September time for asters, turtleheads to shine

While many gardeners think of Labor Day as the end of the gardening season, the stars of September make extending your garden bloom time well worth the effort. With careful planning and the addition of key late season plants, you can extend your bloom season through Halloween, even beyond, depending upon the weather.

Many wonderful perennials for sun and shade begin to bloom in September. All summer long, they bide their time, waiting for their September stage.

If you haven’t included these in your landscape plans, consider adding them this fall for spectacular color through September and October.

There are several spectacular varieties of fall-blooming Japanese anemones for the garden. September Charm is the classic, large, silvery green plant with satin blooms in rich rose pink and a yellow center. Shorter versions and versions that bloom in double flowering style, such as Pamina, are also available. There are also beautiful white Japanese anemones, such as Honorine Jobart and White Swan, that bloom during the fall season.

Asters are another wonderful addition for late season color, as well as for attracting pollinators, hummingbirds and migrating monarchs to your garden. Many asters don’t even begin to bloom until the middle of September, making them an ideal choice for late season color and flair.

New England Aster is by far the most well-known, with purple and yellow daisy-like blooms by the hundreds on tall plants.

There are dwarf hybrids of New England Aster available, such as Purple Dome.

Woods Asters are compact plants that bloom in shades of blue, pink and purple.

There are also many varieties of white asters, as well as annual asters to choose from.

Turtlehead is a spectacular fall-blooming plant for the garden. The native variety blooms in pure white, while garden hybrids bloom in shades of pink.

Hummingbirds love this plant as they migrate through in September. While turtleheads love moist areas, they will grow just about anywhere once they are established. Patience is the key as you will wait all summer long for the spectacular fall show.

Bottle Gentian is a beautiful native wildflower colored and rich, cobalt blue. Hard to find, you may need to seek it out at a native plant nursery such as Prairie Moon, Johnson’s or Stone Silo Prairie Gardens in De Pere.

It is well worth the search as this stunning late summer and fall bloomer attracts hummingbirds, bumblebees and other pollinators.

Classic garden plants such as purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan will bloom well into fall if they are properly dead headed and cared for. Brown-eyed Susan, similar to black-eyed Susan but with smaller flowers, is another spectacular fall bloom.

One of my favorites of the season is Fireworks goldenrod. This particular goldenrod hybrid features breathtaking plumes that may be a foot long and cascade over with maturity like a golden waterfall. This is one goldenrod to seek out for the fall garden.

Shrubs, such as Rose of Sharon, hardy hibiscus and hydrangeas also continue to put on a spectacular show during September. Many hydrangeas transform to a rich pink or red during fall, making them a valuable and enticing landscape addition.

Roses also continue their bloom cycle up until the first hard freeze, even beyond in some years. The cool weather of fall sparks a new flush of buds, and consistent pinching and pruning will keep your roses blooming well into the season.

Of course, there are many wonderful annuals that bloom until Halloween in our area, as well. Zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, petunias, morning glories, Celosia as well as foliage plants such as flowering kale, coleus and sweet potato vine all look good well into the season, provided there is no hard frost or freeze.

Rob Zimmer is a nature and garden author, public speaker and radio show host on WHBY. Readers can find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RobZimmerOutdoors.