Fall is the perfect time to add perennials to your garden, as they can get well established before the heat of the summer hits. In this article, we will be discussing the top seven perennials recommended by Gardening with Creekside to plant in the fall for gorgeous spring color. These seven perennials include Baptisia, Amsonia, Pulmonaria, and Hellebores, among others.
Baptisia is an early spring bloomer that is low maintenance and easy to care for. It is a native plant to North America and is drought tolerant once established. Amsonia is another early bloomer that has true blue flowers and fine feathery foliage. Pulmonaria is a perfect shade companion in your garden and has gorgeous speckled colors to its foliage. Hellebores, also known as Lenten roses, are the number one earliest blooming perennial and are long blooming. These perennials range in size and are suitable for zones four to nine.
Top Seven Perennials
For those looking to add some color to their garden in the spring, Creekside recommends planting perennials in the fall. These plants are easy to maintain and can be added to gardens across the country before the ground freezes. Creekside has compiled a list of her top seven favorite perennials that will provide gorgeous spring color.
Baptisia
Baptisia is one of Creekside’s favorite early spring bloomers. These perennials are low maintenance and become bigger and better with each passing year. Baptisia plants are narrow at the base and spread outwards, creating a vase-like feature. They come in a range of colors, including yellow, blue, pink, chocolate brown, and soft white. Baptisia plants are drought tolerant and deer resistant, making them a great addition to any garden. They prefer part to full sun and are best planted in zones four to nine.
Amsonia
Amsonia is another early spring bloomer that Creekside recommends. These perennials have feathery foliage and gorgeous true blue flowers. They are drought tolerant and deer resistant, making them a low maintenance addition to any garden. Depending on the variety, amsonia plants can range from two to three feet in height and are best planted in zones four to nine.
Pulmonaria
For those with shade gardens, Creekside recommends pulmonaria. These perennials have gorgeous speckled foliage and salmon to pink flowers that transition to blue. Pulmonaria plants are hearty in zones three to nine and prefer part to full shade. They are deer and rabbit resistant but require well-draining soil.
Hellebores
Hellebores, also known as Lenten roses, are Creekside’s all-time favorite early blooming perennial. These plants are long blooming and come in a range of colors from black to white. Hellebores are cold tolerant and can bloom even when covered in snow. They are deer and rabbit resistant and prefer more shade. Hellebores are versatile and can be planted in zones three to nine.
Dianthus
Dianthus is a low growing perennial that Creekside recommends for its early spring blooms. These plants prefer full sun and are best planted in zones four to nine. They come in a range of colors, including pink, red, and white. Dianthus plants are drought tolerant and deer resistant.
Salvia
Salvia is a late spring bloomer that Creekside recommends for its long-lasting blooms. These perennials prefer full sun and are best planted in zones four to nine. They come in a range of colors, including purple, pink, and blue. Salvia plants are drought tolerant and deer resistant.
Allium
Allium is a unique perennial that Creekside recommends for its globe-shaped flowers. These plants prefer full sun and are best planted in zones four to nine. Allium plants come in a range of colors, including purple, pink, and white. They are drought tolerant and deer resistant.
These top seven perennials are all great additions to any garden and are sure to provide gorgeous spring color.
Baptisia
Maintenance
Baptisia is a low-maintenance perennial that can thrive in part to full sun in zones four to nine. It has a deep taproot, so it is important to plant it in a location where it can remain undisturbed. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.
Planting Tips
Baptisia can range in size from two to three feet tall and wide, depending on the variety. It has a vase-like shape and comes in a variety of colors, including yellow, blue, pink, and chocolate brown. It is recommended to plant Baptisia in the fall before the ground freezes, so it has time to establish itself before the heat of the summer.
Features
Baptisia is a native plant to North America that can bring architectural interest to a garden with its tall spikes and bluish-green foliage. Even after it blooms, it can continue to add height and interest to a garden. It is a great addition to any garden, particularly those looking for early spring color.
Amsonia
Maintenance
Amsonia is a low maintenance perennial that blooms early in the spring. It has fine, feathery foliage and gorgeous true blue flowers. Depending on the variety, amsonia can range in size from 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. It is a drought tolerant plant and can handle full hot sun once established. Amsonia is also deer resistant and native to North America.
