8 Perennials to Plant in the Fall for Stunning Spring Blooming

Spring might still be a long way away but that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning your garden now. Long, dark, cold winter days eventually give way to chirping birds, more sun, and an awakening earth. Autumn, with cooler weather and soil that is still warm, offers gardeners the ideal conditions for planting varying varieties of perennials which will easily take root. Fall weather also often brings more rain, further encouraging perennials to establish.

Returning year after year, perennials add marvelous beauty to your green space. They often require little care and will continue to bloom in radiant abundance, needing just a touch of root maintenance in the fall to support continuing growth. Bluebells, Hellebores, Astilbe, and many other perennials are eco-friendly. Their deep roots fortify the soil, cause no erosion, and require very little water. Grow them for the earth and for the beauty they provide. 

Don’t let all of your hard work go to waste. Deer and other wildlife critters will have easy access to your perennials if you don’t protect them. A deer fence keep gardens safe from being trampled and eaten, while also creating a barrier between the plantings and dangerous diseases that are sometimes transmitted by the ticks which infest deer hides and skin.

Create a Color Explosion

A garden is often considered an art form and is the expression of your passion for deepening the impact and harmony of your landscape. Planting is your paint box, and from your efforts continuous beauty is created to enhance the environment and please the senses. This curated list of incredibly beautiful perennials will offer the varied hues and earth nourishing elements necessary to achieve nature’s perfect balance of texture, color and essential pollinating excellence.

1. Creeping Phlox will explode in brilliant reds, purples, pinks, and whites at the start of March. Phlox is actually the Greek word for fire, and it looks particularly lovely in rock gardens and draping over walls. Its fragrance is reminiscent of clove and vanilla. It will attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Phlox thrives best when it’s planted in moist soil that has good drainage and is exposed to full sun or partial shade. 
2. Bluebells are one of nature’s little gifts. Blooming in mid-April to late May, their buds are pale but then warm into a deep, stunning blue, when in full bloom. They do best in moist soil and require a half shade and half sun environment. They easily attract pollinators and require practically no maintenance whatsoever.  
3. Hellebore perennials also known for their most recent hybrid variety, Lenten Rose, are one of the first perennials sprout when winter soil begins to thaw. The petals of this hearty flower tend to bloom facing downward, as if in homage to the cold season being left behind. They offer stunning shades of maroon, yellow, and pink blooms, and grow best in partial shade. 
4. Astilbes have an interesting alternate name that is characteristically revealing. Often called False Goat’s Beard, they create an excellent border flower when placed between wide, leafy foliage plants. Astilbes do well in fertile soil that is slightly acidic and well drained. Their fuzzy blooms range in color from violet, lavender, deep red, pink, and white. 
5. Sundrops are fragile yellow flowers that are part of the evening primrose family. They bloom at sunset and keep their dainty petals open well into the next day. They do best in more arid climates which provide dry soil and partial shade. Sundrops attract bees and butterflies and grow on beautiful red stems.  Their blooms range in color from orange to deep red, and vibrant purple. 
6. Dianthuses are the sweetheart of spring and summer flowers. Their fragrance matches their delicate beauty with many varieties offering up dual shadings of yellow, purple, white, pink with bluish green leaves underneath. They make for excellent ground over and are drought tolerant, requiring very little maintenance in partial to full sunlight.

1. Spiderwort may have earned its name several reasons. In the past, it was used medicinally to treat spider bites. Its red, pink, white, purple and blue blooms also tend to resemble a spider. Either way, this lovely and somewhat unusual plant is a must have for gardeners who crave interest and diversity in their gardens. Thriving in partial shade, they are quite tolerant of most soil conditions. 
2. Lamium, do best in shady spots, making them perfect for those yard and garden areas that tend to be lean on vegetation. These beauties produce bulbs that are snap dragon – shaped in appearance, and range in color from white, pink, and purple. Foliage is two-toned and the low, vigorous spread of this flowering plant is both subtle and attractive.

When winter begins, it’s nice to know that you’ve got some garden surprises waiting for you in the spring. Planting hearty, enduring and eco-friendly plants in the fall with these low maintenance perennial flowers will remind you of nature’s beauty. Protect your lovelies with deer fencing, and be sure to follow zone guidelines to optimize plant conditions, as well as your enjoyment of them!