Finishing the Season

Autumn color extends the season visually which, in turn, extends the season financially. As customers ask about their choices, this trend has become more important. Businesses now seek perennials for commercial plantings, fall programs, landscape projects, and garden center sales. Many perennials showcase their best work in flower and foliage at this time.

Autumn bloom used to be considered a limitation—now it’s considered a strength.

Foliage

Amsonia

This perennial has two seasons of interest. In the spring, it has a lightly blue star flower, but in the autumn the foliage turns a spectacular shade of gold. An important detail: only the hubrechtii species has this golden trait. Other Amsonia species stay green in the fall.

We sell 3 varieties in 21s and 72s

Early Fall

Anemone

Shade is still an issue in autumn, so we recommend Anemones for their abundant blooms and long season of color under trees and alongside homes. Their long stems suit autumn cut flower gardens as well.

We sell 17 varieties in 21s and 50s

Late Fall

Aster

Garden Asters add color, primarily blues and purples, to the fall garden. 'Bluebird' has the lightest blue we sell, 'Pink Crush' has the most vibrant magenta, and 'Grape Crush' has the darkest purple. We also sell the three Wood varieties, well-known for their low carpet of color.

We sell 6 varieties in 21s and 72s

Foliage

Ceratostigma

This well-known groundcover has a less famous trait: bronze foliage in the fall. As the light blue blossoms start to trail off, the foliage turns color in preparation for the colder season. A good all-season underplanting that adds enhanced color around shrubs and trees as well as over bulb gardens.

We sell one variety in 21s and 72s

Late Fall

Chrysanthemum

Among the last to bloom, these perennial Mums end the garden season with bright colors. They bush up better for retail presentation if you give them a pinch midway through their initial growth.

We sell 4 varieties in 21s and 72s

Early Fall

Echinacea

Echinacea pretty much revitalized the market for autumn perennials at the retail level, especially 'Cheyenne Spirit' and some of the late-blooming Butterfly series. Their bright harvest colors and natural bloom time fit the décor season well.

We sell 46 varieties in 21s and 72s

Early Fall

Helenium

Helenium is one of the unsung heroes making the transition from summer to autumn. Established plants tolerate the heat, humidity, and dry spells found at the end of summer yet keep on blooming through early fall. Flowers stay firmly attached to their stems even if watering cycles are skipped. Very durable.

We sell 3 varieties in 21s and 72s

Early Fall

Heliopsis

Another choice to move from late summer into early autumn is Heliopsis. It looks like a miniature Sunflower, or perhaps an over-achieving Coreopsis, but is covered heavily in blooms during the color drought of August. Native to the eastern half of North America, it doesn’t mind the conditions—even the clay soils.

We sell 2 varieties in 21s and 72s

Foliage

Heuchera & Heucherella

A standout performer during the heart of autumn perennial sales, the genera is the staple of many shade programs. Foliage finishes quickly and stays in color for the full season. Some varieties even have maple-like leaves or harvest-style colors to complement harvest themes.

We sell 45 varieties of Heucheas and Heucherellas

Foliage

Pennisetum

Although not a perennial, we do sell Pennisetum for the vase-like shape that enhances many, many perennial plantings and containers. Plumes are at their finest in autumn. Nothing else complements perennials quite so well.

We sell 4 varieties in 21s and 72s

Early Fall

Rudbeckia

Black-Eyed Susan is the backbone of many autumn programs, so we sell a wide variety. We have tall specimens like 'Herbstonne', mounded versions like 'American Gold Rush', and highly colorful selections such as 'Prairie Gold' and 'Cherry Brandy'. For purists there is the traditional 'Goldsturm', too.

We sell 11 varieties of Rudbeckias

Early Fall

Sedum

Our collection of Upright Sedum adds variety beyond 'Autumn Joy'. Choices range from the variegated 'Autumn Charm' to the black stems of 'Matrona' to the bright magenta blooms of 'Neon'.

Read Review

Early Fall

Solidago

Practically an icon of autumn is 'Fireworks', the best of the Solidago varieties. Blooms are exactly as the name implies, with horizontal plumes of yellow sprays extending out from central points along the length of an arching stem.

We sell one variety in 21s and 72s

Early Fall

Tricyrtis

An exotic choice for autumn, Tricyrtis blooms about the same time as Anemone. It forms tall stands of stems, whorled with leaves and ending with a spray of highly-spotted, orchid-like flowers.

We sell 3 varieties in 21s and 50s

For our cover, we selected Heucherella 'Pumpkin Spice' to represent Autumn Perennials. One of the innovative cultivars introduced by Walter's Gardens in 2022, this hybrid has the maple leaf shape of a Tiarella with the rich golden tones of Heuchera and an additional overlay of Tiarella veins of mahogany red. The villosa breeding from the Heuchera also means 'Pumpkin Spice' stays golden throughout the entire season with overwintering capabilities in the South. Like other Heucherellas, we find its performance is best in semi-shaded areas.