Planting Tips
Amsonia prefers part to full sun and is hardy in zones 4 to 9. It is a great addition to any garden and can be planted in the fall to ensure gorgeous spring color. When planting amsonia, make sure to choose a location where it can stay because it does not transplant well after it has been established. Amsonia is also heat tolerant and can handle full hot sun once established.
Features
Amsonia has a unique leaf texture and gorgeous true blue flowers. It is a low maintenance plant that is drought tolerant and deer resistant. Depending on the variety, it can range in size from 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Amsonia is also native to North America and has gorgeous fall color. It is a great addition to any garden, especially for those who want early spring color.
Pulmonaria
Maintenance
Pulmonaria is a low-maintenance perennial that requires good drainage and semi-evergreen soil. It does not like to sit in consistently wet soil, as it will rot. It likes moisture but needs to be well-draining soil. It is deer and rabbit resistant, making it a perfect shade companion in the garden. It blends really well with hostas and has a similar habit as a hosta, where it is not very tall, about 16 inches, but it is nice and wide, about 20 inches wide. Pulmonaria is a perfect shade companion in the garden because it has gorgeous foliage, even if it doesn’t bloom.
Planting Tips
Pulmonaria is a shade plant that can tolerate part to full shade. It is hardy in zones 3 to 9. If you are in zone 3, you can probably put it in full sun. If you are in zone 9, it’s probably going to be more of a shade plant or a morning sun afternoon shade. Pulmonaria is a great plant for the shade garden and needs good drainage. It does not like to sit in consistently wet soil, or it will rot. It likes moisture, but the soil needs to be well-draining.
Features
Pulmonaria is a perfect shade companion in the garden because it has gorgeous foliage, even if it doesn’t bloom. It has a speckled color that adds interest to the garden. Pulmonaria is a shade plant that can tolerate part to full shade. It is hardy in zones 3 to 9. It is deer and rabbit resistant. Pulmonaria is a low-maintenance perennial that requires good drainage and semi-evergreen soil. It blends really well with hostas and has a similar habit as a hosta, where it is not very tall, about 16 inches, but it is nice and wide, about 20 inches wide.
Hellebores
Maintenance
Hellebores, also known as Lenten roses, are one of the earliest blooming perennials. They are cold tolerant and long blooming, making them a great addition to any garden. Hellebores are deer and rabbit resistant due to their thick leathery foliage. They prefer more shade but there are some new cultivars that can handle more sun depending on the zone and plant. Hellebores are versatile and can grow in zones three to nine. They average about 16 inches tall and 20 inches wide.
Planting Tips
When planting hellebores, it is important to choose the right location. They prefer more shade and well-draining soil. Hellebores need good drainage and don’t like to sit in consistently wet soil as they will rot. They like moisture but it’s important to have well-draining soil. Hellebores are a perfect shade companion in your garden as they blend well with hostas. They are great for pollinators as they bloom early in the season when they are in desperate need of sweet nectar.
Features
Hellebores come in a variety of colors ranging from black to white and every color in between. There are tons of different varieties and cultivars available at your local garden center. They are narrow at the base and then kind of come upward and spread out so it has a vase-like feature. Hellebores bring a lot of architectural interest into your garden even after they bloom. They have very thick leathery rough foliage that makes them deer and rabbit resistant. Hellebores are native to North America and are a great addition to any garden.
Conclusion
In this video, the speaker shared their top seven favorite perennials to plant in the fall for gorgeous spring color. These perennials include Baptisia, Amsonia, Pulmonaria, Hellebores, and more.
Baptisia is a low-maintenance early spring bloomer that ranges in size and color and is drought and deer-resistant. Amsonia also has early blooms and true blue flowers with fine feathery foliage that is heat tolerant and deer-resistant. Pulmonaria is a perfect shade companion with gorgeous speckled foliage and flowers that range from salmon to pink and transition to blue. Hellebores are the earliest blooming perennials and are very cold tolerant with long-lasting blooms in various colors.
Overall, these perennials are versatile and easy to care for, making them great additions to any garden. With the right placement and care, they can provide stunning color and interest throughout the spring and beyond.