Mkovalevskaya/Getty Images
Savvy gardeners still have flower beds brimming with stunning blooms from the summer well into the fall. From pincushion flowers to dahlias to classic mums, there are plenty of flowers you can enjoy as late as November. Even those in colder regions have a chance to enjoy their blooms late into fall. You just have to know which flowers will last and, in some cases, how to support continued blooming. In mild regions, you can enjoy blooms that last until the first frost in November.
Whether you’re venturing into the end of the growing season or approaching spring, there are plenty of opportunities to plant throughout the year. Each plant will have different requirements. Fall is an excellent time to establish perennial flowers in order to give them a head start in growing a strong root system. If you’re still at least 6 to 8 weeks out from a hard freeze, you can plant bulbs or starters for the following growing season. Spring is a great time to start your flowers too. Some plant seeds and bulbs will require a cold stratification period before they will sprout, so just be aware of that and plan ahead before spring planting.
Kaffir lily
Vovalis/Shutterstock
The kaffir lily (Hesperantha coccinea) is adored for its vibrant, late-season blooms and ability to support improved biodiversity in a garden. It’s considered a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 7 to 9. Gardeners in colder regions can grow these beauties in pots and bring them inside for the winter. It’s also possible to dig up and save the rhizomes for next season. You’ll get to enjoy the kaffir lily’s striking star-shaped blooms from summer into fall. These plants can tolerate high moisture levels and tend to thrive in full sun or light shade. Continue to deadhead spent flowers into late fall for an extended blooming period.
Guernsey Lily
Flower Photos Plus/Shutterstock
Enjoy unique, fragrant blooms from late summer into fall when you plant guernsey lily (Nerine bowdenii) in your garden. Gardeners can keep this plant as a perennial in zones 8 to 10. For most of the summer, the guernsey lily remains in leaf, sprouting out in long, strap-shaped foliage. Towards the end of the season, a single stalk shoots from each bulb and blooms into a cluster of spindly, lily-like flowers in varying shades of pink. Plant in groups for a brilliant November display.
Hardy fuchsia
Jeongho Shin/Getty Images
With bi-colored, pendant blooms and a resilient, cold-tolerant nature, hardy fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica) plants are a lovely addition to any fall garden. This species is prized for its resilient, near bullet-proof nature. These medium-sized shrubs produce unique pink and purple blooms that hang down like tiny umbrellas. Fuchsia flowers need at least 4 hours of light to bloom. Regular fertilizing and deadheading spent blooms can help you enjoy this plant well into November. You can grow them as perennials in zones 5 to 10.
Pincushion flowers
Alex Manders/Shutterstock
Pincushion flowers (Scabiosa spp.) are a genus of colorful, poofy flowers peppered with stamens giving the blooms that hallmark “pincushion” look. This flower is an annual in the United States; however, they tend to efficiently self-seed. They can bloom until first frost which in mild regions means you can enjoy blooms in November. Be sure to add slow-release fertilizer when you plant your pincushions or when they grow to at least 2 to 4 inches tall. You can take advantage of this fertilizer trick to increase pincushion blooms.
Mums
Bmanzurova/Getty Images
Mums (Chrysanthemum spp.) are a beloved fall bloomer practically synonymous with the season. While they’re famously kept as potted annuals, hardy mums also grow perennially in zones 4 to 9. Whether you’re keeping florist mums or hardy mums, these beauties offer a generous spray of color well into November. Get the most out of your fall mums by keeping them in a spot where they can soak up 6 hours of sunshine a day and deadhead them as the flowers start to fade.
Dahlias
Falombini/Getty Images
Dahlias (Dahlia spp.) are a diverse group of flowers in the Asteraceae family. There are an array of bloom shapes and colors to choose from. Some of them flower earlier in the season while others offer a brilliant display well into November. Cultivars like ‘Cafe Au Lait’, ‘Cornel Brons’, and ‘Karma Choc’ all bloom through first frost. For the most impressive blooms, keep your plants in an area where they can receive full sun. While most dahlias are only hardy from zones 7 to 10, it’s fairly easy to lift and store their tubers to replant in the spring.
‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop
vittoria_vittoria/Shutterstock
Bring your late-season garden to life with the ‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop (Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’). This vigorous perennial puts on a show of pink, star-shaped blooms into late fall. They are hardy in zones 3 to 9, making them a reliable, drought-tolerant border plant or addition to a rock garden. If you’re looking for a plant you can neglect a bit, this is an excellent option for you. They are happy in most conditions and don’t really require that much care.
Blue leadwood
goumi/Shutterstock
Blue leadwood (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is a perennial ground cover featuring five-petaled blue flowers that last until the first frost. They grow well in most conditions, taking to full sun and partial shade nicely. You can plant them in just about any type of soil as long as it isn’t boggy and wet. Although it’s not considered invasive, blue leadwood does tend to spread aggressively. Be sure to cover them lightly with mulch in colder regions to help them overwinter successfully.
Purple turtlehead
Hortilens/Shutterstock
For a unique late season bloom, include purple turtlehead (Chelone obliqua) in your garden. It features “turtle head-shaped”, two-lipped flowers in a tight cluster. They belong to the Plantaginaceae family alongside snapdragons and speedwell. Pink turtleheads are considered perennials in zones 5 to 9. They bloom from August to the first frost which is November in mild regions. These flowers are best suited for full sun to partial shade. In nature, these wildflowers grow in boggy areas so they thrive in moist to wet soil rich in organic matter. However, they can also tolerate dry spells.
Celosia
Nach-Noth/Shutterstock
Celosia (Celosia spp.) is another quintessential late-season bloom you should consider keeping in your garden. They’re well-loved for their colorful, wool-like plumes. While they’re often treated as potted annuals, some celosia species can be planted as perennials in zones 10 to 12. Cultivars such as ‘Flamingo Feather’, ‘Intenz Dark Purple’, and ‘Orange Queen Improved’ bloom in fall in warmer regions. It’s vital to provide your celosias with 6 to 8 hours of full sun for them to thrive. If you’re growing your flowers from seed, pinch the center stems once they reach about 8 to 12 inches tall for a fuller plant.
Sweet alyssum
Jiracnik/Shutterstock
If you’re on the hunt for a reliable November-blooming bedding plant, look no further than the sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima). They grow in carpet-like mounds, producing fragrant, delicate flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, and lavender. They make for a great addition to a rock garden, border, even in a hanging basket. These beauties are mostly grown as annuals but they are winter hardy in zones 9 to 11. Luckily, they are fairly low-maintenance offering an easy option for your fall garden. Just keep in mind that they’re considered invasive in California.
Comments are closed.