Extend the Bloom: Best Late-Season Perennials for September Color

Just because summer is winding down doesn’t mean your garden has to fade. September offers plenty of opportunities to keep your landscape bursting with color and texture. By choosing perennials that thrive in late-season conditions, you’ll enjoy a garden that looks fresh and vibrant well into fall.

Sedum

Sedum, often called “stonecrop,” is a reliable late-season star. With succulent leaves and clusters of pink to deep red flowers, sedum brightens up borders and pollinator gardens. As the blooms mature, they attract bees and butterflies, adding life and movement to your autumn garden.

Asters

These daisy-like flowers bring a burst of purples, pinks, and blues just when other perennials are starting to fade. Asters are pollinator magnets, making them an excellent choice for supporting late-season bees. Plant them in sunny spots and enjoy weeks of cheerful blooms.

Mums (Chrysanthemums)

Mums are a fall classic for good reason. Available in nearly every color imaginable, they’re perfect for adding bold pops of red, orange, yellow, or white. Hardy garden mums return year after year and can be mass-planted for an incredible seasonal display.

Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses provide a different kind of beauty—movement and texture. Varieties like switchgrass, fountain grass, and miscanthus develop striking seed heads in late summer and fall. Their graceful plumes pair beautifully with asters and mums, softening the look of flower beds and providing winter interest.

Pro Tip:

Combine these perennials together for a layered, dynamic look. Sedum’s sturdy blooms, aster’s jewel tones, mums’ vibrant color, and the airy plumes of ornamental grasses create a garden that keeps shining right through September and beyond.