Mid Fall

What Blooms in October

110 plants

October blooms carry a different quality than summer flowers. They're holdouts, stubbornly bright against declining light. Chrysanthemums are the obvious choice, but garden mums planted in the ground will overwinter and return larger each year. Toad lilies bloom in cool shade when almost nothing else does. In warmer zones, camellias begin. In all zones, the seed heads of late summer perennials are turning architectural.

Year-round bloom calendar

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JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
CalendulaAnnualMay-Oct
Calendula
Bright daisy-like blooms in pumpkin orange and gold. Edible petals brighten salads and the plant keeps blooming through cool weather.
Z2-11
CelosiaAnnualJun-Oct
Celosia
Flame-shaped or crested flowers in electric colors that dry beautifully. Heat lovers that thrive in summer.
Z2-11
LisianthusAnnualJun-Oct
Lisianthus
Rose-like ruffled blooms with the vase life of a chrysanthemum. The flower farmer's secret weapon for high-end arrangements.
Z2-11
Scarlet SageAnnualJun-Oct
Scarlet Sage
Electric red spikes that hummingbirds zero in on. Common bedding plant that earns its spot every year.
Z2-11
StrawflowerAnnualJun-Oct
Strawflower
Papery petals that already look like dried flowers when fresh. The original everlasting, hanging on long after every other bloom fades.
Z2-11
Annual VincaAnnualMay-Nov
Annual Vinca
Glossy-leaved heat champion (botanically unrelated to true Vinca minor) that blooms through humidity that wilts everything else.
Z3-11
PentasAnnualMay-Nov
Pentas
Star-shaped flower clusters that hummingbirds and butterflies hit on every pass. Blooms nonstop in heat that stops impatiens cold.
Z3-11
ScabiosaAnnualJun-Oct
Scabiosa
Pincushion blooms on long wiry stems dance over fine foliage. Pollinator magnet that keeps producing if you keep cutting.
Z3-11
Bishop of Llandaff DahliaBulbJul-Oct
Bishop of Llandaff Dahlia
Brilliant scarlet semi-double blooms above near-black foliage. The contrast between leaf and flower is unmatched in the dahlia world.
Z3-10
Black-Eyed SusanPerennialJul-Oct
Black-Eyed Susan
Golden prairie workhorse that lights up late summer meadows.
Z3-10
Blanket FlowerPerennialJun-Oct
Blanket Flower
Fiery bicolor pinwheels that bloom nonstop in the worst heat and soil.
Z3-10
Cafe au Lait DahliaBulbJul-Oct
Cafe au Lait Dahlia
Dinner plate blooms up to 10 inches across in a creamy blush-beige tone florists have built entire wedding industries around.
Z3-10
CosmosAnnualJun-Oct
Cosmos
Airy, dancing flowers on thread-thin stems. Effortless cottage garden charm.
Z3-10
DahliaBulbJul-Oct
Dahlia
Endless forms from dinner-plate to pompom. The obsession of flower farmers.
Z3-10
Drift RoseShrubMay-Oct
Drift Rose
Groundcover rose that stays low and spreads wide. Tough, disease-resistant, and constantly in bloom.
Z4-11
GoldenrodPerennialAug-Oct
Goldenrod
Wrongly blamed for allergies. A vital late-season pollinator magnet.
Z3-10
GomphrenaAnnualJun-Oct
Gomphrena
Papery clover-shaped pom-poms on wiry stems. Drought-proof, deer-proof, and dries perfectly for winter arrangements.
Z3-10
ImpatiensAnnualMay-Oct
Impatiens
The shade annual champion. Flowers prolifically where nothing else will.
Z3-10
Karma Choc DahliaBulbJul-Oct
Karma Choc Dahlia
Velvety dark burgundy waterlily blooms that read almost black in low light. Strong stems built for the vase.
Z3-10
MarigoldAnnualJun-Oct
Marigold
Bulletproof color all season long. The workhorse of warm-toned borders.
Z3-10
Morning GloryAnnualJun-Oct
Morning Glory
Fast-climbing vine with trumpets that open fresh every morning.
