Complete Gardening
Maryland’s autumn landscape transforms into a stunning canvas of vibrant colors when you choose the right flowers for your garden. Fall gardening offers unique rewards, from supporting local pollinators preparing for winter to extending your garden’s beauty well past summer’s end. With Maryland’s moderate climate and rich soil, many flowering plants flourish during the cooler months, creating breathtaking displays that rival any spring garden.
1. Chrysanthemums (Mums)
Nothing says autumn quite like the cheerful face of a chrysanthemum blooming in your garden. These reliable performers burst with bold colors ranging from deep burgundy to sunny yellow, creating instant curb appeal.
Plant mums in well-drained soil where they’ll receive at least six hours of daily sunlight. Regular watering keeps their blooms fresh and vibrant throughout Maryland’s fall season, making them perfect for both containers and garden beds.
2. New England Asters
Purple, pink, and white star-shaped blooms dance on tall stems, creating a magical fairy-tale effect in late summer gardens. Asters continue their spectacular show well into fall, attracting butterflies and bees with their nectar-rich centers.
Choose spots with full sun to partial shade for optimal growth. Water regularly but avoid overwatering, as these hardy perennials prefer slightly moist conditions rather than soggy soil that can cause root problems.
3. Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Watch nature’s color-changing magic as Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ transforms from pale pink buds to rich copper-bronze clusters throughout the season. This drought-tolerant superstar requires minimal maintenance while delivering maximum visual impact.
Full sun locations work best for these hardy perennials. Their succulent-like leaves store water efficiently, making them perfect for busy gardeners who want beautiful results without constant watering schedules or special care requirements.
4. Black-Eyed Susans
Maryland’s official state flower brings golden sunshine to gardens from June through October, proving that native plants often perform best in their home territory. Bright yellow petals surround dark chocolate centers, creating classic daisy-like blooms.
Once established, these resilient natives tolerate drought conditions beautifully. They adapt to various soil types, from clay to sandy conditions, making them foolproof choices for beginning gardeners or challenging landscape areas.
5. Goldenrod
Feathery plumes of golden yellow create stunning vertical accents in late summer and fall landscapes. Despite common misconceptions, goldenrod doesn’t cause allergies – its heavy pollen doesn’t become airborne like ragweed.
This Maryland native thrives in full sun or partial shade conditions. Moist, well-drained soil keeps plants healthy and encourages abundant blooming, while their deep root systems help them withstand dry spells once established in your garden.
6. Joe Pye Weed
Towering giants reaching 6-10 feet tall, Joe Pye Weed commands attention with massive flower clusters in shades from soft pink to deep reddish-purple. Monarch butterflies absolutely adore these native beauties during their fall migration.
Give these impressive perennials plenty of space to spread and grow. Their large size makes them perfect background plants or natural privacy screens, while their pollinator-attracting blooms support local ecosystem health throughout the autumn months.
7. Cool-Weather Pansies
Sweet little faces seem to smile up from garden beds even when temperatures drop and other flowers fade away. Pansies actually prefer cooler weather, making them perfect companions for Maryland’s unpredictable autumn climate.
Rich, well-drained soil and partial to full sun locations work best for continuous blooming. Regular deadheading encourages fresh flower production, extending their colorful display well into winter months when little else brightens the landscape.
8. Anemone hupehensis (Windflower)
Delicate pink blooms flutter like butterflies on graceful stems, earning these charming perennials their common name of windflowers. ‘Prince Henry’ cultivars produce deep rose semi-double flowers on compact 3-foot plants.
Plant these elegant beauties in partial shade locations with consistently moist soil. Their late-season blooming period fills the gap when many summer flowers are finishing, providing fresh color and movement in autumn garden designs.