Fall is here, and it’s time for flowers galore! With the days getting shorter and the time change right around the corner, now is the time to get your fall flowers planted. Give them a head start while there’s still plenty of daylight and warm soil to help them settle in. Are you planting annuals for a big seasonal show, perennials that bloom this fall and return year after year, or Texas native perennials that work hard for pollinators? Why not all of the above! Here are 10 of our absolute favorite blooms for our favorite planting season.
Fall Aster – Native Perennial
Fall Asters bring cheerful daisy-like blooms and beautiful late-season color to the garden. They grow best in full sun to partial shade. Give them consistent moisture while they’re getting established, especially during warm, dry spells. After they bloom in the fall, they make an excellent evergreen shrub year-round.
Black Dalea – Native Perennial
Black Dalea is a tough Texas native that delivers vibrant late-season color while using relatively little water once established. Plant it in full sun and well-drained soil for the best growth and flowering. Pronounced ‘day-lee-uh’, unlike common dahlias.
Marigold -Fall Annual
Marigolds are classic fall favorites that thrive in South Texas when temperatures begin to cool. Plant them in full sun and keep them watered consistently while they establish. Excellent color to mix into your veggie garden. Plant now for a big show for Dia De Los Muertos in October!
Blackfoot Daisy – Native Perennial
Blackfoot Daisy is a Texas native known for its delicate white flowers and yellow centers. It thrives in full sun, heat, and well-drained soil, making it excellent for raised beds, containers, and rock gardens. Extremely drought tolerant and requires relatively little maintenance.
Coreopsis – Fall & Spring Annual
Coreopsis brings cheerful, daisy-like blooms in shades of yellow, gold, and red to the fall garden. It grows best in full sun and can handle the heat once established. Regular watering during establishment will help encourage strong growth and more blooms.
Dianthus – Fall Annual
Dianthus is a cool-season favorite that adds colorful blooms and a little fragrance to fall gardens. Plant in full sun, keeping the soil consistently moist without allowing it to stay soggy. As temperatures cool, dianthus will take off and provide color well into winter.
Petunia – Fall & Spring Annual
Petunias are one of the easiest ways to add a big splash of color to the fall garden. THE classic container and hanging basket plant! Fall’s cooler temperatures are perfect for petunias in South Texas, helping them produce abundant blooms. When watering, don’t water over the top – water under the flower over the lip of your container to keep your petunias big and full.
Turk’s Cap – Native Perennial
Turk’s Cap is a Texas native perennial with unique, hibiscus-like flowers that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. It’s actually part of the mallow family, along with hibiscus and our native Rock Rose. Turk’s Cap is the most versatile of all – it can thrive in sun or shade, clay or sandy soils.
Salvia greggii – Native Perennial
Salvia greggii, also known as Autumn Sage, is a South Texas favorite and a magnet for hummingbirds and pollinators. Plant it in full sun and well-drained soil, and avoid keeping the roots overly wet. With the right conditions, it can provide colorful blooms through much of the year.
Lobelia – Fall Annual
Lobelia adds cool-season color with incredible vibrant blue flowers. It prefers morning sun or partial shade, especially as temperatures can remain warm into fall. Keep the soil consistently moist and provide good drainage for the best performance.
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