: Eupatorium 'Baby Joe'; common name Joe Pye Weed
Helenium
For gorgeous fall color, you can’t beat Helenium. Year after year, this super-easy North American native perennial produces masses of pretty, daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red, and bicolor.
These sun-loving plants grow 3 to 4 feet tall and look terrific even when rainfall is scarce. Occasionally called Sneezeweed, Helenium does not cause hay fever. It just happens to bloom in the same season as ragweed, so it often takes the blame.
Helenium will also attract important pollinating insects to your garden. Deer, however, generally avoid the plant.
Zones 3–8
In photo: Helenium 'Coppelia'
Japanese Anemone
Borne on tall, elegant stems, the pink or white flowers of Japanese Anemone are a welcome treat in the late-summer garden. Growing 2 to 4 feet high, Japanese Anemone mingles well with other fall bloomers such as Asters and Chrysanthemums.
The plants prefer full sun but will also bloom in partial shade. They do best in rich, cool, organic soil, so mulch the plants with shredded leaves or compost.
Japanese Anemone spreads by underground runners, so keep an eye on your plants to be
sure they aren’t crowding nearby perennials.
Zones 4–8
In photo: Anemone hupehensis var. japonica 'Pamina'; Common name Japanese Anemone
Why Late-Season Flowers Matter for Pollinators
As summer comes to an end, nectar sources become less abundant. Asters, Sedum, Coreopsis, Gaillardia, Agastache, Nepeta, Russian Sage, Goldenrod, Joe Pye Weed, and Helenium can provide food for butterflies, native bees, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators later in the growing season.
Including several kinds of fall-blooming flowers in your landscape helps extend seasonal color while providing a longer succession of nectar sources.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Flowers for Late-Summer and Fall Garden Color
What flowers bloom in late summer and early fall?
Many perennials bloom from late summer through fall, including Asters, Chrysanthemums, Sedum, Coreopsis, Gaillardia, Agastache, Nepeta, Russian Sage, Nippon Daisy, Goldenrod, Joe Pye Weed, Helenium, Balloon Flower, Oriental lily, and Japanese Anemone.
What perennials bloom until frost?
Nippon Daisy, Chrysanthemums, Sedum, many Asters, Agastache, Coreopsis, and Gaillardia may continue flowering until frost, depending on the variety, climate, and growing conditions.
What are the best pollinator plants for fall?
Asters, Sedum, Agastache, Coreopsis, Gaillardia, Goldenrod, Joe Pye Weed, Helenium, Nepeta, and Russian Sage provide nectar for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators later in the season.
Can you plant perennials in fall?
Yes. In many regions, fall is a good time to plant perennials. Choose plants suited to your hardiness zone and give them enough time to begin establishing roots before the ground freezes. Follow local planting recommendations for your climate.
What are good perennials to plant in fall?
Good choices include Asters, Chrysanthemums, Sedum, Coreopsis, Gaillardia, Agastache, Nepeta, Russian Sage, and Nippon Daisy. Select plants suited to your hardiness zone and provide the light, soil, and moisture conditions each plant needs.
What late-season flowers tolerate heat and drought?
Once established, Russian Sage, Gaillardia, Coreopsis, Sedum, Agastache, Goldenrod, and Nepeta can tolerate periods of heat and dry weather. Performance varies by variety and growing conditions, and newly planted perennials need regular watering while their roots become established.
What late-season flowers grow in cold climates?
Gardeners in colder regions can enjoy plenty of late-season color. Nippon Daisy, Aster, Goldenrod, Sedum, Chrysanthemum, Balloon Flower, and Helenium are all hardy choices that perform well in northern gardens. Be sure to select varieties suited to your USDA Hardiness Zone for the best results.
What late-season flowers grow well in warm climates?
Many late-blooming perennials thrive in the heat and humidity common across the South and other warm regions. Joe Pye Weed, Goldenrod, Sedum, Chrysanthemum, Japanese Anemone, and Oriental Lily can all provide color from late summer into fall. In warmer climates, these plants may enjoy a longer bloom season than they do in colder areas.
What late-season flowers grow in cold climates?
Gardeners in colder regions can enjoy plenty of late-season color. Aster, Nippon Daisy, Goldenrod, Sedum, Chrysanthemum, Balloon Flower, and Helenium are all hardy choices that perform well in many northern gardens. Be sure to select varieties suited to your USDA Hardiness Zone.
