by Jennifer Poindexter
I call it the “drab” time of year. It’s the time of year when summer is drawing to a close but fall hasn’t quite arrived.
The time of year when summer gardens are winding down but fall gardens haven’t started looking lush yet.
It’s also the time of year when our gardens and homes can look a little dull because the summer flowers are finishing up, but the fall flowers haven’t quite started showing off yet.
What do you do to keep your home looking fresh and welcoming during this lull between seasons? You find late blooming summer flowers.
If you need some pointers on which flowers can keep your home looking lovely during this transitional part of the year, here are a few to choose from.
1. Anise Hyssop
Anise hyssop is a beautiful flower that has lush foliage, long stems, and clusters of purple blooms that form a dome shape.
This flower is a perennial in planting zones four through eight. You can plant it once and have it liven up your home year after year during the later part of summer. These flowers can tolerate full sun or partial shade. The main thing is they must be planted in well-draining soil.
2. Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisies are certain to brighten up your home during the time of year when some things are winding down and others are starting to emerge. This flower has longer stems and white blooms.
These daisies need well-draining soil as they’re prone to root rot. They also like full to partial sunlight. If you’d enjoy these cheerful flowers around your home, they’re hardy in planting zones four through nine.
3. Goldenrod
I know fall is on its way when Goldenrod starts to bloom in my area. You can find it growing wild in many fields around my home.
However, if you’re someone who would like to grow this plant, you’ll be glad to know it can grow basically anywhere. As long as it’s provided with full sun and well-draining soil, it’s happy. Goldenrod is hardy in planting zones four through nine.
4. Balloon Flower
Balloon flowers have cup-shaped blooms, and they come in a bright array of colors. This flower can handle full to partial sunlight.
Though the plant prefers moist conditions, it can also survive in dry conditions as well. These are great choices for planting zones three through eight.
5. Matricaria
Matricaria is more commonly known as feverfew. This is an adorable flower that will brighten your home and add a look of cheer. You can plant these flowers in a variety of garden beds or use them as a border plant.
They grow best in planting zones five through nine and require well-draining soil and prefer full sun. The more sun they have the longer their stems and the more they bloom.
6. Bee Balm
Bee balm is a unique plant that grows from lush foliage and long stems. The blooms have a sea-like appearance with a compact center. They come in an array of bright colors.
If you’d like to grow this flower later in the summer, ensure it’s planted in well-draining soil that’s nutrient dense. These plants also prefer full sun. You can plant them where they receive less sun, but it will impact the number of blooms the plant produces.
7. Coleus
Do you have a shaded location around your home that needs some life brought into it? Even better, do you have a garden area that receives morning sun and afternoon shade? Coleus could be a great plant to decorate your home in later summer and early fall.
These plants must stay above fifty degrees and be provided with well-draining soil. They’re typically grown as an annual as they’re only hardy in planting zone eleven due to their need for warmth. Coleus comes in a variety of colors that can keep your home looking lively during the transition of seasons.
8. Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susan is easy to spot. You can’t miss their long stems, bright blooms, and dominant black center. These are versatile flowers that can grow in full sun to partial shade. Though, don’t be surprised if you see them starting to stretch eventually to reach the sun.
They also can grow in a variety of soil types. The main thing is the soil must be well-draining as these flowers will develop root rot. If you need a hardy flower to keep your home bright between summer and fall, Black-Eyed Susan could be what you need as they’re hardy in planting zones three through nine.
9. Salvia
Salvia is one of my favorite flowers. I love how big, bright, and beautiful they are. They start from mounding, lush leaves. From there, the plant produces long stems, and dainty petals which form cone-shaped clusters.
If you’d like this look in your garden beds or as a border plant, ensure you provide the right growing conditions. Salvia needs plenty of sunlight and must be planted where the soil drains adequately. These plants are hardy in planting zones four through ten.
10. Blue Cardinal Flower
When I see the blue cardinal flower, it makes me think of cottage gardens. It’s something that you might see drawn in a children’s book surrounding a quaint home. If you’d like your home to have a similar look and feel, give the blue cardinal flower some consideration.