Z3-10
Penhill Watermelon DahliaBulbJul-Oct
Penhill Watermelon Dahlia
Cactus-form dinner plate blooms in swirled peach, coral, and yellow with twisting petals. Each flower looks like a sunset in motion.
Z3-10
PetuniaAnnualMay-Oct
Petunia
Cascading color for containers and beds. Blooms nonstop until frost.
Z3-10
PortulacaAnnualMay-Oct
Portulaca
Succulent-leaved sun lover with silky rose-like blooms that thrives where pavement, rock, or sand defeats everything else.
Z3-10
RosePerennialMay-Oct
Rose
The queen of the garden. Modern varieties are surprisingly low-maintenance.
Z3-10
SedumPerennialAug-Nov
Sedum
Succulent leaves, tough as nails. Ages to deep crimson in autumn.
Z3-10
Sweet AlyssumAnnualApr-Oct
Sweet Alyssum
Honey-scented carpet of tiny flowers. The best living edging plant.
Z3-10
Sweet Nathalie DahliaBulbJul-Oct
Sweet Nathalie Dahlia
Soft peachy-pink ball dahlia with perfect rounded form. A cut-flower farmer favorite for the way it holds up in arrangements for days.
Z3-10
SwitchgrassGrassAug-Oct
Switchgrass
Upright native grass with airy seed heads. Gold and red fall color.
Z3-10
Thomas Edison DahliaBulbJul-Oct
Thomas Edison Dahlia
Rich royal purple dinner plate blooms with formal decorative form. One of the few true purples and a showstopper in late-summer beds.
Z3-10
ZinniaAnnualJun-Oct
Zinnia
Easy-grow annual with electric colors. Cut-and-come-again champion.
Z3-10
American Gold Rush Black-Eyed SusanPerennialJul-Oct
American Gold Rush Black-Eyed Susan
Narrow, fuzzy foliage resists the leaf spot that plagues Goldsturm. A worthy upgrade.
Z3-9
Autumn Joy SedumPerennialAug-Oct
Autumn Joy Sedum
Broccoli-like heads open pink and age to copper-bronze. Four-season interest, zero maintenance.
Z3-9
Big BluestemGrassAug-Oct
Big Bluestem
The signature grass of the tallgrass prairie, turning copper-bronze in fall with distinctive turkey-foot seed heads.
Z3-9
Goldsturm Black-Eyed SusanPerennialJul-Oct
Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan
The gold standard rudbeckia. Uniform, floriferous, and utterly reliable in any soil.
Z3-9
Little BluestemGrassAug-Oct
Little Bluestem
Upright clumps turn coppery orange in fall and stand well through winter.
Z3-9
Rosy Returns DaylilyPerennialMay-Oct
Rosy Returns Daylily
Soft rose-pink blooms with a cream throat that keep coming from late spring to frost, absolutely tireless.
Z3-9
William Baffin RoseVineMay-Oct
William Baffin Rose
Bulletproof Canadian Explorer climber that survives zone 3 winters without protection. Strawberry-pink semi-double blooms in massive clusters.
Z3-9
AsterPerennialAug-Nov
Aster
The grand finale of the garden season. Essential for fall pollinators.
Z3-8
Butterfly BushShrubJun-Oct
Butterfly Bush
Long, arching flower wands that butterflies absolutely lose their minds over.
Z5-10
ChrysanthemumPerennialSep-Nov
Chrysanthemum
The fall icon. Mounds of color when everything else is fading.
Z5-10
ColchicumBulbSep-Oct
Colchicum
Crocus-like blooms appear in fall on bare stems without leaves. Plant them and forget them, they will surprise you every September.
Z4-9
Don Juan Climbing RoseVineJun-Oct
Don Juan Climbing Rose
Deep velvety red climber with classic rose fragrance. Repeats reliably on a strong, vigorous plant.
Z5-10
Double Knock Out RoseShrubMay-Oct
Double Knock Out Rose
Fuller, double-petaled version of the Knock Out. Same bulletproof performance with more petal count.
Z5-10
Fire Light HydrangeaShrubJul-Oct
Fire Light Hydrangea
Upright cones open pure white and transform to deep pomegranate red as the season ages. Strong stems that never need staking.
