Some of Our Favorite Fall-Blooming Perennials

'Black Jack' Sedum, like all fall-blooming sedums, is very easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and pest-free. Besides that, it is spectacular with its dark purple (near-black) foliage and stems and huge pink flower heads. Black Jack grows tall, about 24 inches, on strong, upright stems. It is best grown in average to poor, well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. Divide it every three or four years. Leave the flowers on through the winter to provide winter interest as well as food for birds. (Walters Gardens photo)

Sedum spectabile 'Brilliant' is a much more common, better-known sedum. Its foliage is gray-green; it grows about 2 feet tall; and has big clusters of deep rose-pink flowers. Like all the fall sedums, it is very reliable and very easy to grow. (Walters Gardens photo)

Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Joubert' can grow up to 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It's a slow grower, however, so don't expect it to reach its maximum potential quickly. It is adaptable to sun or shade, though part shade is best. Its stems are tall and branching and may need staking. It blooms in August and September.

New England Asters--sometimes called Michaelmas Daisy--come in several colors (white, purple, lavender, pink and red) and sizes. The one shown here is Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome', which grows18 to 24 inches tall. New England Asters (sometimes commonly called "fall asters") bloom from late summer until they're killed by frost. Asters are best in full sun and evenly moist soil. (They will tolerate poor soil and dryness, but they won't bloom as well.) They need good air circulation so they don't get powdery mildew. If you want to keep your asters bushy, pinch them back from late spring till early July. Tall asters may need to be staked.

This is Aster dumosus 'Sapphire.' It grows in a mound, from 12 to 16 inches tall, making it a good candidate for a container, as shown here. The flowers are blue-lavender, with a distinctive yellow center.

Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips' prefers a moist environment. It can be grown in full sun (especially if the soil is constantly moist) or in partial shade with average moisture. The leaves are glossy green with upright red stems. The rosy-pink flowers grow in short spikes. It grows from 36 to 40 inches tall. They don't pop up till late spring and benefit from being pinched back in early summer, which produces bushier plants. (Walters Gardens photo)

Nipponanthemum nipponicum or Chrysanthemum nipponicum, better known as Nippon Daisy or Montauk Daisy, blooms from late summer to frost. It has shiny green leaves and daisy flowers. Treat it as you do a chrysanthemum. Cut it back to one foot in early spring and then keep pinching it back until mid July. This will produce a dense, bushy plant. It grows in full sun and can be as tall as 3 feet.

You've seen Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum) growing wild, but it's another good garden plant for fall interest. It does grow very tall--up to 6 feet--but a shorter version (Little Joe) is also available. It loves full sun and well-drained soil. Butterflies love it. The flowers come in early fall, but the spent blooms last a long time. (Walters Gardens photo)

Don't forget about Ornamental Grasses. Check out this page.