7 Perennials for Fall Planting to Add Blooms & Interest
September is the best time for fall planting in western PA for perennials. The soil is still warm, the air has cooled off, and roots keep growing until the ground freezes. Plant now and perennials come back bigger next spring than anything you put in the ground in May.
3 Things to Consider Before a Fall Planting
So much of fall planting is about having a plan. But after you get a few important questions out of the way, it’s really fun! You can experiment, add layers, move and remove things, and edit over time. And fall is one of the best times to do it all. Three things to consider when you are selecting perennials to plant in the fall:
- How much light and moisture does this area receive? Choose the right plant for the right place so nature is on your side.
- What is the mature size of a plant? Choose perennials to plant in the fall that will fit when they’re fully grown, without having to divide it every year.
- How does a new plant change what’s around it? You want your plants to complement each other and the style and color of your home. Make sure your fall planting doesn’t negatively affect the natural light or moisture another plant receives.
WHY WE PLANT IN THE FALL
Cooler temperatures, natural rainfall, and ongoing root growth make fall planting easier on you and healthier for your plants. And with plenty of beautiful perennials to plant in the fall, it’s a great time to fill gaps in your garden, refresh your landscape, and get a head start on next year’s growing season.
7 Perennials to Plant in Fall
Amsonia
Turns solid gold in fall and holds that color for weeks.
Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun for strongest yellow fall color
Aster
Blooms when almost nothing else does, right as monarchs move through.
Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun for best flowering and sturdy growth
Plumbago
Flowers cobalt blue while its foliage turns bronze-red, both at once.
Sun/Shade Requirements: full sun to part shade.
Turtlehead
Handles the damp shady spot where many perennials struggle.
Sun/Shade Requirements: Part shade to part sun.
Anemone
Sends up tall pink or white flowers well into October.
Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun to part shade.
Coneflower
Keeps its seed heads standing all winter, and the goldfinches find them.
Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun for strong stems, seedheads & winter structure.
Panicum ‘Shenandoah’
Turns red by fall and holds its shape through snow.
Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun helps ensure red foliage and upright seedheads.
More perennials for fall
Looking for more ideas? In this video, Melanie Bedner shows us some of the perennials listed above along with even more ideas for fall blooms and interest. Be sure to add some of these to ensure continuous bloom in the landscape.
For a fall planting, you can order perennials, shrubs and trees online for store pickup or local delivery:
Melanie has been with the family garden center business since 1999, gaining hands-on experience in nearly every aspect–from cashiering and greenhouse production to bookkeeping, perennial buying, marketing, and store management. Now serving as Finance and Marketing Director, she combines her expertise with a passion for growing the business. She and her husband, Russ, have loved seeing how plants, gardening, and beautiful landscapes bring joy to our community.