Z3-8
Fountain GrassGrassAug-Nov
Fountain Grass
Arching, bottlebrush plumes that catch the light. Movement in the garden.
Z5-10
HeleniumPerennialAug-Oct
Helenium
Warm-toned daisy-like flowers with raised centers bloom as summer turns to fall. Loves moist soil.
Z3-8
Iceberg RoseShrubMay-Oct
Iceberg Rose
Pure white floribunda clusters that bloom non-stop from spring to frost. Among the most planted roses in the world and bulletproof in any climate.
Z4-9
Indian GrassGrassAug-Oct
Indian Grass
Golden-orange fall color and shimmering flower spikes make this tall prairie native one of autumn's best performers.
Z4-9
Knock Out RoseShrubMay-Oct
Knock Out Rose
The rose that changed everything. Disease-resistant, self-cleaning, and blooms nonstop from spring to frost.
Z5-10
Lady of Shalott RoseShrubMay-Oct
Lady of Shalott Rose
Coppery orange buds open to salmon-pink cups with golden undersides. Tough, disease-resistant, and one of the most generous repeat bloomers David Austin ever bred.
Z4-9
MiscanthusGrassSep-Nov
Miscanthus
Tall, graceful plumes that persist through winter. Living architecture.
Z5-10
Native Witch HazelShrubOct-Dec
Native Witch Hazel
Spidery yellow flowers and intoxicating clove fragrance on bare branches in late fall. The last native shrub to bloom each year.
Z3-8
Northwind SwitchgrassGrassAug-Oct
Northwind Switchgrass
Stiffly upright blue-green foliage that never flops. The most architectural switchgrass available.
Z4-9
Olivia Rose Austin RoseShrubMay-Oct
Olivia Rose Austin Rose
Soft pink rosettes with a sweet fruity fragrance. Widely considered one of the best David Austin roses ever, with exceptional disease resistance.
Z4-9
Prairie Sky SwitchgrassGrassAug-Oct
Prairie Sky Switchgrass
The bluest foliage of any switchgrass, with airy pink seed clouds drifting above in late summer.
Z4-9
Rainbow Knock Out RoseShrubMay-Oct
Rainbow Knock Out Rose
Coral-pink single blooms with a yellow eye on the same indestructible Knock Out frame. Self-cleaning and disease-resistant like the original.
Z5-10
Rose of SharonShrubJul-Oct
Rose of Sharon
A cold-hardy hibiscus shrub (Hibiscus syriacus) with big tropical-looking blooms in lavender, pink, blue, white, or wine, opening late summer when most flowering shrubs are done.
Z5-10
Russian SagePerennialJul-Oct
Russian Sage
Airy lavender clouds on silver stems. Thrives in heat and poor soil.
Z4-9
Shenandoah SwitchgrassGrassAug-Oct
Shenandoah Switchgrass
Compact selection that turns vivid burgundy-red in late summer earlier than any other switchgrass.
Z4-9
Showy GoldenrodPerennialAug-Oct
Showy Goldenrod
Upright spikes of bright yellow flowers feed late-season pollinators on dry prairies.
Z3-8
Sunny Knock Out RoseShrubMay-Oct
Sunny Knock Out Rose
Bright lemon-yellow single blooms that fade to creamy white. The only Knock Out with real fragrance, and just as bulletproof as the rest.
Z5-10
TurtleheadPerennialAug-Oct
Turtlehead
Snapdragon-like flowers shaped exactly like a turtle's head. Loves wet feet.
Z3-8
Vanilla Strawberry HydrangeaShrubJul-Oct
Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea
Cone blooms open creamy white, age to soft pink, then deepen to strawberry red while new white cones keep emerging above them.
Z3-8
At Last RoseShrubMay-Oct
At Last Rose
Combines old-rose fragrance with modern disease resistance, finally. Apricot-pink cupped blooms that look like an English rose but bloom like a Knock Out.
Z5-9
Cinco de Mayo RoseShrubMay-Oct
Cinco de Mayo Rose
Smoky lavender-rust blooms with copper undertones unlike any other rose. Modern fragrance, modern disease resistance, and a color you will not find anywhere else.
