Are your neighbors’ gardens starting to look tired and dull? Not yours!
These 5 stunning late-summer plants will keep your garden looking magazine-worthy well into fall.
I’ve tested them all, and they’re perfect for busy gardeners who want lasting color.
Our Top 5 Late Blooming Plants
1. Crocosmia (formerly Montbretia)
I absolutely fell in love with Crocosmia the moment I planted it in my garden. This fiery beauty is like having a sunset right in your backyard!
The spreading clumps of strappy leaves create the perfect backdrop for the show-stopping trumpet-shaped flowers that come in the most gorgeous shades of red, yellow, and orange.
What I adore most about Crocosmia is how it just keeps blooming for several months. It’s become my go-to plant for adding those perfect pops of warmth to my garden borders.
Just remember to give these sun-lovers a prime spot in full sunlight – they’re definitely not shy about soaking up those rays!
2. Japanese Anemone
If you’re anything like me and prefer low-maintenance plants (because let’s face it, who has time to babysit flowers?), Japanese Anemones are your new best friend.
These elegant beauties produce the most stunning large flowers in soft pinks, gentle mauves, and pristine whites. The blooms dance on their sturdy, wiry stems in the late summer breeze, and the best part? No staking required!
I’ve found them to be completely self-sufficient, which makes them perfect for busy moms like me who want a beautiful garden without the fuss.
3. Penstemon
Let me tell you about my garden’s most reliable performer – the Penstemon. These charming plants with their bell-shaped flowers in purples, pinks, and blues have never let me down.
Their compact growth habit means they fit perfectly into any garden space, and they’re incredibly drought-tolerant. As someone who occasionally forgets to water (don’t we all?), I really appreciate this quality!
Here’s a little tip I learned the hard way: take some cuttings as backup before winter sets in. And don’t forget to give them a good trim in spring – they’ll reward you with even more gorgeous blooms.
4. Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
Oh my goodness, the fragrance! That’s what first drew me to Garden Phlox, and I’ve never looked back.
These classic beauties produce the most incredible clusters of flowers in pinks, purples, reds, and whites. Every time I walk past them in my garden, I can’t help but stop and take in their sweet scent.
They’re surprisingly easy to grow – just give them plenty of sun, and they’ll bloom their hearts out until summer waves goodbye.
5. Helenium (Sneezeweed)
Don’t let the funny nickname fool you – Helenium is a serious show-stopper in the late summer garden. The bold blood-orange, daisy-like flowers are absolutely stunning!
What makes me extra happy about these beauties is how much the bees love them. There’s nothing better than watching pollinators buzz happily around your garden while you sip your morning coffee.
Even after the flowers fade, the seed heads add interest well into autumn. It’s like getting two plants in one!