Our Favorite 19 Perennials That Show Off In Fall

Fall is a season of transition, but it’s also one brimming with color and detail as cooling temperatures give way to a flush of flowers, plumes, and seeds. Showy perennials with extended flowering offer vibrancy and energy as they buzz with pollinators.

So often, these top performers complement each other in the arrangement. Whether in jewel tones of deep reds and purples to bright golds and pinks, contrasts in flowers and foliage heighten visual appeal. Coordinate blooming perennials with unique foliage specimens for high contrast.

Aster

	common name Aster
	botanical name Symphyotrichum spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-6’
	hardiness zones 3-8

We must begin with fall’s number one flower: the aster. Native to North America, these stars of autumn have deep blue-purple ray flowers with contrasting yellow centers that draw pollinators. Their late-season blooms bring an infusion of color.

‘Pink Crush’ is a New England variety (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) that brings a less wild look with well-formed branching and blooms. Rose pink ray petals are darker toward the center around gold florets. The large, crowded blossoms cover the dark green leaves early to mid-fall. Stems reach up to two feet tall with a well-rounded habit.

‘Snow Flurry’ (S. ericoides) is a heath aster that forms an attractive mounding groundcover. The low form reaches only eight inches high but spreads four feet wide. A blanket of petite white flowers obscures foliage in September and October. These are disease-resistant and tolerate dry conditions.

Asters prefer moist, organically rich soils, while some species tolerate lesser soils and dry situations. To prevent foliar diseases, allow good drainage and plenty of air circulation.

Solidago

	common name Solidago
	botanical name Solidago spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-5’
	hardiness zones 2-8

Solidago, or goldenrod, is a glorious partner to aster. They feature spires of golden yellow throughout the warm season. Most solidago are native to North America and notorious for their ability to spread readily. To keep them in bounds, opt for a well-behaved variety.

Non-spreaders include ‘Fireworks’ and ‘Baby Sun.’ These showy dwarf goldenrods are stout and ornamental with prolific arching spires. Other species should be planted in areas where their spread isn’t a problem.

To prolong flowering, deadhead spent blooms, leaving some to produce seeds for the birds to enjoy. Solidago’s easy growth is partly due to its tolerance of poor soils, high heat, and humidity.

Black-Eyed Susan

	common name Black-eyed Susan
	botanical name Rudbeckia fulgida
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 18-36”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Black-eyed Susan blooms continually through frost with golden ray flowers with chocolate button centers. Its bright yellow faces are cheerful in a group.

The long-blooming perennial is native to parts of the South, Central, and Western United States. It grows naturally in meadows and prairies and adapts to various conditions, including heat, humidity, and drought.

‘American Gold Rush’ is a compact variety with bright gold blossoms that crowd two-foot stems. Its smaller foliage is hairy and resists leaf spot.

Rudbeckia is easy-care; it doesn’t even require cutting back at dormancy, as its hollow stems suit pollinator overwintering. Persisting seeds provide food for foraging birds.

Mexican Bush Sage

	common name Mexican Bush Sage
	botanical name Salvia leucantha
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Mexican bush sage is a showy perennial with velvety purple and white bicolor blooms that begin in late summer and extend into fall. The vibrant, tubular flowers are numerous on long spikes and attract hummingbirds and bees. Textured foliage is silvery gray and aromatic.

Salvia leucantha blooms profusely on slightly arching stems. Cultivars include ‘Danielle’s Dream’ in lilac pink and white and ‘Santa Barbara’ with an attractive, compact habit. ‘Midnight’ boasts saturated royal purple spikes.

Mexican bush sage thrives in hot, dry conditions. It’s a waterwise choice with low maintenance requirements. Provide well-draining soil and allow them to dry slightly between waterings.

Switchgrass

	common name Switchgrass
	botanical name Panicum virgatum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-7’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Switchgrass and other ornamental grasses add graceful movement and texture, even in the quiet winter landscape. Keep them intact until early spring to enjoy the dried plumes and blades. The seedheads provide food for birds and small mammals and leafy shelter opportunities.

This species is native North American prairie grass, and grows across soil types, moisture levels, and light conditions. ‘Northwind’ is highly ornamental and forms an upright column for vertical interest. ‘Cheyenne Sky’ begins blue-green and transitions to wine red in early summer, with plumes to match.

Switchgrass is durable, preferring lean soils to overly rich ones. It grows in wet and dry situations and tolerates occasional flooding. 

Japanese Anemone

	common name Japanese Anemone
	botanical name Eriocapitella hupehensis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 18-30″
	hardiness zones 4-8

Fall-blooming perennial anemones shine with showy buttercup blooms on tall stems. The clump-forming perennials produce airy clusters of petals in pinks, purples, whites, and golds to beautifully complement autumnal tones. The tissuey outer petals (sepals) frame a central cluster of tiny florets.

Eriocapitella hupehensis and hybrida are fall-flowering cultivars with single, semi-double, and double blooms. Dark green, ferny foliage supports sprays of wanding buds.