Z5-9
Desert MarigoldPerennialMar-Oct
Desert Marigold
Cheerful desert wildflower that blooms almost year-round in warm climates. Thrives on neglect.
Z7-11
Encore Autumn AzaleaShrubApr-Oct
Encore Autumn Azalea
Spring blooms plus a full fall encore. Multiple color options in the Encore series.
Z6-10
Graham Thomas RoseShrubMay-Oct
Graham Thomas Rose
Rich golden-yellow cups with an intense tea rose fragrance. David Austin's most famous creation.
Z5-9
Japanese AnemonePerennialAug-Oct
Japanese Anemone
Graceful, swaying blooms on tall stems. Elegant in partial shade.
Z4-8
Julia Child RoseShrubMay-Oct
Julia Child Rose
Butter-yellow ruffled blooms with a sweet licorice-candy fragrance. The chef's own pick for her garden and one of the best yellow floribundas ever bred.
Z5-9
Maiden GrassGrassSep-Oct
Maiden Grass
Narrow arching foliage creates elegant vase shapes topped with coppery pink plumes in fall.
Z5-9
Mister Lincoln RoseShrubMay-Oct
Mister Lincoln Rose
Deep dark red hybrid tea blooms with an intense damask fragrance on long stems. The benchmark for classic red roses since 1964.
Z5-9
Morning Light MiscanthusGrassSep-Oct
Morning Light Miscanthus
Fine white-edged foliage shimmers in morning light, then silver plumes arch above in fall.
Z5-9
Peace RoseShrubMay-Oct
Peace Rose
Massive cream-yellow blooms with rose-pink edges. The most famous rose of the 20th century, released the day Berlin fell in 1945.
Z5-9
Pink Muhly GrassGrassSep-Nov
Pink Muhly Grass
Billowing pink seed clouds float over fine foliage in autumn and remain attractive dried.
Z6-10
Roald Dahl RoseShrubMay-Oct
Roald Dahl Rose
Peach-apricot cups in soft warm tones with a tea rose fragrance. Tireless rebloomer with excellent disease resistance.
Z5-9
Strawberry Sundae HydrangeaShrubJul-Oct
Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea
Compact paniculata cones open creamy white, blush pink in summer, then deepen to strawberry red as fall arrives.
Z4-8
Sunsprite RoseShrubMay-Oct
Sunsprite Rose
Brilliant deep yellow floribunda blooms that hold their color even in hot sun. Sweet fragrance and outstanding disease resistance.
Z5-9
Tall VerbenaAnnualJun-Oct
Tall Verbena
Wiry stems topped with purple clusters that butterflies can't resist. See-through plant for layering.
Z7-11
Toad LilyPerennialSep-Oct
Toad Lily
Orchid-like spotted flowers when everything else is done. A late-season shade garden gem.
Z4-8
Tuff Stuff HydrangeaShrubJun-Oct
Tuff Stuff Hydrangea
Reblooming mountain hydrangea with delicate lacecap blooms. Takes more cold than macrophyllas and keeps flowering after harsh winters.
Z5-9
Zebra GrassGrassSep-Oct
Zebra Grass
Horizontal yellow bands cross the blades in a pattern unique among ornamental grasses. Bold and architectural.
Z5-9
AcidantheraBulbAug-Oct
Acidanthera
Arching stems hold fragrant white blooms with a deep maroon throat. Peacock orchid, the elegant late-summer cousin of the bold gladiolus.
Z7-10
CassiaShrubSep-Nov
Cassia
Showers of bright golden flowers cover the shrub in fall when little else is blooming. Sulphur cassia, a butterfly host plant that lights up the autumn.
Z8-11
FirespikeShrubSep-Nov
Firespike
Tall spires of brilliant scarlet tubular flowers light up the fall garden. Hummingbird candy that thrives in the heat and humidity of the Gulf South.
Z8-11
LantanaPerennialMay-Nov
Lantana
Multi-colored flower clusters that bloom relentlessly in brutal heat.
