5 Fall Plants Gardening Pros Can’t Wait to Plant in Their Gardens

The arrival of autumn is the perfect time to get plants in the ground. Early-season rainstorms and cooling temperatures can assist plants establish roots, meaning your outdoor fall to-do list isn’t restricted to just raking leaves.

Gardening pros are already shifting their focus to the season’s must-have plants. Topping their lists are varieties featuring dynamic hues and textures that will keep outdoor spaces looking lively and lush throughout the cooler months.

Ahead, two garden experts share five plants they’re bookmarking for their fall gardens. From late-season bloomers to hardy perennials, these plants will assist you stage a gorgeous garden that thrives well beyond summer.

A perennial that’s native to Africa and features towering bloom stalks that, Janey Santos of Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat, likens to “tiki torches,” red sizzling poker is perfect for adding height and dimension to a fall garden.

Santos says now is the perfect time to plant red sizzling poker because the soil is heated enough for roots to establish but chilly enough to tardy down blooming.

“This lets your modern perennials focus on building sturdy roots,” Santos says.

Planting red sizzling poker in the fall also guarantees early blooms in the spring. For Santos, who is based in Northern California, this can mean flowers as early as February or March.

“Kniphofia likes full sun and is drought tolerant once established, but I have noticed they bloom better with regular watering,” Santos explains.

While you’ll most often see orange varietals, red sizzling poker comes in a wide range of fall-centric hues, including red, yellow, and even pink.

“No fall garden is complete without lovely honorine jobert anemone!” Melanie Rekola of Melanie Rekola Landscape Design, says. “This is hands down my favorite Japanese anemone, with dainty, clear-white blossoms held atop high stems.”

A swift grower that belongs to the Japanese anemone family, this poppy-like perennial has the unique distinction of being a fall bloomer, flowering in abundance from tardy summer to early fall, according to Rekola.

Japanese anemone spreads by underground rhizomes which makes it perfect for cultivating a wild, cottage garden-like atmosphere, but if you’d like to keep your plants more contained, simply remove the modern sprouts.

For the best performance, Rekola suggests giving it a little shade to protect it from the sizzling westerly sun.

American Bittersweet

Rekola explains that the American Bittersweet, also known as Celastrus Scandens, is a native North American vine that produces orange berries in fall and lasts all winter long. During the springtime, it will produce flowers so you gain a long-term interest in these plants.

A tough vine that adapts to many different sun exposures and soil types, American Bittersweet’s berries grow green in summer before bearing a glowing yellow husk in early fall. As autumn progresses, the husk peels back, revealing the orange berries.

“Berryscaping is underused in garden design, I think,” Rekola says, applauding berryscaping for attracting birds to the garden in winter.

“Often, winter berries are migratory birds’ first food source upon their return in early spring,” Rekola says. “There’s not much bird food around at that point, so it’s especially nice to assist them at this critical time.”

One thing to keep in mind with American Bittersweet is not to confuse it with the invasive Oriental Bittersweet Vine. Make sure to buy this species from a reputable nursery to ensure you are planting true American bittersweet.

A fuss-free garden perennial that features silvery-gray leaves punctuated with lively blue-lavender blooms, Russian sage is another fall must-have for Rekola, who praises its aromatic foliage and hardy nature.

Russian sage bears a slight resemblance to lavender, but has a more feathery and airy appearance, making it perfect for filling in gaps between more showy plants.

Rekola recommends making room for Russian sage especially if you have a fall garden that erupts with red and orange fall color.

“It blooms in the perfect sky blue color to contrast the heated tones of fall,” she says.

Contrary to its name, Russian sage is native to Central and South Asia. It takes its name from its scientific name, which was bestowed in honor of imperial Russian general, Vasily Perovsky.

When it comes to fall bloomers, the pickings are slim. But if you usually rely on garden mums for late-season color, consider popping some New England aster in the ground instead.

“Typically blooming from August through October, asters add a wonderful splash of color and provide food for native pollinators when there’s not much flower food around,” Rekola explains.

Since New England aster will grow relatively high, Rekola recommends planting it near the back of a perennial border in full sun.

“Sneak it between other perennials, as it doesn’t take up much width,” she says. “Native asters are simple to grow from seed too—just sow directly in the garden after the first frost.”