15 Perennials You Can Plant This October
Thinking of putting some perennials in the ground this October? There are plenty of perennials you can plant, depending on your hardiness zone. In this article, gardening expert Jill Drago looks at her favorite perennial plants to settle into your garden in the month of October.
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October is such a great month to put spring blooming perennials in the ground. I once heard a gardener describe October as a second chance at spring. Yes, you might be busy with the mundane tasks of cleaning up fallen leaves. But it is another great opportunity to add some perennials into your garden that will make your garden pop in the springtime!
When planting in October, you’ll need to pay attention to the weather in your area. You do not want to plant anything too close to a frost date. Not only will the frost damage your foliage, but in some areas it can be the beginning of when the ground starts to freeze. This will make it difficult for your plants to take up water and grow in the spring.
So, if you’ve decided that you want to continue planting into the fall, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve hand-picked a list of our favorite perennials that can still go into the ground in October. Ready to learn more? Let’s dig in!
Our Favorites
Blueberry Lemonade Bulb Mix
Blue Grape Hyacinths, Milena and Polar Hunter Daffodils
Allium
Scientific Name: Allium spp.
- Plant Size: 1-6 feet, species dependant
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Plant Zone: 4-10
Allium is a flower we mentioned for September perennial planting, and this underrated flower can still be planted in October. Their beautiful blooms are a staple in many spring gardens. Many people are familiar with the large ‘Globemaster’ variety, but there are so many different varieties that are worth giving a try.
A great option is the ‘drumstick’ allium. Its flowers are a deeper reddish purple, and are smaller over all. Another cool species is ‘Schubertii’ which looks like a sea anemone. Give them a try. They make a massive statement, and are critter resistant.
Allium also spreads quite well, making it a budget-friendly perennial for those that want to stretch their budget.
Astilbe
Scientific Name: Astilbe spp.
- Plant Size: 1-2 feet tall
- Sun Exposure: Partial Sun
- Bloom Time: Spring through Summer
- Plant Zone: 3-8
There are not too many floriferous plants that will thrive in the shady spots of your garden. Astilbe is the exception to the rule. Coming in a variety of colors, astilbe blends in well into any garden space. Its leaves are fern like, while the spiked flowers poke up above them.
Some of the flowers are a bit tighter, while others are looser and more wild looking. Scatter astilbe amongst hostas for pops of color, or use them as a border along a walkway. Astilbe is a low-maintenance perennial that will need minimal care through the spring once established.
Autumn Fern
Scientific Name: Dryopteris erythrosora
- Plant Size: 2 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full to partial shade
- Bloom Time: N/A
- Plant Zone: 5-9
If you are looking for something to add depth to your garden, I would highly suggest adding ferns into the landscape. These sturdy and hardy ferns do not spread as rapidly or aggressively as some ferns do.
Their height means they could be used in a beautiful shade garden to provide a medium height backdrop to low growing perennials or annuals, or it could be planted in a woodland edge.
When the fronds appear in the spring they are a copper color, hence the nickname autumn fern. As they age they take on a traditional deep green that ferns typically wear.
Coral Bells
Scientific Name: Heuchera spp.
- Plant Size: 1-2 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Plant Zone: 4-9
Another favorite perennial of mine is Heuchera, or coral bells. This is a very versatile perennial. You can add any number of different Heuchera varieties into your containers, use it as a border in the front of your perennial gardens, or tuck it into gaps in between your perennials.
However you decide to plant coral bells you will be very pleased. The foliage of coral bells ranges from green, to red, and deep purple with many variations in between. I recently planted ‘Green Spice’ in a partial shade garden, and it has grown tremendously and I love how the red veining adds depth to my space.
Crocus
Scientific Name: Crocus spp.
- Plant Size: 6 inches tall
- Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
- Bloom Time: Late Winter- Early Spring, Fall
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Crocus flowers are often the first sign of spring in a garden, and infamously peak out through the last of the snow to put on their show. Crocus bulbs come in shades of purple, blue, white and yellow.
You can purchase a mixture of all the colors or individual colors on their own. There are also autumn blooming crocuses. Plant these bulbs according to package directions, as there are different size crocuses available, such as the giant crocus.
Plant crocus bulbs in the ground when you plant the rest of your spring bulbs, when the soil has cooled a bit but has not frozen.
Daffodil
Scientific Name: Narcissus spp.
- Plant Size: 6-30 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full sun- partial sun
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Plant Zone: 4-8
Daffodils are a classic spring blooming perennial. These bulbs have been hybridized to create some of the most beautiful flowers out there. You can find daffodils in the classic shades of yellow and white, but also peach.
All of these can be found in combination with other colors, or as double flowers. Planting a big swath of daffodil bulbs is an easy and sure fire way to have a happy spring garden. Plant your daffodil bulbs six inches down and happily wait for their arrival in the springtime.
Forsythia
Scientific Name: Forsythia spp.
- Plant Size: 2-10 feet tall, species dependant
- Sun Exposure: Full sun – partial sun
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Plant Zone: 5-8
Forsythia is an easy to grow flowering shrub that is tough and tolerant of many growing conditions. Plant forsythia shrubs in the fall and water them until the ground freezes. The result will be long arching branches of bright yellow flowers.
