There’s nothing wrong with planting perennials in spring when cabin fever gets the best of us and we’re itching to get out into the garden. But, there are just as many good reasons to plant spring-blooming perennials in fall when the sun is less intense and the soil is still warm from summer heat.
Spring is crazy busy for gardeners, with a million things that need to be done. Planting perennials in fall gives you time to stand back and reflect as you plan ahead for the coming season.
Here are 6 easy spring blooming perennials to plant in fall.
1. Dianthus
Familiarly known as pinks, dianthus produces a diverse abundance of flowers and sizes, depending on the variety. Many types sport bluish-green foliage and others reward you with their spicy-sweet aroma. Zones 3-9
2. Hellebore
Hellebore, a long-lived plant also known as Christmas rose or Lenten rose, makes an appearance in late winter or early spring. Available in a virtual rainbow of colors, hellebore thrives in a shady garden. Zones 6-9
3. Bergenia
Often grown as a groundcover, bergenia provides clusters of rich magenta blooms beginning in early spring and continuing throughout most of the season. In cool climate gardens, the glossy green leaves frequently turn bronze or red in autumn. Zones 3-9
4. Dicentra
Also known as bleeding heart, shade-loving dicentra is guaranteed to delight you with plenty of dainty, dangling, heart-shaped blooms every spring. Zones 3-9
5. Candytuft
Candytuft is a low-growing perennial often planted along borders or in rock gardens. Although candytuft blooms primarily in spring, mounds of tiny white flowers may show up again in autumn. Zones 4-9
6. Gaillardia
Gaillardia, or blanket flower, lights up the spring landscape with daisy-like blooms in rich shades of yellow, red and bronze. Gaillardia is a relatively short-lived perennial, but usually self-seeds. Zones 3-10
Tips on Planting Perennials in Fall:
- Don’t scrimp when shopping for perennials. Larger plants with healthy roots have a better chance of long-term success.
- Pay attention to the growing season in your area. Plant perennials about six weeks before the first expected frost.
- Water well after planting to support healthy new roots.
- Don’t fertilize newly-planted perennials until spring. The tender new growth is likely to get nipped when temperatures drop below the freezing mark.
- Spread a layer of mulch around the base of newly planted perennials, especially if you live in a northern climate. Mulch will protect the roots from repeated freezes and thaws.
- Wait until spring to plant fall-blooming perennials such as asters and chrysanthemums.
