Late bloomers ensure last blast of garden colour
by Anna Sauve
The colour show in your garden doesn’t have to end after summer fades. A trick of good garden design is making sure something is blooming throughout the seasons. Fall-blooming perennials are some of the showiest plants in the garden. Many are tall and flower in gorgeous rich jewel tones – golds, reds, purples and yellows. Ideally, plant them early in the season so they’re established for the fall colour show.
Sedum (Stonecrop) – Whether you choose classic favourite ‘Autumn Joy’ or a newer cultivar like ‘Autumn Fire’, sedum is a must-have in every perennial garden. Sedum are tall, reliable, hardy, long-lived plants and a magnet for bees and butterflies. Both enjoy a long bloom time and are drought tolerant. They prefer full sun and will grow in average, poor or sandy well-drained soil. These plants require minimal attention, and their gorgeous rich pink-red blooms will last until frost. A5er blooming, the flower heads formattractive seed heads, providing nice winter interest. Sedum can be divided spring or fall, and also be propagated via cuttings.
Helenium (Sneezeweed) – These hardy three-foot tall clump-forming perennials enjoy fertile soil and full sun. They like moist soil, so are a good choice for areas where drainage is poor. The daisy-like flowers in rich yellow or orange-to-red tones attract bees. It’s a fantastic plant for the back of a border. Dividing the plants every three years will avoid overcrowding and keep the plants looking fresh. Helenium dies back in autumn and re-emerges in spring. All parts of the plant are toxic; it should not be consumed by humans or animals.
Heliopsis (False Sunflower) – This tough, easy- to-grow plant is another popular one for moist, fertile soil in full sun, although it will grow in sandy or clay soil. This tall (three to six feet) plant is best situated framing the back of a garden or bordering a woodland setting. Deer and rabbits tend to avoid it, a bonus for rural settings. The sunflower-like bright yellow flowers bloom midsummer to early autumn and attract bees and butterflies. Once the foliage hasdied back, cut to ground level.
Fall Asters (Asternovae-angliae) – These hardy deer-resistant perennials with fragrant daisy-like flowers can grow one to three feet tall and prefer full to partial sun with well-drained loamy soil. Available in shades of purple, pink, blue and white, they are easy to grow, disease-resistant plants, and a food source for bees and butterflies. Pinch back to in early summer for a bushier plant that will bloom until hard frost.
Chrysanthemum – “Mums” are the true symbol of autumn. They are resilient, but best planted in spring in a sunny, sheltered location. Mums prefer moist but well-drained soil, amended with compost or manure. As with asters, pinching them back in June results in a bushier plant, one to three feet tall, depending on the cultivar. Do not cut back mums in fall – cut off dead stems and leaves in spring when you see the first green shoots emerging.
Consider this: Dividing your perennials will reward you with healthier plants and provide extra plants to share with friends.
This series of gardening articles is brought to you by the Simcoe County Master Gardeners, members of the Master Gardeners of Ontario. For more information visit www.simcoecounty.ca.