Once the flowers have passed the shrub will stay jam packed with leaves, making it a great option for a privacy screen. As the mature size of these shrubs varies differently be sure to check the plant tag to ensure you have enough room for the plant.
Leave them with their whimsically wild habit, or prune into a neater shape if that suits your garden better.
Foxtail Lily
Scientific Name: Eremurus robustus
- Plant Size: 3-6 feet tall
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring or Early Summer
- Plant Zone: 5-8
These tall flowers are easy to grow, and add whimsy to your garden. Foxtail lily, also known as eremurus, produces flowers that are similar to liatris but much taller. The flowers are typically orange or yellow, but there are a few pink varieties out there.
Plant these bulbs in the fall and wait for the show to start in the spring. There is nothing special about the foliage, and it fades before the flowers do so plant foxtail lilies in the back of a garden amongst other flowering perennials and shrubs. Be sure to allow them plenty of space, and do not cluster them too closely together.
Hydrangea
Scientific Name: Hydrangea spp.
- Plant Size: 2-15 feet tall, variety dependant
- Sun Exposure: Partial to Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Plant Zone: 3-7
Fall is a wonderful time to get some hydrangeas in the ground. The number one thing you need to keep in mind here is making sure you plant them early enough. You want to ensure that they can be well watered enough to make it happily through the winter.
There are six main types of hydrangeas, most of which love partial sun but panicle hydrangeas love full sun. Plant your choice of hydrangea as a border, a hedge, in containers, or as a specimen throughout your gardens.
Muscari
Scientific Name: Muscari armeniacum
- Plant Size: 6-9 inches tall
- Sun Exposure: Full sun- Partial shade
- Bloom Time: Early spring
- Plant Zone: 4-8
Also known as grape hyacinth, this is a very cute spring bulb that you need to grow in your garden. The small clusters of flowers resemble a bunch of grapes, hence the nickname. You can find muscari in white and shades of blue and purple.
When you plant these bulbs you will want to plant them three inches apart from each other, and three inches down. Easy enough to remember, right? Plant this bulb with other spring bulbs, or along the front border of a perennial garden for a charming spring border.
Oriental Lily
Scientific Name: Lilium orientalis
- Plant Size: 1-4 feet
- Sun Exposure:
- Bloom Time: Full Sun
- Plant Zone: 4-9
Oriental lilies are well known for their ‘stargazer’ variety which is highly fragrant with white petals and bright pink medial brush strokes. There are dwarf oriental varieties available that max out at one foot and are best used as a border.
The real show stoppers however will reach up to 4 feet in height. Plant your oriental lily bulbs one foot down, and aim for 3 or 4 bulbs per square foot. You will want to plant these lilies in clumps to get the most dramatic effect.
Peony
Scientific Name: Paeonia lactiflora
- Plant Size: 2-3 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun- Partial Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring- Early Summer
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Who doesn’t love a peony blossom? This is a great time to plant any type of peony and get them established before the ground freezes. Available in just about every color, most famous for its pinks, peonies have large and fragrant blossoms.
The blossoms can get quite heavy so you will want to have a plant ring on hand to help preserve your flowers. Plant your peonies in a perennial garden, or in a cutting garden.
Tulip
Scientific Name: Tulipa spp.
- Plant Size: 9-24 inches tall, depending on variety
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Another well loved spring flower that is best planted in fall is the tulip. Tulip bulbs are typically perennials, however some varieties are stronger and more dependable returners than others. Do a little research before purchasing your bulbs.
I would need an entire article to properly delve into the vast variety of tulips. They come in so many colors and combinations of colors. Tulips can also be single or double flowers, with different shaped petals as well. There is a tulip for every type of garden, all you need is full sun!
Veronica
Scientific Name: Veronica spicata
- Plant Size: 1-3 feet tall, variety dependant
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Plant Zone: 3-8
This is a beautiful perennial in your gardens this fall to add simple elegance to your summer gardens. Veronica, also known as spiked speedwell, produces spiked clusters of flowers in shades of purple, pink and white.
Deadhead these flowers as they die to continue blooming all summer long. Depending on which variety of veronica you choose, this perennial could be a great choice for a border plant, or a middle of the garden filler.
Wood Anemone
Scientific Name: Anemone nemorosa
- Plant Size: 4-6 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full to partial shade
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Plant Zone: 4-9
If you love anemones, you should absolutely add wood anemones to your woodland gardens. These tiny little plants add a big splash of bright white to the shady areas of your yard in the springtime.
A great characteristic of the wood anemone is that they naturalize. This means that not only will the original bulbs come back every year, but every year they also produce new bulbs and hence produce more new plants. This is great for a large area.
Final Thoughts
Enjoy the cooler temperatures of October in your garden. While you are cleaning up leaves and starting to cut back your perennials don’t forget to add some more plants to your beds. Any of the perennials I have mentioned here would be well worth the effort. There are many other perennials that you can plant in October as well, be sure to go with your gut and add what you love into your gardens.
