The most beautiful autumn flowers

Regina

I studied horticultural sciences at university and in my free time you can find me in my own patch of land, growing anything with roots. I am particularly passionate about self-sufficiency and seasonal food.

Favourite fruit: quince, cornelian cherry and blueberries
Favourite vegetables: peas, tomatoes and garlic

“Spring is the only blooming season” – Not true! Feast your eyes upon our collection of the top ten most gorgeous flowers that bloom in autumn.

autumn garden flowers — Some flowers only start blooming in autumn spreading their charm on gloomy days [Photo: billysfam/ Shutterstock.com]

Autumn is the colourful season. Most of the plant kingdom change their otherwise lush green coat into brightly coloured foliage. But what many people seem to forget amid the colourful leaves, is the fact that there are plenty of beautiful autumn season flowers that only fully bloom in autumn. Countless types of flowers only reach the peak of their beauty as the first of the leaves of the trees begin to fall. In this article, we have compiled some of the best autumn flowering plants for gardens.

Contents

1. Dahlias
2. Baneberry
3. Snakeroot
4. Zinnias
5. Sunflower

1. Dahlias

With tens of thousands of different dahlia species, dahlias (Dahlia) are probably one of the most diverse plant groups. Whether white, yellow or pink, a simple flower or a spiky cactus-like blossom; the variety of shapes and colours in dahlias is truly overwhelming. The colour of these plants is not just captivating in autumn, they’ll happily shine out in full bloom from June until the first frost. Unfortunately, dahlias are not winter-hardy. Therefore, after the first frost, the withered parts above ground need to be shortened to about 6 cm, whilst the root can be dug up then safely overwintered inside the comfort of the house.

dahlias in a garden — Dahlias bloom until the first frost [Photo: Galina Gutarin/ Shutterstock.com]

2. Baneberry

The baneberry (Actaea), also commonly referred to as bugbane or cohosh, is anything but dull during autumn. The silver candle is anything but a bland plant. Especially if you are drawn to simple and classic plants. The white, cream or pink flowers are quite delicate but still set out to make a great impression. Despite being gracefully inconspicuous, the baneberry is spectacular due to its average height of 120 to 200 cm. Depending on the variety, baneberries display their beautiful flowers from June to October. On top of that, taking care of this plant is super easy. Baneberry is as persistent as it is robust and rarely needs additional care.

baneberry patch — Baneberries can grow up to 2 m high [Photo: yakonstant/ Shutterstock.com]

3. Snakeroot

The snakeroot (Eupatorium), also known as boneset or thoroughwort, is particularly popular among gardeners. It is often planted around ponds. With more than 40 different varieties, there is a snakeroot variety suitable for every garden. The height of the plants varies from 80 cm to up to 300 cm. Snakeroots also come in a wide range of colours from delicate pink to pure white and vibrant blue. The single flowers form tubular flower heads and grow in umbels. Also beneficial to insects such as bees and butterflies are magically drawn to the snakeroot. Thus, this plant is not only a magnificent autumn flower but also a useful one, feeding various species of insects that support the entire garden ecosystem.

butterfly sitting on a snakeroot flower — Snakeroot magically attracts bees and butterflies [Photo: onlyChange Photography/ Shutterstock.com]

4. Zinnias

Although zinnias are not as well-known as many of the other autumn flowers, their appearance is in no way inferior. Zinnias come in all kinds of colours and their flower shape is reminiscent of ball-shaped dahlias or chrysanthemums. The sun-loving plant is an absolute must for any colourful garden. From July to October, the beautiful flowers bloom in all their splendour and are guaranteed to adorn any garden bed with a sense of bliss. The zinnia is easy to grow and care for. While the plant copes well with droughts, waterlogging should be avoided. Unfortunately, the zinnia is not a hardy plant. For this reason, it has to be replanted every year to enhance the garden with autumn flowers.

colourful zinnia flowers — The appearance of zinnias reminds of dahlias [Photo: unverdorben jr/ Shutterstock.com]

5. Sunflower

Already missing the long summer days full of sunshine? You can capture the resemblance of the summer sun rays in a blossom! The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is probably one of the most well-known plants. It shines even in cloudy weather. Its bright yellow petals and impressive height of up to 3 metres make the sunflower one of the most stunning autumn growing flowers. It blooms from June to October and makes its presence seen in every garden. On top of that, you can harvest the delicious sunflower seeds in September. Sunflower seeds taste great in muesli, on bread or as a little snack for in-between meals.

blooming sunflowers — Sunflowers can bloom well into October [Photo: Saori Baba/ Shutterstock.com]

Autumn flowers need sufficient nutrients for a rich blossom. For this reason, use high-quality soil for planting such as our Plantura Organic Flower Compost. It does not include peat while containing all the important nutrients to boost the plant.