Don’t Wait—Plant These 7 Perennials in October for the Best Spring Blooms

Fall can mean that things are slowing in the garden, but it’s also the perfect time to plant perennial flowers that will bloom the following spring.

Thanks to cooler temperatures and shorter days, these winter-hardy plants are winding down their growth and heading into dormancy. Since they’ll have several months to get established before it’s time to bloom, fall is an ideal time to transplant, divide, or seed in anticipation of colorful, low-maintenance flowers next year.

Here are seven flowering perennials to consider planting in your garden in October.

Creeping Phlox

This easy-growing native perennial is perfect for filling in beds or spilling over low garden walls. Adaptable to conditions ranging from full sun to part shade, it begins blooming in spring and goes through summer. Allow the plant, which is also known as moss phlox, to spread year to year, or divide it in fall before transplanting to other areas of your garden.

• USDA Zones: 5-8
• Color Varieties: Purple, pink, white
• Mature Size: 6–12 in. tall, 9–18 in. wide

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Columbine

Another native perennial, columbine blooms in spring with uniquely shaped flowers, which consist of a central rosette surrounded by blade- and spur-shaped structures that may be a contrasting color.

However, flowers fade with the hottest summer weather, especially in full sun conditions. Columbine readily reseeds, so you can let nature take its course and transplant seedlings when they appear in spring, or divide mature plants to transplant in fall for more spring color.

• USDA Zones: 3-8
• Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, violet, pink, white
• Mature Size: 1-3 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide

Amsonia

Also known as bluestar, this native perennial offers clusters of tiny, sky-blue blooms amid long, thin leaves, which may be lance-shaped or, as with threadleaf bluestar, so thin they resemble pine needles. Plants can thrive in a variety of conditions, from full sun to part shade.

Amsonia blooms in April and May, while the foliage turns a rich gold when fall arrives. Plant or divide specimens in autumn once plants have gone dormant; however, new plantings typically take a few years before their first bloom.

• USDA Zones: 5-8
• Color Varieties: Pale blue
• Mature Size: 2-3 ft. tall and wide

Monarda

Monarda, or bee balm, offers a wide array of flower colors, plant sizes, and growth habits, with some varieties tall and upright and others lower-growing and more compact. This native perennial thrives with full sun and blooms beginning in late spring. Get new plantings into the ground or divide existing specimens once plants go dormant in the fall.

• USDA Zones: 3-9
• Color Varieties: Red, purple, pink, white, lavender
• Mature Size: 10–48 in. tall, 10–36 in. wide

Virginia Bluebells

Many of the most popular native perennial flowers require full sun to thrive, but Virginia bluebells actually prefer shady conditions.

Named for its trumpet-shaped blooms, which emerge as pink buds that take on a periwinkle shade after opening, this plant will benefit from fall division or transplanting. Plant rhizomes in autumn when the ground is still warm enough to be worked, then wait for blooms in spring.

• USDA Zones: 3-8
• Color Varieties: Blue
• Mature Size: 2 ft. tall and wide

Golden Alexander

This member of the carrot family is native to the eastern United States and blooms in spring with delicate umbels of tiny yellow flowers. Its blooms attract beneficial pollinating insects like butterflies. Golden Alexander grows best in a spot with full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It benefits from fall planting, whether you’re seeding new plants or transplanting mature specimens.

• USDA Zones: 3-8
• Color Varieties: Yellow
• Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall and wide

Foamflower

Another shade-loving perennial flower, foamflower offers short spires clustered with tiny, frothy blooms in shades of white and pink. Consider this woodland plant for a cool, shady site beneath trees or shrubs in your yard or garden. After foamflower blooms in May and June, you can snip back the spent flower spikes to keep plants looking tidy. Add this plant to your garden by transplanting or dividing mature plants in fall. You can also plant seeds instead, but keep in mind that new plants won’t bloom in their first full year of growth.

• USDA Zones: 3-8
• Color Varieties: White, pink
• Mature Size: 1-3 ft. tall, 6-12 in. wide