Spring and early summer aren’t the only times for colour — some of the most striking blooms arrive later in the year. These late summer performers bring structure, pollinator interest, and vibrant colour just as many borders begin to fade.
Explore our selection of plants that flower from July to October, each with its own planting notes and availability.
Bright and bold, Crocosmia varieties such as ‘Lucifer’ (vivid scarlet-red) or ‘George Davidson’ (lemon-yellow) bring flame-like funnel flowers to sunny borders. Their sword-shaped leaves provide structure even before the flowers open, and their late blooms pair beautifully with Achillea, Heleniums, and ornamental grasses.
Flowers: August- September
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to 1m tall (depending on variety)
Soil: Well drained, Hummus-rich soil
Available in 2L, 3L and 5L pots (depending on variety and availability)
Large, showy panicles of flowers that start white or lime-green and gradually blush pink with age, lasting well into autumn. Perfect as specimen shrubs or in large patio containers. Varieties such as ‘Limelight’ and ‘Vanille Fraise’ provide months of colour and structure.
Flowers: July – October (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to 1m tall (depending on variety)
Soil: Moist, well drained, Hummus-rich soil
Available in 3L, 5L, 7.5L and 10L pots (depending on variety and availability)
One of the best late-season pollinator plants, Sedum produces flat umbels of deep pink to crimson flowers that persist into autumn, often drying beautifully for winter interest. Its grey-green succulent foliage adds texture year-round. Pairs well with grasses and rudbeckias.
Flowers: August – October (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 0.45m (depending on variety)
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
Available in 2l and 3L pots (depending on variety)
These prairie perennials bring bold daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, orange, and white, each with a prominent central cone loved by butterflies and bees. Seedheads remain decorative through autumn and provide food for birds.
Flowers: July – September (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
Available in 2l and 3L pots (depending on variety)
Golden-yellow daisy-like flowers with dark centres, perfect for lighting up late-summer borders. Varieties like ‘Goldsturm’ provide long-lasting colour and look stunning alongside grasses or asters for contrast.
Flowers: August – October (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 075m (depending on variety)
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
Available in 2l pots (depending on variety)
Striking globes of trumpet-shaped flowers, usually blue or white, carried on tall, strong stems. Perfect for pots or in sunny borders, they add architectural height and thrive in well-drained soil.
Flowers: July – September (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
Available in 2l pots (depending on variety)
Airy and elegant, with tall branching stems topped by clusters of lilac-purple flowers that hover beautifully among other plants. Excellent for adding vertical structure without blocking views. In mild winters, it may self-seed and return year after year.
Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 2m (depending on variety)
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
Available in 2l pots (depending on variety)
Perfect for late summer into autumn, Japanese Anemones bring elegant saucer-shaped flowers in shades of pink and white, dancing on tall wiry stems above rich foliage. They thrive in part shade, making them ideal for brightening up spots where summer colour has faded.
🌸 Flowers: August – October
☀️ Position: Partial shade – full sun
📏 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)
🌱 Soil: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil
Available in: 2L, 3L and 5L pots
For even more seasonal interest, consider Asters for clouds of daisy-like blooms well into autumn, Heleniums with their fiery orange and red tones, Dahlias for bold colour and long-lasting cut flowers, or Perovskia (Russian Sage) for silvery foliage topped with spires of violet-blue. These make excellent companions to the plants above and extend your garden’s display right through to the first frosts.
Posted 2nd Jun 3:29pm
