8 Perennials for Spectacular Fall Foliage Color

Prairie autumn isn't just grasses — perennials put on a color show rivaling New England trees. Mass lower-growing perennials for a carpet of color beneath the canopy. Here are standout performers.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Hubricht's Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii, zones 4–9)

Massed, produces a cloud of bright yellow → orange → rusty brown before defoliating. 3 ft tall/wide. Full sun, medium to dry soil. Bright blue late-spring flowers.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' and kin

Reliable golden hues. Groundcover sedums turn orange/bright red. Easy propagation — snap stem, stick in soil. Dry to medium soil, full to partial sun. Great pollinator nectar.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Monarch host plant. Bright orange fall color (varies yearly: red, orange, yellow, green). Full sun, damp to medium soil. 3 ft tall, 1–2 ft wide.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Meadow Blazing Star (Liatris ligulistylis)

Impressive perennial fall display — umbers, rusts, pure yellows. Full sun, medium to moist soil. 3–4 ft tall, 1–2 ft wide. Mid-late summer bloom; other Liatris species also excel.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

American Senna (Senna hebecarpa)

Shrub-like 4–5 ft tall/wide. Long summer bloom (yellow flowers, bees/flies). Fall color: yellows/oranges glowing in late sun. Superfuzzy elongated seed heads rattle in black slips in winter. Full sun, medium to moist soil. No massing needed for fall impact.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

More Fall-Color Perennials

• Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum): Groundcover, bright reds
• Geraniums: Rainbow crayon-box colors
• Balloon flowers: Yellow as phone books
• Joe Pye Weed, ironweed, asters: Color persists after seeding

Plants give three-season potential if we're open to it. What perennials give you great fall leaf color?