Perennials That Refuse to Retire (Even When Summer Does)

Just because summer is fading doesn’t mean your garden has to go quiet. Fall-blooming perennials, especially native species, extend color, texture, and pollinator activity well into September and October. From the airy purple spikes of asters to the statuesque height of native sunflowers, these plants keep your garden lively when many others are winding down.

Below is featured a mix of native favorites like goldenrods, blazing stars, and sunflowers, along with a few uncommon gems for gardeners who like something a little different: Clematis tibetana, Cyclamen hederifolium, and Spiranthes (lady’s tresses orchids). These unusual fall bloomers bring unexpected charm, delicate beauty, and late-season interest to your garden w. Layer heights, mix textures, and enjoy a garden that proves fall can be just as colorful and captivating as spring or summer.

Liatris 

If you want to keep the garden glowing into fall, blazing stars (Liatris) are a fantastic choice. These native perennials are tough, beautiful, and beloved by butterflies—especially monarchs and skippers. One of their most interesting traits is their unusual bloom sequence: instead of opening from the bottom up like most plants, blazing stars bloom from the top down, giving them a unique look in the garden.

Here are a few species to consider: 

Liatris aspera (Rough Blazing Star) & Liatris scariosa (Northern Blazing Star): Bloom from August into October. Both thrive in dry soils and full sun, perfect for prairie-style or drought-tolerant gardens

Liatris aspera at Chanticleer

    

Liatris scariosa at Gwynedd 

Liatris ligulistylis (Meadow Blazing Star) & Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star): Bloom in late summer into September. These species prefer moist soils and make excellent companions for wet meadows or rain gardens. However, both seem to be able to adapt to drier conditions!

Liatris ligulistylis at Gwynedd

Liatris pycnostachya at Chanticleer

Liatris microcephala (Smallhead Blazing Star): A petite beauty at just 1 foot tall with fine, grassy foliage. Blooms July–August. Excellent for dry, sunny gardens, rock gardens, or even containers.

Symphyotrichum 

Symphyotrichum novi-belgii (New York aster)  Upright and elegant, New York aster can reach up to 4 feet tall. Flowers come in shades of pink, lavender-purple, and white. This species prefers moist soils, blooms earlier in fall than Aromatic aster, and thrives in full sun to part shade. It’s a great choice if you want taller structure and earlier fall color

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic aster) More compact and mounded in habit, Aromatic aster is tough and adaptable, thriving even in poor, rocky, or dry soils. It blooms later in the season (early to mid-fall), making it an excellent late food source for pollinators. Plant it in full sun for best results. To manage size or shift bloom time, try the Chelsea chop (cutting stems back in May or June). Two standout cultivars are ‘October Skies’ with its soft blue blooms, and ‘Raydon’s Favorite’, prized for its deep purple flowers and fragrant foliage.

'Raydon's favorite' at the Community Center

Helianthus 

Fall-blooming native sunflowers (Helianthus species) are a standout choice for gardeners looking to add vibrant late-season color and vertical interest. With bright yellow flowers that appear from late summer into fall, these perennials not only attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, but they also bring a statuesque height that can anchor the back of a garden or border.

Species like Maximilian Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani), Swamp Sunflower (H. angustifolius), and hybrids such as ‘Lemon Queen’ can reach 6 to 8 feet tall, creating a dramatic backdrop for mid- and low-height perennials like asters, goldenrods, blazing stars, and calamint. Their upright stems and abundant blooms add structure, movement, and late-season vibrancy, making them perfect for naturalistic gardens, pollinator habitats, or sunny borders where a bold vertical element is desired.

Bumblebees on Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' 

Solidago 

Goldenrods (Solidago) are reliable late-season bloomers and a magnet for pollinators. Choosing a mix of heights and bloom times keeps your garden vibrant from late summer into fall.  Goldenrod is sometimes mixed up with ragweed, which is the actual cause of Fall allergies. Some also might think of it as a weedy plant, but there are many options to fit into your garden, container or natural planting! 

‘Golden Fleece’ – Under 2 feet tall with a long bloom period. Perfect for borders, containers, or small spaces.

‘Little Lemon’ – Very petite (~1 foot tall). Soft lemon-colored blooms brighten tight spots and extend the bloom season.

‘Fireworks’ – 2–3 feet tall; compact, upright, and showy. Great for borders and companion planting with asters.

Showy Goldenrod (S. speciosa) – 3–4 feet tall; striking yellow clusters for background or mass plantings.

Golden Fleece

Calamintha 

A plant I’m often asked about is Calamint. You may hear it before you see it—the delicate purple or white flowers buzzing with bees, a sure sign of its pollinator appeal. This low-maintenance, aromatic perennial has a long bloom period and adds a light, airy texture to the garden. Its purple-lavender or white flowers appear from mid-summer into fall, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The foliage is fragrant when crushed, giving a subtle minty scent.

At just 18 inches tall, Calamint forms neat mounds that fit beautifully in borders, rock gardens, or even containers. Though it’s not native, it is not invasive and makes an excellent nectar source during the summer when blooms can be scarce, extending into early fall. One of my favorites is Calamintha nepeta ‘White Cloud’, which offers lovely white flowers and the same long-lasting pollinator appeal.

Into October! 

Clematis tibetana

Clematis tibetana, also known as Tibetan Clematis, is a delicate, late-blooming vine that brings an understated elegance to fall gardens. Unlike many clematis species that flower in spring or early summer, this unique vine produces small, nodding bell-shaped flowers creamy yellow flowers, from late summer into fall. It's fine-textured leaves remain attractive through the growing season, and the slender, climbing stems can reach six to ten feet, making it ideal for trellises, fences, or weaving through shrubs to soften structural elements in the garden. While it is not a major nectar source, Clematis tibetana adds subtle charm and late-season interest, pairing beautifully with asters, goldenrods, and other fall bloomers to create a layered, texturally rich garden.

I even have a Clematis tibetana tattoo!

Cyclamen hederifolium 

Cyclamen hederifolium is a charming, late-blooming woodland perennial that brightens shady garden corners in fall. Its delicate, upswept pink to rose-colored flowers emerge above the glossy, heart-shaped, ivy-patterned leaves, creating a subtle but captivating display from late summer into early fall. Native to southern Europe, it thrives in well-drained soil under trees or shrubs, naturalizing over time to form small, elegant colonies. Cyclamen hederifolium offers a refined texture and color that complements taller fall bloomers like asters and goldenrods, adding understated charm to the edges of beds and woodland gardens.

At Chanticleer 

At Chanticleer

One last fun, uncommon bloomer....

Spiranthes cernua

Spiranthes cernua commonly known as lady’s tresses orchids, is a slender, graceful native orchid that adds a touch of sophistication to fall plantings. Its delicate, spiraling spikes of small white or cream flowers appear from late summer into fall, twisting gently up the stems in a spiral pattern that is both unusual and visually captivating. Often found in moist meadows, bogs or woodland edges, Spiranthes prefers rich, well-drained soils and part sun to light shade. Though subtle in color, it provides textural contrast and a refined vertical element. I have one growing now in a container on display outside at Central! 

At Chanticleer in a bog planting with pitcher plants!