These flowers grow best where many flowers wouldn’t. They prefer saturated locations and tend to bloom between July and September. Be mindful that they can handle morning sun but must be provided shade during warm afternoons. They’re great for drawing pollinators to your home and are hardy in planting zones four through nine.
11. Impatiens
Impatiens are my go-to flower during transitional periods of the year. In my planting zone, they keep my home gorgeous between summer and fall and even into winter. These flowers are so versatile. They can handle some shade or even full sun. If planted in full sun, they will need to be watered more frequently.
Be mindful that these are annual flowers. They’re only hardy in planting zones ten and eleven. However, in my opinion, they’re worth planting year after year because of the beauty they provide in so many different settings.
12. Chrysanthemums
Mums (also known as chrysanthemums) are the flower many people turn to in late summer and early fall. You can grow these flowers as annuals or perennials, assuming you plant the right varieties. They can be overwintered in the ground or in a container.
Plus, if you’d like to keep mums blooming further into the fall season, you can always cut their blooms back in late summer. Be sure to plant mums in well-draining soil and where they’ll receive partial sunlight. If you grow the perennial variety of chrysanthemums, know that they’re hardy in planting zones five through nine.
13. Bishop’s Weed
Maybe you’ve found some of these plants on this list to be perfect for your typical growing spaces. However, if you have an area that seems to grow nothing, what should you do? Try planting bishop’s weed.
This plant prefers partial sunlight and well-draining soil. It would be happiest if watered consistently, but if not, it can still handle some drought. Bishop’s weed is hardy in planting zones four through eight.
14. Dahlia
When you were younger, did you ever make flowers from tissue paper? This is what dahlias remind me of. They’re round, layered flowers that are colorful and certainly add charm wherever they’re planted.
If you’d like to include them in your late summer flower garden, ensure they’re provided the right growing conditions. These flowers need full sun and adequate soil that’s high in nutrients and also drains properly. Dahlias are hardy in planting zones eight through eleven. However, they make wonderful annuals in planting zones three through seven.
15. Creeping Zinnia
These are the sweetest looking flowers. They have a variety of names such as miniature sunflowers, dwarf sunflowers, or gold trim floral. All of these give you a clue as to how their blooms will appear.
If you’d like to incorporate creeping zinnia in your late summer flower garden, be sure to plant them where they’ll receive full sun and ensure the soil surrounding them is well-draining. These flowers are hardy in planting zones seven through ten.
16. Echinacea
This plant is more commonly known as the coneflower. If you’ve ever seen them bloom, you understand why. These blooms produce petals which droop as they continue to bloom. This leaves the center of the bloom as the main focus, and the petals make the entire bloom take a cone shape.
You can grow coneflowers in your garden as long as they receive a minimum of four hours of sunlight each day. They can’t handle overly saturated soil, so ensure their growing area is well-draining. These flowers seem to grow best in planting zones five through eight.
17. BlueBeard
Bluebeard is more of a bush. It begins with pretty green leaves which produce longer stems. From the stems, small blue blooms produce in clusters. It’s a great way to add a pop of color to your landscape.
These plants need full sun to produce the vibrant colors they’re famous for. Bluebeard plants also need well-draining soil and consistent watering until the root system is established and thriving. This plant is hardy in planting zones five through nine.
18. Asters
Asters produce colorful, daisy-like blooms. If you’d like a simple flower that can also provide a boost of color around your home, asters could be what you need during late summer or early fall. In order to get the most blooms, it’s best to plant asters in full sunlight. Ensure they’re planted in well-draining soil, too.
Be mindful of the variety you plant as their heights can vary greatly. Some asters only grow to be a foot tall, while others grow to be as tall as four feet in height. These flowers are hardy in planting zones three through eight.
19. Coreopsis
Coreopsis is a colorful flower also known as tickseed. It has vibrant yellow blooms at the end of long stems. This flower would be a great choice for garden plots or as a border plant due to its height.
These flowers need full sun and well-draining soil. They’re also sturdy flowers as they’re hardy in planting zones four through nine.