New to the market and released by Emerald Coast is 'Butterscotch', an Amsonia that turns gold in the fall. That’s putting it mildly, however, as the hubrechtii basics in this cultivar move the quality bar up a notch: the gold is more vibrant, the foliage color lasts longer, the red stems are brighter and more consistent, and the plant is more vigorous. Yes, 'Butterscotch' is the same—it's just better. This significant improvement is the reason why we put it on the back cover of our catalog for 2023.

Shipping Now	CART
SED Abbeydore 50 46 Trays	GO
SED Vera Jameson 50 39 Trays	GO
SED Autumn Joy 50 37 Trays	GO
SED Neon 21 34 Trays	GO
SED Vera Jameson 21 27 Trays	GO
AST Woods Blue 72 26 Trays	GO
SED Matrona 50 26 Trays	GO
TRI Seiryu 50 25 Trays	GO
TRI Samurai 50 25 Trays	GO
HEU Carnival Peach Parfait 72 24 Trays	GO
SED Autumn Fire 50 24 Trays	GO
SED Abbeydore 21 23 Trays	GO
PEN Rubrum 72 21 Trays	GO
SED Autumn Charm 21 20 Trays	GO
NIP nipponicum 72 19 Trays	GO
HEU Pumpkin Spice 72 17 Trays	GO
CAR Longwood Blue 72 17 Trays	GO
AST Woods Purple 72 16 Trays	GO
AST Woods Purple 21 13 Trays	GO
AST Woods Pink 72 13 Trays	GO
HEU Electric Plum 72 12 Trays	GO
HEU Sweet Tea 72 12 Trays	GO
AST Woods Pink 21 11 Trays	GO
AST Purple Dome 21 11 Trays	GO
RUD Indian Summer 21 10 Trays	GO
RUD Indian Summer 50 9 Trays	GO
CER plumbaginoides 21 9 Trays	GO
CHR Raspberry Sorbet 72 9 Trays	GO
CHR Campfire Glow 21 9 Trays	GO
CHR Campfire Glow 72 8 Trays	GO
PEN Sky Rocket 72 8 Trays	GO
SOL Fireworks 21 8 Trays	GO
ANE Robustissima 21 8 Trays	GO
HEU Caramel 72 7 Trays	GO
ANE Dainty Swan 50 7 Trays	GO
ECH PowWow Wild Berry 21 7 Trays	GO
CHR Brandywine Sunset 21 6 Trays	GO
PEN Cherry Sparkler 72 6 Trays	GO
AST Purple Dome 72 6 Trays	GO
ANE Frilly Knickers 50 6 Trays	GO
AMS hubrichtii 72 5 Trays	GO
HEU Southern Comfort 72 5 Trays	GO
HEU Fire Chief 72 5 Trays	GO
AMS Butterscotch 72 5 Trays	GO
CAR Longwood Blue 21 4 Trays	GO
RUD Goldsturm 72 4 Trays	GO
HEU Southern Comfort 21 4 Trays	GO
HEU Pumpkin Spice 21 4 Trays	GO
HEL Autumn Gold 72 3 Trays	GO
CER plumbaginoides 72 3 Trays	GO
AST Woods Blue 21 3 Trays	GO
SED Matrona 21 3 Trays	GO
CHR Brandywine Sunset 72 3 Trays	GO
HEU Peach Flambe 72 3 Trays	GO
SED Autumn Joy 21 3 Trays	GO
TRI Seiryu 21 2 Trays	GO
CHR Raspberry Sorbet 21 2 Trays	GO
RUD Cherry Brandy 50 2 Trays	GO
PEN Rubrum 21 2 Trays	GO
RUD Herbstonne 50 2 Trays	GO
ANE Snow Angel 21 1 Trays	GO
HEU Electric Plum 21 1 Trays	GO
ANE Snow Angel 50 1 Trays	GO
HEU Carnival Cinnamon Stick 72 1 Trays	GO
ECH PowWow White 72 1 Trays	GO
HEU Sweet Tea 21 1 Trays	GO

Four Solid Selections

Creek Hill Nursery

Finishing the Season

Amsonia

Anemone

Aster

Ceratostigma

Chrysanthemum

Echinacea

Helenium

Heliopsis

Heuchera & Heucherella

Pennisetum

Rudbeckia

Sedum

Solidago

Tricyrtis

More Articles

Natives for Pollinators

Knautia 'Thunder & Lightning

A Weekly Way of Life