18 Best Fall-Blooming Perennials That Come Back Year After Year

Nothing brightens up a garden quite like sunflowers! With their cheerful yellow petals and bold brown centers, they’re one of the biggest showstoppers of the season. They’re great for borders or containers and attract bees and butterflies well into autumn.

Echinacea keeps the garden colorful well into fall with its daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, purple, and white. These hardy perennials love full sun, tolerate drought, and attract butterflies and bees. Leave the seed heads standing after the flowers fade to feed birds and add texture through the winter.

They don’t call it "Autumn Joy" for nothing! This sun-loving sedum evolves from pale pink to deep burgundy as the temperatures drop, adding weeks of color to the garden. Leave the dried flower heads standing to feed birds and add texture through the winter.

Crocosmia grows tall, arching stems topped with bright red, orange, or yellow flowers. It loves full sun and well-drained soil and will bloom right into early fall. Hummingbirds flock to it, and the seed pods stand out beautifully once the flowers are gone.

Mums burst into bloom in late summer and fall with dense clusters of flowers in nearly every color you can imagine. They do best in full sun and well-drained soil and can be grown in the ground or in pots. Give them regular watering while they’re blooming, and you’ll have a bright display that lasts for weeks.

Bee balm has shaggy, colorful flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, or white that bloom late into the season. It grows best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil and attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Cut it back after flowering to encourage fresh growth and keep it looking tidy.

Russian sage has tall, airy stems covered in small lavender-blue flowers that bloom from midsummer into fall. It thrives in full sun and dry soil, making it a great choice for low-maintenance gardens. The silvery foliage adds a soft texture that pairs well with brighter blooms.

Russian sage has tall, airy stems covered in small lavender-blue flowers that bloom from midsummer into fall. It thrives in full sun and dry soil, making it a great choice for low-maintenance gardens. The silvery foliage adds a soft texture that pairs well with brighter blooms.

Helenium blooms in shades of red, orange, and yellow that look like little bursts of sunshine in the garden. It does best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil and flowers from late summer into fall. These cheerful blooms are also a favorite of bees and butterflies.

Joe Pye weed has tall stems topped with big clusters of soft pink or purple flowers. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and likes moist soil, making it great for wetter spots in the yard. The blooms are a magnet for butterflies well into the fall.

Goldenrod covers the garden in bright yellow flower spikes that appear in late summer and last through fall. It grows well in full sun and dry soil, and it’s both hardy and low-maintenance. Pollinators love it, and it mixes beautifully with other fall perennials.

Asters produce masses of star-shaped flowers in shades of purple, pink, blue, or white. They like full sun and well-drained soil and bloom late in the season when much of the garden is winding down. Their nectar-rich flowers are a welcome food source for pollinators.

Black-eyed Susans have sunny yellow petals with dark centers that stand out in any garden. They grow easily in full sun and well-drained soil and will bloom from midsummer into fall. These hardy flowers also make great cut arrangements.

Toad lilies have orchid-like blooms speckled in purple, pink, or white that appear in early to mid-fall. They prefer partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil. Their unusual flowers add a pop of interest to shady spots.

Montauk daisies bloom in the fall with white petals and bright yellow centers. They like full sun and well-drained soil and are drought-tolerant once established. Their crisp, fresh look is perfect for extending summer color into autumn.

Coreopsis produces bright yellow, pink, or bicolor blooms that keep going well into fall. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil and is very easy to grow. Deadheading spent blooms can keep the flowers coming even longer.

Agastache has tall spikes of flowers in shades of purple, pink, orange, or blue that bloom late into the season. It grows best in full sun and dry soil and is loved by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. The aromatic foliage is an added bonus.

Turtlehead produces clusters of pink, white, or purple flowers shaped like little turtle heads. It prefers moist soil and partial shade, making it great for spots near water or in woodland gardens. The late-season blooms also attract butterflies.