If you think that summer is almost over and you've missed the chance to plant flowers, don't worry. The reason is that late summer is the perfect time to fill your garden with flowers and enjoy colorful blooms all through the fall season. In this blog, we'll share some of the most beautiful flowers to plant in late summer. These flowering plants are easy to grow and add instant charm, and in autumn, they give your garden a fresh and vibrant look.
Surprise Lily
Surprise lily (Lycoris squamigera) is commonly known as resurrection lily, magic lily, or surprise lily. Its strap-like foliage can be seen in spring and dies in late summer. The reason to name it "Surprise lily" is that when you think the plant died, the flower stem surprisingly rises up to 18-24 inches, giving 4-7 trumpet-shaped rose pink flowers with an amazing smell. All it requires is a well-drained soil, full sun to partial sun, and USDA growing zones 5-9.
Dahlias
There's a myth that Dahlias can be planted in the spring. The fact is, you can plant it in late summer and enjoy its bloom in the late fall. Dahlias prefer mild autumn weather, not the hot summer climate. It thrives in full sun in a loamy, well-drained, and neutral acidic soil. It prefers USDA growing zones 8-10. It should be grown with a spacing of 12-18 inches between each plant.
Goldenrod
Goldenrod spreads through the garden with its vibrant yellow flowers during the fall, so it can be grown during the late summer. It's a preferred choice of gardeners and is also liked by pollinators. Though goldenrod looks like a weed in the spring and summer, it becomes the center of attraction in the garden when it blooms. It prefers to grow in USDA growing zones of 2-8 under full to partial sun and in a well-drained, acidic, and neutral soil. When planting them, maintain a space of 12-24 inches for better growth.
Snowbank False Aster
Snowbank false aster, also known as "Boltonia asteroides," spreads sunshine in the garden with its daisy-like flowers. It is native to North America and resembles aster, due to which it has been named "false aster". It flowers from August until the first frost in September. It just grows 3-4 feet tall without staking. It can grow in any soil condition, but needs a USDA growing zone of 3-10.
Calibrachoa
Though this is a summer annual, it can bear cold and can last until frost in the upright containers, hanging baskets, and window boxes. Whether you grow a single flower or a double flower variety, it is bound to act as a filler. It is available in around 40 varieties to choose from. It can grow 6-12" tall in all USDA growing zones except 9-11 and needs partial to full sun.
Ornamental Kale and Cabbage
It is admired for its bright and beautiful foliage, which fills the fall garden with its white, pink, and purple foliage. These plants are ideal for beds, borders, and containers as they add to the visual appeal with their rich texture and bold, patterned leaves. They thrive in full to partial sun, and grow well in USDA growing zones 2-11. It grows between 30 cm and 60 cm in height as well as width.
Petunia
Petunia is a versatile variety of fall flowers that is available in shades of pink, black, dark purple, magenta, red, honey apricot, and yellow. Petunia can tolerate cold weather and can bloom until the first frost. This annual grows in all zones except 10-11 and reaches a height of 4-12" tall. It prefers full to partial sun.
Nemesia
Another variety of fall flower, Nemesia, is a perfect annual to mix with ornamental peppers and kale. It looks great in patio pots and window boxes and adds charm with its cool blue, warm red, yellow, pink, and orange. It grows in all the growing zones except 8-10 and reaches up to 18" tall, depending on cultivar. It thrives in partial sun to full sun.
Coneflower
Coneflower or Echinacea is best suited for native gardens in North America. It is a favorite of pollinators owing to its purple blooms. If you deadhead, coneflower will continue to give flowers in the fall. Coneflower is also used for bouquets. All it requires is USDA growing zone 3-8, partial to full sun, well-drained and acidic soil, and spacing of 12-24 inches between two plants.
Sunflower
Sunflower is a fall flower that is a staple of all bouquets. Sunflowers produce flowers in hundreds, and the best thing is that they start to bloom early in the summer and continue until frost without deadheading. It grows in all growing zones except 9-11 and grows up to 2-3' tall under full sun. It is resistant to deer.
Hibiscus Syriacus
Hibiscus, also known as "Rose of Sharon", is a deciduous shrub famous for its late summer colorful flowers in white, pink, blue, and purple. They bloom continuously from mid-summer through fall. It is native to Asia, and it is considered invasive in some parts of the country. It thrives in well-drained soil and partial shade to full sun. The preferred hardiness zone is 5-8 and reaches 240cm - 3.7m tall.
Chrysanthemum (Mums)
Chrysanthemum is famous for its mesmerizing beauty and its availability in various colors and forms. It is available in classic pompom shapes and spider varieties. It's a versatile flower that spreads color to the garden and adds charm. It prefers a hardiness growing zone 5-9 and full sun, and grows between 30-90cm tall and wide.
Salvia
Salvia is known as one of the long-lasting annuals, blooming from planting until frost in big containers and landscapes. Pollinators get attracted to the violet-blue flowers that salvia gives until the onset of the frost. The growing zones and the height depend on the variety. It thrives in partial to full sun, and it is resistant to deer.
Aster
Late summer is the ideal growing time for asters because it doesn't prefer midsummer heat. August is the right time to plant them so that they have a longer period to establish and bloom by October. Growing zones 4-8 are best suited for their growth. It requires full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Make sure to keep a gap of 6-12 inches between two flowering plants.
Verbena
It's a blooming variety you would love to grow every year. It gives colorful flowers in white, pink, red, peach, and purple from planting until the first frost. This annual is a gorgeous variety that looks great whether it's planted in containers or along the front of the border. It grows in all zones except 8-11 and grows 6-12 inches tall. It grows well in partial sun to full sun and is resistant to deer.
