As August winds down and the days begin to shorten, many gardeners think the planting season is over. But late summer is actually one of the best times to add perennials to your garden! With warm soil, cooler nights, and autumn rains just around the corner, new plants have an ideal environment to establish strong roots before winter sets in.
Here’s a roundup of the best perennials to plant at the end of summer, ones that will not only settle in nicely now but reward you with colour, texture, and resilience for years to come.
Coneflowers (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are tough, drought-tolerant perennials that thrive in full sun. Planting them in late summer allows roots to grow deep before next year’s bloom season. They attract pollinators and bring cheerful pops of purple, pink, or white to your flower beds.
Tip: Deadhead spent blooms in their first season to encourage stronger root growth.
Black-eyed Susans
These golden beauties are synonymous with late summer and fall. Their daisy-like flowers light up borders, and they pair beautifully with ornamental grasses. Once established, they are low-maintenance and can spread to create a vibrant drift of color.
Tip: Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil for the best results.
Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum varieties like ‘Autumn Joy’ or ‘Matrona’ are late-summer stars. Their fleshy leaves and clusters of pink-to-rust-red flowers offer long-lasting interest, especially as other flowers fade. Sedum also provides valuable nectar for pollinators late in the season.
Tip: Avoid overwatering as sedum thrives in lean, dry soils.
Ornamental Grasses
Grasses such as Miscanthus, Pennisetum, or Stipa tenuissima bring texture, height, and movement to borders. They shine in the low autumn light and continue to look stunning through winter.
Tip: Most are very hardy in the UK climate, just cut them back in late February or early March.
Asters (Michaelmas Daisies)
A traditional late-summer and autumn flower in the UK, asters bring purple, pink, and blue daisy-like blooms just as many other perennials fade. They’re also loved by bees.
Tip: Choose mildew-resistant varieties like Aster frikartii ‘Mönch’.
Hardy geraniums (Cranesbills)
Tough, reliable, and long-flowering, hardy geraniums are a staple for borders. Planting them now gives them time to establish before they burst into colour next spring.
Tip: They’ll tolerate both sun and part-shade, making them versatile for different spots.
Plant those perennials now!
End-of-summer planting isn’t just a second chance – it’s a smart move for longer blooming gardens! By choosing perennials like echinacea, rudbeckia, hellebores, and asters, you’ll set the stage for a garden that thrives in all seasons.
So, before autumn arrives in full force, make the most of these late summer days to get perennials in the ground. Your spring garden will thank you for it!
If you need a helping hand choosing the right plants for your garden, the team at Rosewood can help. We can plan your pots, borders and beds and transform your garden into a blooming haven all-season long! Get in touch with us to see how we can help.