Late Summer Stars
Some of the hardest working plants are just getting started in August, bringing fresh color, texture, and pollinator power right into fall. From These late season stars keep landscapes looking their best when many others begin to fade. See which perennials deserve a spot in your next project!
Late Summer Stars
When the calendar flips to August, many landscapes begin to lose momentum. Early bloomers have finished, annuals can struggle through heat and humidity, and gardens settle into shades of green. But for those who plan with season long performance in mind, this is when some of the most valuable perennials begin to shine~
Late summer isn't the end of the gardening season!
Aster
If there's one genus that defines the transition from summer to fall, it's Aster. These North American native asters begin flowering just as many other perennials wind down, producing clouds of purple, lavender, blue, pink, or white blooms that often continue into October.
Their importance goes far beyond color. Native asters are among the last major nectar sources available to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects before winter arrives, making them essential components of pollinator-friendly landscapes.
Favorites like 'Bluebird', 'October Skies', 'Raydon's Favorite', and New England asters provide late season color while pairing nicely with ornamental grasses.
Solidago
Goldenrods have finally earned the appreciation they deserve. Long misunderstood as the cause of seasonal allergies (the real culprit is typically wind pollinated ragweed), Solidago provides some of the richest late-season nectar available for native bees, butterflies, and countless beneficial insects. Pennsylvania State Extension recommends goldenrods as outstanding fall pollinator plants because many species continue blooming until frost while tolerating a wide range of growing conditions.
Goldenrods add brilliant golden color that complements the cool blues and purples of asters, creating one of the classic combinations of late-season landscape design.
Pycnanthemum
If you've ever walked past a mountain mint in bloom, you've probably noticed the constant buzz of activity. Pycnanthemum are famous for attracting an incredible diversity of pollinators, from native bees and butterflies to beneficial wasps and hoverflies. Their silvery bracts and clusters of delicate flowers provide subtle beauty while delivering exceptional ecological value. Penn State Extension identifies mountain mints as true pollinator magnets, blooming from August into September when nectar resources become increasingly important.
North Creek proudly grows both P. muticum, P. flexuosum and P. tenuifolium. Not one, not two, but THREE outstanding choices for naturalistic plantings, meadow gardens, and restoration projects!
Agastache
Few perennials work harder in the late-summer garden than Agastache.
Its upright flower spikes provide weeks of color while attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Even after flowering, the seed heads continue adding interest.
As a drought tolerant native perennial once established, Agastache foeniculum performs exceptionally well in sunny landscapes where long bloom periods and low maintenance are priorities. It's an excellent choice for pollinator gardens, prairie-inspired designs, and sustainable landscapes.
Vernonia
Bold, architectural, and impossible to overlook, Vernonia brings dramatic height and rich purple blooms to the late season landscape. Its vivid flowers create a striking contrast against ornamental grasses and goldenrods while providing another valuable nectar source during late summer. For designers looking to add vertical interest without sacrificing benefits, ironweed is hard to beat!
Selections like 'Iron Butterfly' deliver the same signature color in a more refined habit, making them suitable for a wider range of landscape applications.
Chelone
Not every late-season performer belongs in full sun… Chelone thrives in consistently moist soils and partial shade, filling an important niche where flowering perennials may struggle. Its distinctive snapdragon-like blooms appear from late summer into early fall and are especially attractive to bumble bees.
For rain gardens, woodland edges, and shaded borders, turtlehead extends bloom season while adding valuable habitat diversity!
Eupatorium
Eupatorium deserves more attention in professional landscapes. Its bright flower clusters bloom in late summer, attracting a wide variety of pollinators while fitting naturally into meadows, rain gardens, and ecological restoration projects. Combined with asters and goldenrods, boneset helps create continuous bloom through one of the most important feeding periods of the year for beneficial insects.
Sorghastrum
Flowers aren't the only stars of late summer! Native, warm season grasses begin reaching their peak just as everything else goes to bed. Sorghastrum develops golden flower plumes in late summer before transitioning into fall color, providing movement, texture, and winter interest long after blooms have faded.
Yellow prairie grass also serves practical purposes in modern landscapes, including erosion control, wildlife habitat, and year-round structure. When paired with asters, goldenrods, and ironweed, it creates the classic layered look of North American prairies!
The Season Ahead
Many of our favorite native and adaptable perennials reach their peak just as summer begins to slow down. Because sometimes the best show of the year doesn't begin until everyone else thinks the season is over. Build for late summer, design for fall, and let your landscapes finish as strong as they started!
