Fabulous Fall Perennials

The summer garden is mostly past its prime and looking a bit tired. Some plants have finished their yearly show altogether. With a little planning, the garden can continue to be interesting and colorful well into autumn. This doesn't mean a lot of work.

The plants suggested here are perennials so they should return yearly. They are not fussy requiring no deadheading or extensive pest management programs. If they are placed to display their colors as summer plants fade, they can add interest throughout the fall season. Some of the following may just suit your need.

The pink and white flowers of the fall blooming anemone are graceful and elegant rising above other plantings suspended on 22-36 inch wiry stems. They come from China, Japan and Tibet. They prefer humus-rich soil and do best in part shade. Two favorite varieties are Pamina (A.hupehenses var. Japonica 'Pamina') which is pink and Honorine Jobert (A. x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert') which is white.

Asters comprise a large group of plants with daisy-like flowers. They range from 8 inches to 5 feet in height and come in many colors. For an eye-catching display, "Purple Dome" New England Aster has a compact rounded form 18 inches high and 30 inches wide. As an added bonus, this variety is mildew resistant.

Here are three plants that will bring out smiles. They are bold and showy producing yellow daisy-like flowers from mid-summer until frost. They require little care and thrive in full sun.

Rudbeckia Hirta 'Prairie Sun'– 2-4 feet tall bearing yellow single

petal flowers with green centers.

Heliopsis 'Summer Sun' – 3-4 feet tall with double petal yellow

flowers 2½ inches across and is disease-free.

Helianthus Maximilliana 'Maximillian Sunflower' – 3-10 feet tall

with 3 inch diameter yellow flowers which may require staking.

A truly carefree bloomer in the September garden is Turtle Head (chelone oblique). This is a native prairie plant with attractive dark green leaves in summer topped with pink flowers in fall. It grows 24 inches tall.

Not all bulbs put on their show in spring. Colchicum 'The Giant' and Clochicum 'Water Lily' are also called fall-blooming crocuses. They grow from a corm (bulb-like structure) that can be planted in summer. They will surprise the fall garden with 5-8 inch tall pink flowers. They grow in full sun in fertile, slightly moist soil.

Chrysanthemums are often used as the backbone of the fall garden. Colors range from yellow, orange, and bronze to pink, purple, red and white. Size can range from short edging plants to 30 inches or more. Plants should be set out in late spring or early summer to allow time for strong development. Each stem should be pinched off when it is 6 inches tall. This should be done repeatedly until the Fourth of July to control shape and height of the plant and to ensure bushy growth. Suggested varieties include:

C. 'Clara Curtis' which is pink with single petals

C. 'Robin' which is bronze with pom-pom shape

C. 'Small Wonder' which is purple with pom-pom shape

To add a dramatic planting to the fall garden, try a clump of ornamental grass. Miscanthus 'Morning Light' has green foliage with white edges that gives a slivery appearance. Flower heads rise to 4 feet in late summer and fall adding graceful movement to the garden. A smaller grass with a different appearance is Dropseed (Sprorbolus). It produces airy panicles of small drooping pale pink flowers in late summer. Leaves turn yellow in fall.

There are fall plants to suit many tastes from big and bold to small and delicate. They come in many colors. Some prefer sun and some shade. Several of the plants mentioned in this article are available now at local garden centers. Others may need to be purchased next spring. Whether this year or next, your garden can go into autumn in grand style.

If you have questions or comments about this article, home gardening or about the Master Gardener program, please call the Master Gardeners c/o University of Illinois Extension, DeKalb County office at 815-758-8194 or email prescott@uiuc.edu