‘Honorine Jobert’ is an old garden hybrid from France and a favorite since 1858. Broad, bright white petals surround golden stamens with a chartreuse eye. The buds hold pink brushes before opening to semi-double blossoms with slightly ruffled petals. ‘Honorine’ flowers for up to two months.

It’s no wonder this showy fall variety is a Perennial Plant Association Perennial of the Year and Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit recipient, 

‘September Charm’ is another RHS winner with the most delicate shade of silvery pink two-to-three-inch blossoms. Each flower holds six to nine petals with darker pink reverses. Buds are dark rose and open to reveal the blushing interior.

Agastache

	common name Agastache
	botanical name Agastache foeniculum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Anise hyssop is an old garden favorite with purple-blue tubular blooms lining upright stems. Blooming profusely until frost, they’re a rich nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Gray-green leaves are herby and aromatic. 

Agastache ‘Queen Nectarine’ is part of the Meant to BeeⓇ collection, selected for improved performance with taller plants, denser blooming, and increased hardiness. With ‘Queen Nectarine,’ peach blooms cover most of the full, leafy foliage. Mauve calyxes persist for lengthy color.

This rugged perennial thrives in various soil types with good drainage. Deadhead spent blooms to enjoy late-season flowering.

Hardy Cyclamen

	common name Hardy Cyclamen
	botanical name Cyclamen hederifolium
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 4-6”
	hardiness zones 5-9

C. hederifolium (hardy or ivy-leaved cyclamen) is a reliable fall-bloomer and underutilized perennial with showy blooms. Hardy cyclamen yields delicate autumnal flowers in white, pink, and purple. Forest green, ivy-shaped foliage has intricate silver patterning. The species boasts Award of Garden Merit status.

‘Album’ is another award-winning selection with pure white nodding blooms and blousy, upright petals. These brighten the woodland floor with a classic look against their silvery heart-shaped leaves.

Hardy species spread through tubers and reseed to form colonies, but not aggressively. They tolerate dry shade, a situation other plants may find challenging.

Coreopsis

	common name Coreopsis
	botanical name Coreopsis spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Depending on the variety, coreopsis is one of the last flowers to fade at the season’s end. It sweeps the summer landscape in sunny yellow drifts and is a favorite nectar and pollen source for beneficial insects. Songbirds forage on the lasting seeds.

Lance-leaved coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) has signature golden ray petals and yellow centers. C. lanceolata is drought-tolerant. It forms a pincushion to support the blooms that rise on slender stems.

Plains coreopsis (C. tinctoria) features yellow daisy petals with deep red highlights and brown button central discs. Though considered an annual, a single plant may last two to three years.

Look for C. palustris ‘Summer Sunshine’ for a consistent, long-blooming performance. ‘Summer Sunshine’ topped Mt. Cuba Center trials among the genus for reliability, exceptional flowering, and disease resistance.

Sedum

	common name Sedum
	botanical name Sedum spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3”-2’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Sedum, or stonecrop, exudes autumnal interest from top to bottom. Late flowers bring color shifts as they mature among unique foliage. They provide food for bees, butterflies, and birds. 

The favorite Hylotelophium ‘Autumn Joy’ has large clusters of tiny, starry flower heads. They emerge as pink and gradually become deep rose-red, fading to copper as they age. Silvery green, padded leaves are attractive from spring through heavy frost.

H. ‘Autumn Fire’ is similar with tighter branching, brighter, rosy pink blooms, and thicker leaves. Stout stems support loads of flat-topped flower clusters in fall.

For dark appeal, look to ‘Midnight Velvet’ with a rounded habit with thick purple leaves. Buds appear in late summer in dusky rose, opening to red blooms. The flowers mature to dark red seedheads that persist into the winter for lasting interest.

Echinacea

	common name Echinacea
	botanical name Echinacea purpurea
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Echinacea is a favorite with cultivars in vibrant purples, pinks, reds, yellows, and oranges. Ray flowers surround a pronounced center of disc florets.

‘Pica Bella’ puts on a good display with a compact, floriferous habit and huge pollinator draw. The blooms resemble the native species in soft purple with prominent orange discs but with improved performance and form. ‘Santa Fe’ in vivid coral shades has a tidy form with vigorous flowering.

Coneflower blooms most intensely in mid-summer. By fall, the fading blooms and dried seed heads bring lasting winter interest. They also support wildlife.

Helenium

	common name Helenium
	botanical name Helenium autumnale
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Helenium is another North American native with daisy-ray petals that twirl around a prominent central disc. The bright yellow inflorescences appear until cold weather arrives. The common name sneezeweed relates to old medicinal uses for colds (and not allergy-inducing fits).

H. autumnale ‘Helena Red Shades’ has crimson petals around a scarlet center. ‘Mardi Gras’ is a parade of oranges, yellows, and reds on compact stems. ‘Butterpat’ has buttery yellow petals around a yellowy-green disc on four-foot stems. The tall, bright grower is an Award of Garden Merit recipient.

