12 Flowers to Plant Now for Fall and Winter

Fall is renowned for its colorful foliage, and winter is dreaded for its bare branches after that fall foliage drops. Neither of these seasons generally comes to mind when it comes to flowers, but that’s just foolish. There are loads of fall flowers, and even winter blooms, to keep things smelling sweet and looking beautiful.

Fall flowers can be found in just about every plant form: herbaceous cultivars, beloved wildflowers, shrubs, vines, and even trees. They come in just about any color one could desire, and they have a collection of sizes and shapes.

Rather than feeling misled for all these years, maybe now is the time to get some of these fall and winter flowers planted so that all of our seasons are wildly colorful and full of blossoms. Why not start with a dozen choices?

Source: Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve/YouTube

1. Asters

Several types of asters hold off for fall to bloom. These are lovely flowers, with many native to the southern US. Some can grow to be quite tall, and they will liven up in early autumn with beautiful colors.

2. Camellias

It’s important with camellias, a flowering shrub, to get the fall-blooming variety. They will produce flowers from late fall to early winter, right when other plants are shutting down for the winter. They’re gorgeous.

3. Clematis

Clematis is a vigorous vine that has stunning flowers. There are native varieties in the US, but there are tons of cultivars with much more awe-inspiring flowers. Be sure to look for fall-blooming varieties. There are tons.

4. Heliopsis

Often called “false sunflower”, heliopsis have big yellow flowers that keep blooming well into fall. The plants can grow somewhere between three and five feet tall with a spread of up to three feet. There are several cultivars to choose from.

Source: Growit Buildit/YouTube

5. Nasturtiums

In warmer zones, nasturtium can continue to provide colorful flowers well into fall. They’ll survive until the first freeze gets them, but with a little protection, they may keep kicking for a while longer.

6. Joe-Pye Weed

This perennial wildflower reaches up to six feet and puts on a flower show in late summer and throughout autumn. The flowers show up in large clusters, are typically purple or pink, and attract butterflies.

7. Pansies

Pansies are classic cool-weather flowers that will survive in gardens or pots. They come in a wide selection of colors and patterns. Adding to the fun, pansies are also edible flowers, so they can add a flash of color to winter dishes, too.

8. Saffron Crocus

Yep! That wildly expensive spice called saffron is collected from a crocus. And, yes, those famed early-blooming crocuses have varieties that bloom in autumn. These are small perennial flowers planted as bulbs.

Source: Stacy Ling/YouTube

9. Sedum

There are hundreds of species of sedum. They are flowering plants with succulent leaves, and some of the species have flowers that do their work in autumn. The go-to cultivar for fall sedum is called “autumn joy”.

10. Surprise Lily

This plant, which is a lily, goes by several different names: resurrection lily, mystery lily, and naked lady. It grows strappy foliage in the springtime. Then, several months later, long after the leaves have died, a single stem sticks up a couple of feet from out of nowhere and blooms.

11. Violas

Violas have over 500 different species, including annuals, perennials, and even shrub-like incarnations. Many of the popular varieties are commonly confused with pansies. They have the same love of cool weather and a large collection of colors. Also like pansies, violas are edible.

12. Witch Hazel

A late fall to winter bloomer, witch hazel is a small deciduous tree with wispy yellow flowers that have red centers. They stand out on bare branches. For that reason, this is often a featured tree in garden arrangements.

Source: Forestry and Natural Resources Extension/YouTube

Imagine that. The spring and summer long faded away, with fall and winter winds chilling the world over, and flowers are there to remind us that life ain’t so bad. Isn’t funny how plants can do such miraculous things?

Related Content:

• How to Grow Fall Chrysanthemums for Your Autumnal Garden
• 10 Plants to Grow for Flowers in Winter
• 5 of the Best Flowers to Grow in Your Veggie Garden
• Seeds to Sow in August for a Fall Crop
• Great Flowers to Plant for Your Winter Garden

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