It's Not Too Late To Plant These 11 Beautiful Perennials

If you’re afraid you’ve missed the boat on planting for the year just because the dog days of summer have set in, don’t worry. There are perennial flowers and herbs that will actually thrive with a late summer planting schedule. From blooms that will give your garden color throughout the fall to bulbs that do best when they’re in the ground for months before their spring season to herbs that will stay evergreen year-round, you have your pick of August-friendly perennials.

Meet the Expert

“Having such a large garden, I need it to look full and luscious through the fall season,” says Reem Arbid, co-founder of the Blue Door Kitchen & Inn, where she maintains a large herb, vegetable, and flower garden. “I plant an assortment of flowers like asters, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and mums in lots of colors.”

Here’s what you need to know about planting these fall-friendly perennials, even in the heat of August.

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Credit: Getty Images / Billy_Fam

Botanical Name: Echinacea ‘Noam Saul’

Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade

Soil Type: Well-drained, clay, high organic matter, loamy, sandy

Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0)

One of Arbid’s top recommendations for August planting is coneflower, which is native to North America. This pollinator-friendly perennial will bloom into fall, particularly if temperatures stay warm. You can plant it in August and still get months of blooms, while also looking forward to its return in the spring.

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Credit: Getty Images / LITTLE DINOSAUR

Botanical Name: Iris spp.

Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade

Soil Type: Organically rich, well-drained but moist

Soil pH: Slightly acidic (5.5-6.5)

Irises add color and height to a spring and early summer garden bed, but the best time to plant them is actually in August. You can either plant the bulbs in late summer or use that time to divide existing plants. This timeline gives them a chance to settle into their new home before the weather turns, and they’ll be ready to pop back up in the spring.

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Asters Credit: Getty Images / Alex Manders

Credit: Getty Images / Alex Manders

Botanical Name: Symphyotrichum spp.

Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade

Soil Type: Moist, well-drained

Soil pH: Acidic (6.0-8.0)

If you want to add delicate color to your fall garden, plant asters in August. Pick up these vibrant flowers from the nursery at a stage when they’re about to bloom, then make sure they have plenty of water, plus a little bit of shade, throughout the height of August heat. You’ll enjoy flowering throughout the fall, then you’ll see them again next spring.

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Credit: Getty Images / Alex Manders

Botanical Name: Anemone hybrids

Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full shade

Soil Type: Rich, moist, well-draining

Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0)

Japanese anemone are a cherry blossom-esque perennial that thrives in partial shade. These cheerful blooms will cover your garden with tall stems and five petaled flowers from late summer through fall. Planting Japanese anemone in August also gives them ample time to establish themselves ahead of their second year.

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Credit: Getty Images / Melissa Ross

Botanical Name: Heuchera spp.

Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade

Soil Type: Moist, rich, well-drained

Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0)

As long as you give them plenty of water and a spot with partial shade, coral bells are a vivid choice for planting in August. They prefer cooler weather, so plant towards the end of the month, and you’ll have color just in time for autumn, while also getting ahead start on next spring’s garden.

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Credit: Getty Images / Stacy Pochtar / 500px

Botanical Name: Hemerocallis spp.

Soil Type: Rich, well-drained

Soil pH: Acidic to neutral (6.5-7.0)

Daylilies are grown from tubers, and they’re one of the most easygoing flowers you can plant. They can tolerate heat, sun, and whatever else the summer throws at them. While you probably won’t get blooms in the first season from daylilies planted in August, you’ll give them a chance to get established before putting on their first big floral show the next spring.

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Credit: Getty Images / Netrebina Elena

Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum spp.

Soil Type: Moist, well-drained

Soil pH: Neutral to acidic (5.8-6.8)

There are few garden sights that say autumn more than a vibrant mound of mums. In warm hues of orange, red, yellow, and magenta, these delicate flowers will bloom from late August through Thanksgiving. Make sure you plant hardy perennial mums so you’ll see these colorful flowers come back year-after-year.

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Credit: Getty Images / ZenShui/Laurence Mouton

Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis

Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade

Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic (6.5-7.0)

Not only does sage tolerate the heat and sun of summer, it’s also a hardy herb which will stay evergreen throughout the winter. By planting sage in August, you’ll give it a chance to establish itself in the garden before the coldest winter temperatures set in.

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Black-Eyed Susan Credit: Getty Images / dolah

Credit: Getty Images / dolah

Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta, R. fulgida

Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Type: Average fertility, well-drained

Soil pH: Acidic (5.5-6.5)

Just when you think the brilliant colors of summer are gone for the year, it’s time to plant black-eyed Susans for some late season color. These classic yellow flowers bloom from late summer into fall, and, even when the days are hot and the sun is strong, they’ll still put on a colorful show. Plus, they’ll re-seed and come back the next year.

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Lemon Balm Credit: Getty Images / wulingyun

Credit: Getty Images / wulingyun

Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis

Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade

Soil Type: Well-draining

Soil pH: Acidic to neutral (5.0-7.5)

Lemon balm is a fragrant perennial herb that adds a fresh flavor to tea, and, if you plant lemon balm in August, you should be able to get a harvest before the first freeze. With its roots established from the fall growing season, your garden will be set up for the lemon balm to return in spring.

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Salvia Credit: Getty Images / Caroline Gauvin

Credit: Getty Images / Caroline Gauvin

Botanical Name: Salvia spp.

Soil Type: Well-drained, organically rich

Soil pH: Slightly acidic (5.5-6.5)

Salvia can fill your garden with purple blooms throughout the fall, giving pollinators a place to feed long after other blooms have disappeared. By planting salvia in August, you’re giving this purple perennial an opportunity to establish its roots and put itself in the best position to come back strong the next year.

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