20. Pincushion Flower
The pincushion flower is a neat choice to keep your yard gorgeous during the later portion of summer or early fall. They resemble a pincushion with needles sticking out of it.
They’re hardy flowers as they grow best in planting zones three through eight. Wherever you plant them, ensure they receive full sun, are planted in well-draining soil, and the dirt should be full of nutrients.
21. Begonia
Begonias are gorgeous little flowers that peep out between rich, green foliage. They make amazing container plants and can definitely add a splash of beauty around your home.
To grow these flowers, they need indirect sunlight and well-draining soil. They’re hardy in planting zones eight through eleven.
22. Valerian
Valerian are taller, bush-like flowers with long stems and clusters of blooms. They would be great to edge the side of a home or building.
If you’d like to try growing these flowers, to enjoy their blooms in late summer, they should be planted in partial shade and given well-draining soil. They’re hardy in planting zones three through nine.
23. Blanket Flower
The blanket flower almost reminds me of a Gerbera daisy as it is a compact plant with bright blooms that resemble a daisy. You can grow these cheerful flowers around your home as long as they’re given full sunlight.
They’re hardy in planting zones three through nine. Blanket flowers also need well-draining soil as they can handle warm temperatures but struggle with saturated growing conditions.
24. Allium
Alliums are a fun flower. They remind me of something you’d see in a Dr. Seuss book because of their long stems and round blooms.
These beautiful flowers can decorate your home under the right conditions. Plant alliums in well-draining soil and where they’ll receive plenty of sunlight. These flowers are quite hardy as they’re a perennial in planting zones three through eight.
25. Daylilies
The daylily flower starts off with a foundation made of wispy foliage. Out of this grass-like foliage springs colorful lilies.
This style of flower is great for use as a border plant. They’re hardy in zones four through nine, need consistent moisture, should be grown in well-draining soil, but also need approximately six to eight hours of sunlight each day.
26. Gerbera Daisy
Gerbera daisies are a great flower to have around as their blooms last a long time. They begin blooming in spring and will continue to do so until fall, when provided the right conditions. These flowers are hardy in planting zones eight through eleven.
They like to grow in areas where they’re provided plenty of sunlight. These daisies need around six to eight hours each day. Gerbera daisies also like sandy soil. If you can provide these growing conditions, this could be the flower for you.
27. Sedum
Sedum comes in many varieties. There are creeping varieties which tend to grow best in partial shade. Then you have taller varieties which must have full sun to perform their best.
Look at your grow space and see which variety your growing conditions might accommodate the best. Both varieties must be planted in well-draining soil, and they’re hardy in planting zones four through nine.
28. Russian Sage
Russian sage is a vibrant bush-like plant. It has long stems and lilac-colored blooms. This plant would be great to use around borders, grown in a large container, or in a typical garden plot.
If you choose to grow Russian sage, you should know that it’s hardy in planting zones five through nine. Also, the plant should be grown in partial sunlight and provided well-draining soil.
29. Zinnias
Zinnias are colorful flowers that can last through multiple seasons. They start blooming in spring and can last until frost hits in the fall.
When you need a splash of color for your landscape, consider these flowers. They’re a great fit for planting zones three through ten. All they need is well-draining soil and plenty of sunlight.
30. Helenium
These gorgeous flowers come in bright colors and would be a great choice for a flower bed. They even bloom in fall colors such as orange and yellow.
You can incorporate these flowers into your garden space by providing the right conditions. Helenium (also known as sneezeweed) grows best in planting zones three through eight. Also, they must have fertile soil that drains adequately and planted where they’ll receive full sun.
This concludes our lengthy tour of flowers which bloom in late summer and early fall. Our list includes some of the more popular options. Hopefully you’re inspired on how to add color to your home during the transition of seasons. With a little research and planning, you could have a gorgeous and manicured home year-round.
Learn More About Late Blooming Summer Flowers
http://cceschoharie-otsego.org/gardening/gardening-publications/late-summer-flowers-q-a
https://store.extension.iastate.edu/Product/Flowering-Plants-for-the-Late-Summer-Garden-PDF
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