15 Beautiful Fall Blooming Perennials

Chrysanthemums, or mums as they’re often called, are the quintessential fall flowering plant so I thought I’d start my list with them.

With their vibrant blooms in shades of pink, yellow, and white, they bring a burst of color to your garden just when most other plants are winding down.

Mums are not only eye-catching but also fairly easy to care for—just ensure they get enough water and plenty of sunlight.

If you’re near a Costco, you can snag a large pot of these beauties for a great price, adding a bold statement to your fall landscape without breaking the bank.

I even used them in containers for my fall home tour a while back, and to my delight, they came back in the pots for several years.

Whether you’re looking to brighten up your garden or create stunning cut flower arrangements, chrysanthemums are a fantastic addition to your fall gardening lineup.

Sedums are succulents that have thick fleshy leaves and star shaped flowers in clusters that bloom from late summer to fall.

These perennials are tough cookies, resisting deer, rabbits, and even heat. They thrive in dry, poor soil and actually prefer not to be watered too much, so they’re perfect for rock gardens or sandy spots.

Depending on the variety, Sedums can be grown as ground covers, on the edges of rock gardens or as a middle of the border plant.

The ‘Autumn Joy’ variety is especially charming, with flowers that shift from pink to bronze as the weather cools. It’s one of the last blooms before winter, providing essential nectar for pollinators.

Another drought resistant plant on my list of fall blooming perennials is Salvia greggii.

This Salvia variety is a native plant from Texas with evergreen leaves and is another easy-to-grow perennial that requires very little maintenance.

It grows on a woody plant that starts blooming in the early summer and continues to flower all the way into the fall.

The bright pink or red flowers are definitely a show stopper! As well as being a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds.

And if you’re worried about deer or heat, no need—Autumn Sage stands up to both.

To me, Toad Lilies look like they belong on an exotic island somewhere with their brilliant purple and blue flowers that appear in the fall.

Fortunately, they are actually quite hardy, and are one of the few autumn blooming perennials that does well in the shade.

They can be a little tricky to get started (it took me 3 tries to get one to come back the next year), but they are so pretty that I think they’re worth the effort.

Keep them happy with regular water and fertilizer.

Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a real gem for any garden, especially if you’re looking for something that blooms from early summer all the way into fall.

It has really pretty purple-blue flowers on stalks that are so dense, they almost look like little bushes of blue.

Which makes it perfect for those sunny spots in your garden where you need a pop of color and a bit of texture.

Plus it’s super low maintenance.

No need for fertilizing, deadheading, or dividing—just plant it and let it do its thing. If you want to keep it a bit shorter, you can give it a trim in the spring, but that’s totally optional.

And to top it off, its deer and rabbit-resistant.

Just like the spring crocus, the autumn crocus is a perennial bulb that produces 6″ tall flowers, making it perfect for adding a touch of color to the front of your garden beds or borders.

As an added bonus, the Saffron Crocus is actually the source of the Saffron spice.

Although I haven’t tried, they say you can harvest your own Saffron by picking the red stamens from the flower when it is fully opened. (I always think they look to pretty to pick).

Plant them in late summer to have blooms the same year in the fall.

Japanese Anemone is another fall-flowering perennial that is very easy to grow and puts on a big show.

With its delicate pink or white flowers that sway gracefully in the late summer breeze until frost, these blooms are a pure joy in the autumn landscape and attract hummingbirds, while being resistant to deer and rabbits.

This perennial thrives in partial shade and can reach heights of 3 to 5 feet, making it a great addition to the back of your garden border.

While I don’t have these in my garden, my mother loves them in hers!

They can be aggressive in some locations, so plant them where they have some room to spread.

Okay, so Pink Muhly grass isn’t technically a flower, but I think it’s pretty enough to be included in the best plants list anyhow.

The first time I saw it in a plant catalog, I thought they must have edited the picture. I didn’t believe that a grass could have plumes that were that pink!

So of course I had to order one just to see. And it really does have pink plumes!

This native ornamental grass is not only beautiful but also super practical.

It’s deer-resistant, heat-tolerant, and can handle dry conditions once it’s settled in.

And unlike some other ornamental grasses, it’s not invasive, so it works wonderfully as a border plant.

Asters are one of the old standby plants that gardeners have been using for fall color for years.

They come in many shapes and sizes so it’s easy to find one that will your location.

And they are a great late-season pollen source for pollinators, including Monarch butterflies.

They do spread by both seeds and rhizomes so you may want to grow them in pots to prevent them from expanding too much.

While Purple Coneflower is usually listed as a summer-blooming plant, I am always able to get a second round of flowers in the fall by chopping the stems off after the first round of blooms is finished.

They are usually looking pretty scraggly at that point anyway, so pruning them makes the garden look better, too.

These beauties come in a rainbow of colors—purple, pink, orange, red, yellow, and white—so there’s definitely a shade to match your garden palette.

They thrive in full sun and can handle heat and drought like champs.

Plus, deer usually steer clear of them, although you might have to watch out for rabbits.

They’re also long-living and can self-seed, which means you might get some bonus plants popping up here and there.

And if you love having fresh flowers in your home, they make excellent cut flowers too.

Black Snakeroot, also known as Cimicifuga or Actaea, is a standout in any fall garden.

This perennial blooms from late summer to fall, showcasing fragrant pink or white flower spires that can reach up to 5 feet tall.

Its lacy foliage, which comes in shades of green and black, adds a dramatic touch to shady garden spots.

Plus, it’s deer-resistant, making it a low-maintenance choice for many gardeners.

However, you should be aware that all parts of the plant are poisonous.

Blazing Star, also known as Kobold Gayfeather, is a real showstopper in the garden with its tall, lilac-rose, spike-shaped flowers.

These blooms, which open from the top down, grace your garden from June all the way through September.

Not only do they add a unique architectural element to your flower beds, but they also make stunning cut flowers for your arrangements.

This plant is incredibly resilient, thriving in heat, humidity, and even drought conditions. And it attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

With its striking purple flowers and ability to draw in pollinators, it’s no wonder Blazing Star made our list of the best fall flowering perennials.

Lilyturf (or Monkey Turf) is a charming perennial that brings a splash of color to your garden in late summer and fall.

With its lavender or white spiked flowers rising above a sea of green or variegated leaves, it adds a lovely contrast to the autumn landscape.

The leaves are evergreen in warmer zones but will die back in the water in colder areas.

This plant is incredibly low maintenance and thrives in part shade, making it a versatile choice for various garden spots.

Lilyturf is perfect for edging and mass planting under trees, creating a lush, green carpet that looks like grass but is actually a member of the lily family.

Just be mindful of the variety you choose: Liriope spicata can spread aggressively via rhizomes, while Liriope muscari has a more clumping habit and is less likely to take over your garden.

To keep it looking neat, simply mow it down to the ground in late winter before new growth starts.

Monkshood has striking purple-blue flowers in the fall that can reach an impressive height of 4 feet.

Its resemblance to delphinium, combined with its love for shade, makes it perfect for the back of shady cottage garden borders.

It is also resistant to both deer and rabbits, thanks to its toxic nature.

However, be cautious if you have pets or kids, as all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.