Z7-10
Rozanne GeraniumPerennialMay-Oct
Rozanne Geranium
Violet-blue saucer flowers on a sprawling mound that blooms from late spring until frost. The most awarded perennial geranium in history.
Z5-8
Sweet OliveShrubMar-Nov
Sweet Olive
Small clustered flowers perfume the garden with an apricot-like scent over a long season.
Z8-11
Turk's CapPerennialJun-Nov
Turk's Cap
Nodding red hibiscus flowers that never fully open are pure hummingbird candy across the Gulf South.
Z7-10
Wax BegoniaAnnualMay-Oct
Wax Begonia
Glossy leaves and nonstop flowers in sun or shade. One of the most reliable bedding plants anywhere.
Z8-11
Angel's TrumpetShrubMay-Oct
Angel's Trumpet
Huge pendant trumpets release intense evening fragrance over a long warm-season bloom.
Z9-11
BougainvilleaVineMar-Nov
Bougainvillea
Explosive cascades of papery magenta, hot pink, or coral bracts that smother walls, fences, and pergolas with nonstop color from spring through fall in zones 9 to 11.
Z9-11
CalibrachoaAnnualMay-Oct
Calibrachoa
Mini petunias that bloom nonstop in hanging baskets. Dozens of color options and no deadheading needed.
Z9-11
California FuchsiaPerennialAug-Oct
California Fuchsia
Low mounds of gray foliage are covered in tubular red-orange flowers in late summer.
Z8-10
Cape HoneysuckleShrubJan-Nov
Cape Honeysuckle
Clusters of vivid orange-red trumpets bloom from fall through spring. Evergreen in mild climates and a hummingbird magnet in every month it flowers.
Z9-11
Hawaiian HibiscusShrubMar-Nov
Hawaiian Hibiscus
Large tropical blooms in vivid colors appear repeatedly from spring through fall.
Z9-11
MandevillaVineMay-Oct
Mandevilla
Glossy vines are covered in showy trumpet flowers from early summer to frost in warm climates.
Z9-11
Meyer LemonShrubJan-Dec
Meyer Lemon
Sweetly scented white blossoms appear intermittently year-round and set thin-skinned lemons.
Z9-11
PelargoniumAnnualMay-Oct
Pelargonium
The classic window-box geranium. Ball-shaped flower clusters above scalloped leaves. Tough container staple.
Z9-11
Pink DipladeniaShrubMay-Oct
Pink Dipladenia
Bushy form with glossy foliage and abundant pink trumpets suited to pots and borders.
Z9-11
PlumbagoShrubMay-Nov
Plumbago
Sky-blue phlox-like clusters bloom nonstop in warm climates. The blue flower that thrives where most blues melt in summer heat.
Z9-11
Pride of BarbadosShrubMay-Nov
Pride of Barbados
Flame-orange and yellow flower clusters that hummingbirds and swallowtails cannot resist. Thrives on heat, dies back at frost, returns every spring.
Z9-11
Purple Fountain GrassGrassJul-Oct
Purple Fountain Grass
Burgundy foliage topped with fuzzy rose-colored plumes. Stunning in containers where it's treated as an annual in cold climates.
Z9-11
Yellow BellsShrubMay-Nov
Yellow Bells
Clusters of bright yellow trumpet flowers bloom for months in the heat. Southwest staple that takes drought and reflected heat without flinching.
Z9-11
Bird of ParadisePerennialMar-Dec
Bird of Paradise
Sculptural, crane-like flowers in orange and blue. Unmistakable.
Z9-10
CrossandraShrubMay-Oct
Crossandra
Glossy leaves and asymmetrical apricot-orange blooms held in tight spikes. Firecracker flower, blooms steadily in heat that wilts other tropicals.
Z10-11
Pink PlumeriaTreeMay-Oct
Pink Plumeria
Clusters of pink, sweetly scented blooms cover this classic tropical tree in summer.
Z10-11
PlumeriaTreeMay-Oct
Plumeria
Intoxicatingly fragrant tropical blooms. The flower of Hawaiian leis.
Z9-10
White PlumeriaTreeMay-Oct
White Plumeria
Highly fragrant white flowers with yellow centers appear in clusters on succulent branches.
Z10-11

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