I know I am at risk of chrysanthemum bashing here, but I’m just so tired of seeing the same suggestions everywhere for flowers that bloom in the fall and winter months.
As a heartfelt caveat, there is always a time and place for a chrysanthemum. My grandfather grew them; I love them for how hardy they are in floral arrangements, and I even like how the foliage smells. But among the plethora of unusual and underrated plants there are many more November flowers to consider planting for blooms late in the year, that will carry through to winter.
I’ve worked in professional floral design for almost a decade, and am heavily influenced by the seasons, so I always notice if I see color in a front yard at this time of year. If I’m not growing it already, I add it to my planting list. So, if you’re looking to add a touch of sophistication and late-fall charm to your own garden, these are the plants you should be looking out for.
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1. Nerines
(Image credit: Getty Images / Alexandra Scotcher)
These electric-pink fall flowering bulbs thrive in sunny, dry spots, and their timing is perfect for adding joy and style to a November garden. Nerines also look incredible when contrasted with bronzy autumn foliage.
Ideal in USDA hardiness zones 7-10, these jewel-pink flowers erupt on bare stems just as most gardens are fading, adding exuberant color that feels refined yet playful.
Plant nerine bulbs, available from Amazon, in late spring in a sunny, sheltered spot. Good drainage is key. These flowers enjoy it when they are tightly packed in a pot and are somewhat congested, so don’t worry about trying to divide clumps.
2. Sasanqua camellias
(Image credit: Nick Kurzenko / Alamy Stock Photo)
Camellia sasanqua start flowering as early as October and go right through into December. Their delicate, often single or semi-double ruffled flowers come in blush pinks, white, and coral tones, and exude charm and romance.
Hardy in zones 6 to 9, they are ideal for Southern gardens, or sheltered spots elsewhere; the glossy evergreen foliage also adds structure and depth of color when little else is blooming.
This ‘red tip’ camellia from Burpee is an ideal choice.
Plant in acidic, well-drained soil in dappled shade. Camellias don’t like being waterlogged, and enjoy a pine needle mulch to maintain acidity in the soil.
This particular variety would work really well as a focal shrub in a city courtyard garden.
3. Salvia ‘hot lips’
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Look around you and you can’t fail to miss the diminutive yet bright white and crimson blooms of salvia ‘hot lips’.
Salvias keep blooming in much of the country until hard frost hits. They simply don’t want to quit!
Their jewel-tone flowers add vibrancy and are also useful magnets for late-season pollinators in zones 7-10. This plant is ideal for bridging the gap between seasons.
They do like to be planted in a predominantly sunny spot, and will thrive even in dry conditions once established.
In colder regions, you can treat as a tender perennial to cut back over winter and they will put on new growth the following spring. To ensure your plant lasts as long as possible into the winter, remember to give it a ‘Chelsea chop’ in midsummer to encourage bushiness and renewed blooms.
You can find salvia hot lips starter plants from Amazon.
4. Kaffir lily
Hesperantha coccinea, also known as the Kaffir lily, is a South African native perennial flower that will bloom right into November in sheltered spots. Its elegant coral and crimson spires light up the dullest days of fall.
Hardy in zones 7 to 10, this flower loves a damp spot, and will work beautifully by water, in a rain garden or in moisture-retentive borders. It will also be absolutely fine in light shade, though prefers sun.
To keep flowers going for as long as possible, deadhead spent blooms continuously into the winter.
5. Fuchsia
(Image credit: Getty Images/Jacky Parker Photography)
In my professional flower grower opinion, fuchsias are the most underrated of all November flowering plants. They are glorious, and flower profusely until the hard frost hits and yet still maintains a subtle quality.
Ideal for hardiness zones 6-9, this hardy species continues flowering into late autumn and early winter.
There are so many different fuchsia varieties. One of my favorites is ‘Anabel’, which produces soft pale pink and white double flowers. I also love the red varieties, and this red and white fuchsia plant from Amazon would never fail to bring brightness and joy in November.
Fuchsias prefer moist, well-drained soil in partial shade or morning sun. They make ideal plants for informal hedging or mixed borders.
It’s usual to also see some rose varieties blooming brightly this month and into the winter. If you’re lucky enough to have some that are still flowering, we recommend doing these three tasks now to care for roses in November, to ensure you get even better and longer lasting flowers next year.
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