Best Plants for a Colourful Late Summer Garden
Coneflowers (Rudbeckia)-photo by Kevin Butz
Slowly summer is nearing its end. The weather will be turning cooler, especially at night, and our gardens might start looking kind of dull. Although many of our summer flowers tend to lose their vivid colours by August there are still plenty of colourful plants that will help your garden keep its glow for a little longer.
So, what flowers to plant to add some colour to your garden in the autumn season?
Fortunately, there are also many perennials that bloom in late summer and you can extend your gardens’ colourful season by planting flowers that are made to shine through September and October. Perennials are plants that live through more than one growing season. Annual plants can flower and die in one year and you can manually harvest the seeds and replant. Perennials on the other hand come back every year, growing from roots that survive through the winter.
Here Is a List of 7 Plants for Late Summer Gardens:
Geranium Rozanne This strong beauty is easy to grow and it requires very little maintenance. It’s perfect under full sun or partial shade. Hassle-free and in areas with cool summers, flowering can go on for weeks or even months. This clump-forming plant reaches 50 cm in height and prefers rich soil. A winner that comes back stronger the following year.
Flowering period: Late Spring-Mid Autumn
Anemone ‘Konigin Charlotte’ This beautiful Japanese variety with attractive silky blossoms and green foliage is the perfect plant for late summer gardens. A favourite choice, Anemone ‘Konigin Charlotte’ or 'Queen Charlotte' is an eye-catching perennial that needs minimum care. It grows best in well-drained soil and can reach anywhere between 60-90 cm.
Flowering Period: Late Summer-Late Autumn
Verbena Bonariensis Another plant that needs moist but well-drained soil is Verbena bonariensis, a tall (180 cm) upright plant with branched stems, the perfect addition to your late summer garden. It’s a perennial so give it sun and partial shade and it might self-seed freely and return the next year.
Flowering Period: Mid Summer-Late Autumn
Anemone
Aster frikartii-photo by Alek Belta
Garden Hof van Axen
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (Black-Eyed Susan) This heat tolerant, adaptable plant might look more fragile than it really is. Rudbeckia fulgida will bring colour to your autumn garden with its daisy-like flowers and playful yellow to orange petals. They grow 60 cm tall and they have a strong root, which makes it easier for the plant to bloom every year. Rudbeckia plants love the sun and well-drained soil, although they can adapt to drought after planted and well-established.
Flowering Period: Early Summer-Early Autumn
Agastache 'Black Adder' This tall, arching flower requires dry to medium moisture but can tolerate drought once established. Easily grown in full sun it’s a good choice to enliven a late summer garden. It attracts insects and bees and it grows well together with rosemary or lavender-think of the lovely colours and smells!
Flowering Period: Mid Summer-Mid Autumn
Crocosmia 'Emily McKenzie' Vibrant Crocosmia ‘Emily McKenzie' is well-known for its tolerate nature with its flowers sometimes blooming from summer till frost. A hassle-free bloomer (grows up to 60—70 cm tall), Crocosmia ‘Emily McKenzie' will add character and a big splash of colour to autumn gardens. It loves the sun (and medium-moisture soil) but it will need shade protection if days get too warm. Its beautiful colours and smell attract butterflies and bees.
Flowering Period: Early Summer-Early Autumn
Aster 'Little Carlow' This garden beauty is a popular choice. Aster 'Little Carlow' is a very attractive perennial and it flowers in later summer! With its purple flowers and bright yellow center it’s the ideal plant for autumn gardens. When garden colour flowers start to fade, Aster 'Little Carlow' will definitely earn the title of ‘showstopper”.
Flowering Period: Late Summer-Late Autumn
More Tips & Advice?
If you need help with getting your garden projects going, or if you’d like to find out which improvements will work for your space, contact Botaniq for a consultation!
Content Editor Sofia Simeonidou