Helenium needs a moist site to thrive, with a natural habitat along streambanks, ponds, and wet meadows. They tolerate spells of standing water and poor soils. 

Gaillardia

	common name Gaillardia
	botanical name Gaillardia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Gaillardia, or blanketflower, brightens in gold, orange, red, and bi-color daisy rays around brown button centers. The North American wildflower is drought and heat-tolerant and grows in poor, sandy soils.

The All-America Selections winner ‘Arizona Sun’  has a compact stature with vibrant gold, orange-red, and scarlet flowers. The dwarf growers reach 8-10 inches tall. Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Arizona Apricot’ produces mellow orange and yellow blooms. ‘Mesa Peach’ has upright blooms with peachy-orange centers that transition to yellow in a muted sunrise glow.

Blanketflower is a stout species that does best in well-drained soils. For best flowering, provide even moisture.

Russian Sage

	common name Russian Sage
	botanical name Salvia yangii
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Russian sage is another showy perennial with silvery stems, gray-green leaves, and sprays of purple-blue flowers that bloom through the fall. The tubular blooms line tall stems in a cloud among the delicate foliage. 

Russian sage is a Perennial Plant Association’s Perennial Plant of the Year winner. It blooms reliably from summer until frost across variable growing zones.

Disease-resistant, compact varieties like ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ and ‘Crazy Blue’ are durable in humid areas. ‘Denim’ is a top performer at Michigan State University trials with consistent vigor. Russian sage performs beautifully in hot and dry conditions.

Joe Pye Weed

	common name Joe Pye Weed
	botanical name Eutrochium purpureum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-7’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Joe Pye weed is an unfussy native with fall, domed pinky-purple clusters that attract beneficial insects. The towering stems lend a naturalized look with coarse, long leaves in deep olive green with purple leaf nodes. Dark seed pods last well into winter.

Dwarf cultivars are easier to fit across garden scales. ‘Little Joe’ and ‘Baby Joe’ reach two to four feet tall with dense stems and blooms for a natural but less wild habit.

Joe Pye grows in different soil conditions, including clay. They do best in rich, moist, well-drained situations. 

Chrysanthemum

	common name Chrysanthemum
	botanical name Chrysanthemum spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Hardy chrysanthemums produce big color and complete bloom coverage as daylength shortens and temperatures cool. Scarlet, gold, orange, pink, or purple flowers cover dark green, lobed leaves. Heirloom varieties bring diversity among the standard mums we see in fall.

Favorites include ‘Ryan’s Pink’ with pale pink flowers and a soft habit. ‘Mrs. Robinson’ is a pincushion of deep red. ‘Miss Gloria’s Thanksgiving Day’ has rose pink little daisies. ‘Coppersmith’ with bold, bronzy-orange cushions is ideal for fresh floral arrangements.

Mums are easy-care in ample sunshine and moist soils with good drainage. Leave their crowns intact for winter protection in cold climates.

Hardy Hibiscus

	common name Hardy Hibiscus
	botanical name Hibiscus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Hardy hibiscus, or Hibiscus ‘Holy Grail,’ has a tropical look with huge disc flowers. Hybrids stem from North American mallows (including H. moscheutos, H. laevis, and H. coccineus), bred for improved landscape durability and hardiness. The distinctive discs emerge mid-summer and range from pale pink to deep scarlet. 

Hibiscus ‘Holy Grail’ has nearly black foliage and crimson flowers. The massive blooms reach eight to nine inches across. For bold drama, this hibiscus shines. ‘Ballet Slippers’ softens the look with ruffly white blooms tinged with blush pink edges. Centers are deep red. Bright green leaves provide a lovely backdrop to the large discs.

Provide consistent, even moisture, as these don’t adapt to prolonged dry spells. Leave rose mallow standing in winter for interest with upright branching and perches for wildlife.

Swamp Sunflower

	common name Swamp Sunflower
	botanical name Helianthus angustifolius
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-8’
	hardiness zones 5-10

Swamp sunflower is a perennial species with tall, branching stems that hold clusters of showy yellow ray flowers in the fall. They bring a naturalized, wildflower look to the back of the border in sprays of autumnal gold.

Cultivars in varying heights and habits make perennial sunflowers versatile in the landscape. ‘First Light’ grows three to four feet tall with good branching and a dense form to support bundles of sunny blooms.

Swamp sunflowers prefer moist soils and tolerate occasionally wet situations. They take high heat and humidity in stride. Specialized bees and the silvery checkerspot butterfly use these as hosts.

Muhly Grass

	common name Muhly Grass
	botanical name Muhlenbergia capillaris
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Muhly is a native perennial grass with showy plumes that surprise in fall. They create a pinky-red haze around fine-bladed foliage. Wiry leaves in deep green sit quietly until the panicle explosion.

‘White Cloud’ brings an open habit with dense white plumes. These bloom after pink muhly (the straight species).

Muhly is heat, humidity, drought, and salt-tolerant. It grows in poor soils, including clay, rocky, and sandy.