Top Plants for Late‑Season Interest: Flowers, Foliage & Berries

The cool, wet weather we’ve had makes it perfectly fine to add new plants to the garden even in the height of summer. Planting fall‑performing varieties now gives them time to establish before their peak season. Below are some of our favorite selections for late‑season flowers, brilliant leaf color, and showy berries. We’ll cover each in more detail in the coming weeks—stay tuned and send us your questions!

Perennials for Fall Blooming

• Aster – Brilliantly colored fall flowers that attract beneficial insects.
• Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) – Purple flower heads atop 4‑foot stems draw butterflies and bees.
• Chelone (Turtlehead) – Native plant with tall spikes of white flowers in late summer.
• Helenium (Sneezeweed) – Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
• Echinacea (Coneflower) – Brilliant blooms from summer into fall.
• Anemone – Clean white or pink flowers in September.
• Sedum – Thrives in hot, dry spots; pink blooms in late summer.

Fall‑Performing Shrubs and Trees

• Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea) – Native; burgundy fall foliage.
• Symphoricarpos (Coral Berry) – Native; clusters of coral‑pink and purple berries persist through winter.
• Clethra (Summersweet) – Fragrant, rosy‑pink flowers that bloom in August.
• Callicarpa (Beauty Berry) – Glossy purple fruit in fall and winter.
• Viburnum – Native; white flowers followed by showy fruit that lasts through winter.
• Cornus (Dogwood) – Native; red or yellow stems create fabulous winter interest.
• Euonymus (Burning Bush) – Rich red leaves in fall.
• Mukdenia – Low‑growing, spreading; bronzed/red‑tinged leaves in late summer.
• Caryopteris (Bluebeard) – Deep blue flowers in late summer.