Unusual Perennials for Fall Color

Gardeners in the North don’t always have to worry about there not being enough color in their yard in the fall since they can “borrow” the view from nature as it puts on its amazing foliage show. But not everyone has beautiful trees in their yard, or even nearby, if they live in a new subdivision.

If you’re looking to supplement the natural fall color in your surroundings, there are a number of outstanding perennials that can help you do so. You might be familiar with traditional fall bloomers like asters and sedum, but there are many others to consider too. I’ll show you five of my favorite unusual perennials for fall color – plants with unique colors, forms and foliage that will help your garden shine in September and beyond.

‘Tuscan Sun’ false sunflower (Heliopsis)

Derived from our native false sunflower, Heliopsis helianthoides, ‘Tuscan Sun’ produces an abundance of bright yellow, sunflower-like blooms from midsummer into fall, and deadheading can encourage additional flowers. It’s a favorite of pollinating bees and butterflies. This is a heat and cold tolerant variety with disease resistant foliage, and it grows in zones 3-9

Another unusual false sunflower is ‘Bit of Honey’ which has 3-inch, semi-double, golden yellow flowers and white leaves with green veins. The combination of colors is striking. It is hardy in zones 4-9. Both varieties grow in full sun to part sun and tolerate a range of soil types.

Pyromania^® series of red hot pokers (Kniphofia)

If you are looking for a conversation piece, grow a red hot poker plant. This unusual perennial has grassy foliage and tall, colorful flower stalks that look like torches on fire. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds all love the blooms, but deer and rabbits tend to leave them alone. Most are hardy to zone 5b, and they are both drought and salt tolerant.

The Pyromania^® series of reblooming red hot pokers is particularly stunning and long blooming. They start blooming in early summer and then rebloom throughout the season into fall. Pyromania^® ‘Orange Blaze’ features bright orange flowers and Pyromania^® ‘Solar Flare’ is bright yellow. Can’t decide on a color? Try Pyromania^® ‘Hot and Cold’ which has bicolor tangerine orange and creamy white flowers.

Fall in Love^® ‘Sweetly’ Japanese anemone (Anemone)

Japanese anemones are always a welcome sight in our late summer and fall garden. The brightly colored flowers dance in the breeze on tall stems, and they spread slowly around the garden, offering new surprises each fall. Mass plantings of Japanese anemones are stunning, and the flowers are also great for cutting. Deer and rabbits usually leave them alone, but bumblebees and butterflies love them.

Fall in Love^® ‘Sweetly’ Japanese anemone has beautiful semi-double, rose pink flowers from late summer through early fall. It’s a striking specimen plant in the landscape. Unlike some other cultivars, it doesn’t spread far and its 2-foot tall flower stems don’t flop easily.

‘Sage Advice’ Russian sage (Perovskia)

If you have a sunny, hot, dry bed and are looking for a perennial to spruce it up with fall color, try ‘Sage Advice’ Russian sage. It produces darker lavender purple flowers than most varieties on 32 to 36 inch tall plants. Hummingbirds enjoy it, but thanks to its highly aromatic, silvery foliage, deer aren’t interested.

Some types of Russian sage can have a bit of a wild look, and those look best in more informal gardens. Both Proven Winners varieties, ‘Sage Advice’ and ‘Denim ‘n Lace’, have a tidier shape and fit easily into any type of border. They bloom from midsummer to mid-fall and can tolerate average to poor soil. Give them a good spring pruning, removing last year’s woody growth just above the new leaves that sprout lower on the stems. 

Meant to Bee^® anise hyssop (Agastache)

If you live in the North, you might think of anise hyssop as an annual, but it is actually hardy in zones 5-9 and is perfect for adding color and attracting pollinators to the fall garden. The biggest factor with overwintering is drainage. This perennial really needs well-drained soil to thrive and survive the winter. Full sun is a must, and it can take some drought. The licorice-like fragrance of anise hyssop tends to keep the deer away.

While many anise hyssop varieties have blue or lavender flowers, I like the more unusual Meant to Bee^® ‘Royal Raspberry’ which features bright rosy purple flowers and dark green foliage with a slight burgundy cast to it. The purple calyxes hold their color even after the petals drop, which keeps the plant colorful for longer. It grows 28 to 32 inches tall and wide. 

Meant to Bee^® ‘Queen Nectarine’ is another unusually colored variety with soft peach flowers held by mauve pink calyxes. It’s a vigorous perennial that gets a little bigger than ‘Royal Raspberry’, at 30 to 36 inches tall and wide. Both Meant to Bee varieties start blooming in midsummer and last until frost. The flowers are good for cutting and drying as well.