As summer fades, don’t stow away your gardening tools just yet. Fall offers a prime opportunity to plant new perennials and shrubs, enhancing your garden with beauty, privacy, and pollinator-friendly plants.
Why Fall Is Ideal for Planting
In the Southeast, summer poses the greatest challenge for plant growth. “Fall planting is optimal in warm to hot climates because it provides the longest period of favorable growth conditions before harsher weather arrives,” explains Stacey Hirvela, horticulturalist with Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. “It allows plants about eight months to establish a strong root system before the stress of summer heat.”
During fall, plants are generally less stressed during transplantation. Cooler temperatures and increased rainfall offer natural watering, aiding plant establishment. Mary Woolman, woody ornamental and edible product manager at Star Roses and Plants, adds, “Most plants focus on rooting rather than new growth, preparing for dormancy.”
However, it’s best to avoid planting broadleaf evergreens like rhododendrons and magnolias too late in the season. “These plants should be planted early in fall but avoided after mid-autumn,” advises Hirvela. “Broadleaf evergreens are prone to drying out during winter, even in mild climates.”
Essential Fall Planting Care
Don’t forget to keep your fall plantings hydrated. Regular watering is crucial through fall and even winter if conditions remain unusually dry, according to Hirvela.
Top Perennials and Shrubs to Plant This Fall
1. Orange Jessamine (Cestrum corymbosum)
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Type: Well-draining
This tropical climbing vine features tubular flowers attractive to pollinators, blooming from spring to summer. It’s also resistant to deer.
Recommended Varieties: Juiced Orange Jessamine
2. Lorapetalum (Loropetalum chinense)
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Type: Well-draining, rich
Known as Chinese fringe flower, Lorapetalum displays fringed pink or white flowers and purple foliage. It blooms in late winter to early spring.
Recommended Varieties: Cerise Charm, Purple Daydream
3. Catmint (Nepeta spp.)
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Well-draining
This low-maintenance perennial offers mint-scented foliage and spikes of pink or purple flowers from mid to late summer.
Recommended Varieties: Walker’s Low, Six Hills Giant, Cat’s Pajamas
4. Firecracker Bush (Bouvardia ternifolia)
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Well-draining, slightly acidic
Native to the Southwest, this heat-tolerant shrub blooms all summer with red-pink or scarlet flowers.
Recommended Varieties: Estrellita Little Star, Estrellita Scarlet
5. Agastache (Agastache spp.)
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Well-draining
Also known as hummingbird mint, Agastache features colorful spikes of flowers and is heat and drought tolerant.
Recommended Varieties: Royal Raspberry, Summerlong
6. Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Type: Well-draining, slightly acidic
Hydrangeas offer a range of sizes and long-lasting blooms from mid-summer to fall.
Recommended Varieties: Autumn Reprise, Let’s Dance Skyview, Fairytrail Bride
7. Tulbaghia (Tulbaghia hybrid)
Sun Exposure: Part shade
Soil Type: Well-draining, slightly acidic
Known as society garlic, this perennial features purple flowers and is great for borders or containers.
Recommended Varieties: Flamingo
8. Arborvitae (Thuja spp.)
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Type: All types
Arborvitae, or thuja, comes in various sizes and hues, making it a versatile evergreen choice.
Recommended Varieties: Fire Chief, Pancake
9. Salvia (Salvia spp.)
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Type: Well-draining
With tubular flowers in various colors, Salvia attracts pollinators and is deer-resistant.
Recommended Varieties: Blue By You, Mirage Deep Purple
10. Shrub Rose (Rosa spp.)
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Well-draining
Shrub roses offer low-maintenance color throughout the growing season with occasional feeding and deadheading.
Recommended Varieties: Knockout Orange Glow, Oso Easy Peasy
11. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Well-draining, sandy
Select lavender varieties that thrive in humid climates for their fragrant flowers and deer-resistant foliage.
Recommended Varieties: Sweet Romance, Phenomenal
12. Weigela (Weigela spp.)
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Type: Well-draining
Weigela shrubs bloom in various colors and attract hummingbirds, with some varieties offering continuous blooms.
Recommended Varieties: Varieties with spring blooms and reblooming types.
Keep these tips and plant recommendations in mind as you prepare your garden for a vibrant fall and beyond.