Sometimes even the most avid gardener may start to taper off a bit in the fall with the expectation that their garden has peaked for the season. That doesn’t have to be true, though! Keeping your garden looking incredible up until winter sets in for Upstate NY is all about knowing what flowers to plant in fall.
To help keep your landscaping filled with colorful blooms right up to the end of the growing year, we’re giving you our list of the best flowers to plant in fall. Read on, and brighten up those autumn days!
Best Flowers to Plant in Fall
After a long spring and summer, you may be resigned that fall brings a muted, dull feeling to your landscaping. The fact is, however, there are plenty of flowers to plant in fall that will bloom late into the season and keep up that curb appeal and beautiful backyard flower garden right up to the end. As you learn what flowers to plant in the fall, you’ll also come to see that many of them are relatively low-maintenance outdoor plants that keep your garden beautiful without a ton of upkeep.
Some of our favorite flowers to plant in fall are:
- Aster
- Purple coneflower
- Sedums (known as “Autumn Joy”)
- Chrysanthemum
- Marigold
- Gaillardia
Aster
Aster is one of our favorite flowers to plant in fall because it provides beautiful cool-tone colors that stand out against the warm shades of autumn. They’re also hardy in almost every climate, making them relatively low-maintenance and easy to grow in your fall garden! Many species of aster bloom from summer well into the fall, making them ideal for pops of color all season long. Since asters are also perennials, you can plant them now and see them come back next year!
Purple Coneflower
Native to the eastern section of the United States, purple coneflowers (which may actually sprout pink and purple blooms) are ideal considerations when thinking about what flowers to plant in fall. They can grow tall, but their sturdy stalks mean they don’t often require staking to stand upright. In addition to being drop dead gorgeous, purple coneflowers are also perfect for your pollinator garden. These flowers attract bees and butterflies, making them eco-friendly while they add stunning shades of pink and purple to your flower bed.
Sedums
When it comes to what flowers to plant in the fall, sedums have it all! These perennials have thick, green foliage and produce clusters of star-shaped flowers. Available in a wide range of colors from pink, purple, and burgundy to blue, green, and even chartreuse, sedums bloom from midsummer and into the fall and are often called “autumn joy.” They grow in two primary categories: low-growing sedum and upright sedum.
Bonus: Like purple coneflowers, sedums are also great additions to pollinator gardens, meaning these low-maintenance flowers serve multiple purposes.
Chrysanthemum
Next up on our list of the best flowers to plant in fall are chrysanthemums (popularly shortened to “mum”). While fall-planted mums are often considered annuals if their root systems don’t have time to become established, getting them in the ground early enough before the first Upstate NY frosts hit may give them enough time to settle in and come back the next year.
Chrysanthemums are some of the most versatile garden flowers, coming in tons of different colors and sizes. They do best in well-drained, evenly moist soil to avoid root rot from excess moisture, but are otherwise easy to care for a low-maintenance.
Marigold
Marigolds have made lists of favorite flowers to plant in fall for generations! They give your fall garden a steady pop of color, blooming well into the autumn season. To make them even better, they’re so low-maintenance that most pests and animals leave them alone plus they can even survive a light frost! Marigolds come in a range of growth sizes from about 6 inches to 18 inches tall. Be sure to check what kind you’re getting before you plant them to make sure you get the look you’re going for.
Gaillardia
Rounding out our list of what flowers to plant in fall is the absolutely stunning gaillardia. Also known as blanket flower, these beautiful flowers to plant in fall provide rich pops of color for your garden and look similar to daisies. There are tons of hybrid species of gaillardia, meaning you’ll likely find a type to thrive in your region regardless of where you live. Known for being long bloomers, these flowers work equally well in gardens and containers.
Just because spring and summer are over, that doesn’t mean your garden has to fizzle out. Determining what flowers to plant in fall can give your autumn garden a fresh pop of color into the later months. Our team of experts provides the best professional landscaping services in Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, and the entire Capital Region. Let’s give your garden that last boost before winter and keep your home the envy of the neighborhood!
Not ready for a fall project? It’s never too early to start planning your next landscaping project. Check out the NVS Project Planner to get started and be ready for your next landscape design when spring comes back around.
