More Flowering Plants
Beautybush
Deciduous shrub with dark blue-green leaves and pale pink flowers in early summer
Plant in rich to average well-drained soil
Plant in full sun to light shade
Height: 8-12 feet; Width: 8-10 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-8:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 8: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to light shade with protection from hot afternoon sun; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Pansy
These plants can easily withstand temperatures to -10 degrees. In warmer areas of the country with cool summer temperatures (such as the coastal West and Pacific Northwest), they remain an evergreen perennial.
Perennial often grown as a winter annual with large flowers in a variety of colors
Tolerant of cold weather, but not heat
Plant in rich to average well-drained soil
Plant in full sun to light shade
Height: 4-10 inches; Width: 6-12 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 6-10:
Zone 6: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; avoid contact with salt; remove when hot weather returns in spring.
Zone 7: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells; remove when hot weather returns in spring.
Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells; remove when hot weather returns.
Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells; remove when hot weather returns.
Zone 10: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells; remove when hot weather returns.
Jennifer Garden Mum
Perennial often grown as a fall-blooming annual with bright yellow flowers
Plant in rich to average well-drained soil
Plant in full sun to light shade
Pinch back plants by ½ in late spring; divide in spring every 2-3 years
Height: 24 inches; Width: 24 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 5-10:
Zone 5: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after planting; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after planting; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 7: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 10: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Ornamental Purple Millet
This plant is listed as a noxious weed in Colorado. It also is listed as invasive by the National Park Service in California and Arizona.
Annual ornamental grass with deep purple foliage and seed heads resembling corn
Plant in rich to average well-drained soil
Plant in full sun
Height: 3-5 feet; Width: 1-2 feet
Annual in all zones:
All Zones: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; plant in full sun; water when dry; remove plants after frost.
Cranberry Cotoneaster
Evergreen arching shrub with dark green foliage, pink flowers followed by red fruit
Plant in average to moist but well-drained soil
Plant in full sun to partial shade
Height: 4-5 feet; Width: 3-6 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-7:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; may be semi-evergreen in this zone; prune as needed to keep in bounds and neat in appearance.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; prune as needed to keep in bounds and neat in appearance.
Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; prune as needed to keep in bounds and neat in appearance.
Zone 7: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun; apply mulch after first hard frost; prune as needed to keep in bounds and neat in appearance.
Snowmound Spirea
Dwarf deciduous shrub with dark blue-green leaves and white flowers in mid to late spring
Maintains a neat rounded form
Plant in rich, moist, but-well drained soil
Plant in full sun to light shade
Prune as needed while dormant in winter; fertilize in spring
Height: 3-5 feet; Width: 3-5 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-8(9):
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in fall or early spring; plant in full sun to light shade.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Zone 8: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Zone 9: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to light shade; may struggle in warmer areas of this zone.
Japanese Anemone
Tall, deciduous perennial noted for its semi-double pink flowers in late summer to mid fall
Plant in rich, moist but well-drained soil
Plant in morning sun or partial shade
May spread aggressively by rhizomes
Height: 3-5 feet; Width: to infinity
Hardy in USDA zones 4-8:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; mulch heavily after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; pull back mulch in early spring; divide in spring.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; mulch heavily after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; pull back mulch in early spring; divide in spring.
Zone 6: Plant in spring; mulch in fall; pull back mulch in early spring; divide in spring.
Zone 7: Plant in spring or early fall; mulch in fall; pull back mulch in early spring; divide in spring.
Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; mulch in fall; pull back mulch in early spring; divide in spring.
Henry's Garnet Virginia Sweetspire
Arching, deciduous shrub with drooping white clusters of flowers in late spring and showy fall foliage
Plant in full sun to moderate shade; foliage and flowering are better in full sun
Plant in wet, moist or average garden soil that is high in organic matter
Height: 3-4 feet; Width: 4-6 feet, suckering
Hardy in zones 5-9:
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; water when dry.
Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; water when dry.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch in fall; water when dry.
Zone 8: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to moderate shade; mulch in fall; water when dry.
Zone 9: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to moderate shade; mulch in fall; water when dry.
Celeste Aster
Native, fall-blooming perennial with violet-blue daisy-like flowers with yellow centers
Plant in full sun to partial shade; flowering is better in full sun
Plant in moist to average garden soil that is high in organic matter
Height: 2-3 feet; Width: 2-3 feet
Hardy in zones 4-8:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; water when dry.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; water when dry.
Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; water when dry.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch in fall; water when dry.
Zone 8: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch in fall; water when dry.
Melody Aster
Native, fall-blooming perennial with lavender daisy-like flowers with yellow centers
Plant in full sun to partial shade; flowering is better in full sun
Plant in moist to average garden soil that is high in organic matter
Height: 2-3 feet; Width: 2-3 feet
Hardy in zones 4-8:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; water when dry.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; water when dry.
Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; water when dry.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch in fall; water when dry.
Zone 8: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch in fall; water when dry.
Sunny Gretchen Garden Mum
Perennial with early fall-blooming bright yellow cushion-like flowers
Plant in rich to average well-drained soil
Plant in full sun to light shade
Pinch back plants by ½ in late spring; divide in spring every 2-3 years
Height: 24 inches; Width: 24 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 5-10:
Zone 5: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after planting; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after planting; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 7: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 10: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Gretchen Garden Mum
Perennial with early fall-blooming bright orange cushion-like flowers
Plant in rich to average well-drained soil
Plant in full sun to light shade
Pinch back plants by ½ in late spring; divide in spring every 2-3 years
Height: 24 inches; Width: 24 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 5-10:
Zone 5: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after planting; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after planting; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 7: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 10: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Japanese Fleece Flower
This perennial with variegated heart-shaped foliage can be invasive.
Grows in any type of well-drained soil
Grows in full sun to light shade
Height: 4 feet; Width: Indefinite, invasive
Hardy in USDA zones 5-9:
Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after planting; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch after planting; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 8: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Autumn Fern
Deciduous to evergreen fern with new bronze colored foliage that changes to green
Plant in moist to wet soil rich in organic matter
Plant in partial to full shade
Height: 18-24 inches; Width: to 18 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 5-9:
Zone 5: Plant in spring to avoid winter heaving; plant in partial to full shade; mulch after planting and again before first frost; avoid contact with salt; water during dry periods; deciduous to semi-evergreen in this zone; remove dead foliage after frost; divide in spring every few years.
Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in partial to full shade; mulch after planting and again before first frost; water during dry periods; deciduous to semi-evergreen in this zone; remove dead foliage after frost; divide in spring every few years.
Zone 7: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade; mulch after planting and again before first frost; water during dry periods; semi-evergreen to evergreen in this zone; remove dead foliage in fall; divide in spring every few years.
Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade; mulch after planting and again in fall; water during dry periods; evergreen in this zone; remove dead foliage in fall or spring; divide in spring every few years.
Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade; mulch after planting and again in fall; water during dry periods; evergreen in this zone; remove dead foliage in fall or spring; divide in spring every few years.
Next Up
Flowering Plants
Flowering Bulbs for Fall Planting
A Passion for Purple: The Lavender Farm
Treasure Flower and Other Eye-Catching Plants
More Plant Types
Tree Peonies
Peonies
Peony Season
Peonies and Ants
