You step into the garden and the air feels different, crisp, earthy, with that quiet promise of change that only fall brings. It’s the season when everything seems to be winding down, but for a gardener, autumn can be the start of something new. Planting perennials now means you’re not just tending your garden for today, you’re laying the groundwork for next year’s beauty.
Fall is a sweet spot for perennials. The soil is still warm, the sun is softer, and roots have time to settle in before winter sets in. It’s less about instant blooms and more about patience, a little effort now for a bigger, fuller garden come spring and summer.
Maybe you’ve been dreaming of a low-maintenance, colorful yard. Maybe you want pollinator-friendly plants, texture that lasts through seasons, or just the joy of watching something you planted flourish year after year. Whatever your vision, fall is the perfect time to make it real.
Ahead, you’ll find 15 Perennials to Grow This Fall , tough, beautiful, and reliable picks that will reward you long after the leaves have fallen. Let’s give next year’s garden a head start.
1. Japanese Anemone: A Fall Garden Classic
Japanese Anemones bring a fresh touch to autumn gardens with their delicate white blooms. These perennials thrive in partial shade and add a soft, airy look to borders and rock gardens. Their long stems sway gently in the breeze, creating movement and interest. Planting Japanese Anemones in fall ensures a beautiful display year after year, even as the leaves turn golden around them.
2. Siberian Iris: Autumn’s Bold Beauty
Siberian Iris stands out in any fall garden with its striking purple petals and graceful foliage. These hardy perennials flourish near ponds or along pathways, adding a splash of color as the season changes. Their slender leaves stay attractive even after the blooms fade. Planting Siberian Iris in autumn sets the stage for vibrant spring and summer displays, year after year.
3. Sedum: Colorful and Resilient for Fall
Sedum brings a burst of color to autumn gardens with its star-shaped blooms and fleshy leaves. Clusters of yellow and purple flowers attract pollinators, while the foliage adds texture all season. These drought-tolerant perennials thrive in sunny spots and need little care. Adding sedum in fall ensures your garden stays lively and bright, even as temperatures start to cool.
4. Russian Sage: Airy Color for Autumn Gardens
Russian Sage lights up fall landscapes with its clouds of lavender-blue flowers. Wispy stems and silvery foliage create a soft, airy look among autumn colors. Bees and butterflies flock to its blooms, bringing life to your garden. This hardy perennial handles dry soil and thrives in sunny spots, making it a smart choice for low-maintenance fall planting.
5. Rudbeckia: Autumn’s Golden Glow
Rudbeckia, often called Black-Eyed Susan, fills fall gardens with warm yellow and orange petals. These cheerful blooms stand tall and attract butterflies, adding movement and color to your landscape. Even as other flowers fade, Rudbeckia keeps shining through the season. Planting them in autumn ensures a bright, welcoming display that returns each year with little effort.
6. Coneflower: Reliable Color for Fall Gardens
Coneflower, also known as Echinacea, brings bold pink petals and sturdy stems to autumn borders. Pollinators love these blooms, and their seed heads add interest even after the flowers fade. With little care, coneflowers return each year, thriving in sunny spots and tough conditions. Adding them in fall ensures your garden stays lively and colorful well into the cooler months.
7. Black-Eyed Susan: Bright Blooms for Autumn
Black-Eyed Susan lights up any fall garden with its sunny yellow petals and dark centers. Clusters of these cheerful flowers attract bees and butterflies, bringing extra life to your landscape. Even in rocky or less fertile soil, this perennial thrives with little fuss. Planting Black-Eyed Susan in autumn guarantees a burst of color that returns each year, brightening up your outdoor space.
8. Hardy Geranium: Effortless Charm for Fall
Hardy Geraniums bring a splash of violet to garden paths and borders as autumn arrives. These low-maintenance perennials bloom for weeks, filling shady corners with color. Their delicate flowers and lush foliage blend well with other fall favorites. Planting Hardy Geraniums in fall rewards you with reliable blooms and easy care, making them a favorite for gardeners who want lasting beauty.
9. Black-Eyed Susan: Sunlit Blooms for Autumn
Black-Eyed Susan fills the garden with golden petals and deep brown centers, glowing in the soft autumn light. These hardy perennials thrive in sunny spots and bring a cheerful touch to any yard. Pollinators flock to their blooms, keeping your garden lively. Planting Black-Eyed Susan in fall ensures a bright, welcoming display that returns each year with little effort.
10. Heuchera: Rich Foliage for Fall Interest
Heuchera, also known as Coral Bells, brings deep purple leaves and bold texture to autumn gardens. These perennials thrive in both sun and shade, making them versatile for any landscape. Their colorful foliage stands out among rocks and along pathways, adding year-round beauty. Planting Heuchera in fall ensures your garden stays vibrant, even as other plants begin to fade.
11. Crocus: Early Blooms for a Cheerful Start
Crocus brings a burst of color to the garden just as winter fades. These small but striking flowers show off purple petals and bright yellow centers, often blooming before the snow is gone. Planting crocus bulbs in fall rewards you with one of the first signs of spring. Their cheerful blooms lift spirits and signal warmer days ahead.
12. Chrysanthemum: Classic Color for Fall Gardens
Chrysanthemums, often called mums, burst with layers of pink and white petals as autumn arrives. These hardy perennials thrive in cooler weather and fill garden beds with rich color. Their blooms last for weeks, brightening up outdoor spaces when most flowers have faded. Planting mums in fall ensures a cheerful display that welcomes the season and brings joy to any garden.
13. Hellebore: Winter Rose for Early Color
Hellebores, often called winter roses, bring deep burgundy blooms to the garden when little else is flowering. Their nodding flowers and glossy leaves add elegance to shady spots. Even in the cold, these perennials keep their color and charm. Planting hellebores in fall rewards you with early blossoms that brighten up late winter and early spring landscapes.
14. Sage: Aromatic Foliage for Fall Gardens
Sage offers more than just flavor for the kitchen. Its soft, silvery-green leaves bring texture and fragrance to autumn borders. This hardy perennial thrives in well-drained soil and sunny spots, making it easy to grow. Even as temperatures drop, sage keeps its color and structure, adding interest to your garden through the cooler months. Planting sage in fall sets the stage for year-round beauty.
15. Balloon Flower: Unique Blooms for Fall Interest
Balloon Flower stands out in autumn gardens with its striking, star-shaped purple blooms. Raindrops glisten on its petals, adding a fresh look after every shower. This perennial opens from balloon-like buds, delighting both kids and adults. Easy to grow and low maintenance, Balloon Flower brings lasting color and charm to borders and containers as the season cools.
