5 New Perennial and Shrub Varieties for Fall Planting

Don’t miss the new long-blooming “Summer” series of hardy Peruvian lilies this fall. Pictured above is Summer Heat (foreground) and Summer Breeze (background).

“Summer” series of hardy Peruvian lilies

Familiar with long-lasting Alstroemeria flowers which are commonly sold as cut flowers? Now you can grow your own with the introduction of the new “Summer” series which includes three colors: soft pink Summer Break, peachy-gold Summer Breeze and flaming red Summer Heat. Stately 3- to 3 ½-foot-tall stems are topped with bunches of florist-quality blossoms from midsummer to frost – plenty of time to harvest several beautiful bouquets to enjoy indoors.

You’ll appreciate the masses of color these tall, vibrant Peruvian lilies bring to the landscape, especially as summer ends and other plants begin to fade. Pollinating bees and butterflies, as well as hummingbirds, are also thankful for the much-needed food source before season’s end. 

“Summer” series Peruvian lilies are hardy perennials in zones 6-9. Plant them in full sun to part sun and well-drained soil with moderate to consistent moisture, then mulch well for winter. 

Mega Millions^® black-eyed Susan paired with Prairie Winds^® ‘Totem Pole’ switch grass and ‘Boom Chocolatta’ hardy geranium in a full sun landscape.

Mega Millions^® black-eyed Susan

You’ll think you’ve hit the jackpot when you see how beautifully this new variety of black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) grows in your landscape. Thanks to its disease resistance, this improved variety displays healthy foliage all season while providing a mega splash of glowing gold blossoms. In our trials, one three-year-old Mega Millions^® plant produced over 1,000 flowers in a single season. That’s a whole lot of flower power!  

Beginning in early summer and lasting into fall, this blooming machine provides pollen and perches for bees, butterflies and birds. Where hardy in zones 3-9, site the 3-foot-tall plants in the middle or back of a sunny border paired with other fall pollinator favorites like Rock ‘n Grow^® ‘Back in Black’ stonecrop and Fall in Love^® ‘Sweetly’ Japanese anemone.

Ornamental grasses like new Prairie Winds^® ‘Brush Strokes’ little bluestem are essential elements in fall gardens.

Prairie Winds^® ‘Brush Strokes’ little bluestem

Count on durable perennial grasses with native roots like this selection of little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) to carry the load of fall interest in sunny landscapes. Powder blue summer foliage begins to blush pink as the days get shorter, turning deep wine red in fall, then parchment blonde in winter. Its three-foot-tall, wispy stems sweep the sky as they sway in the wind but remain upright all season. 

You may notice small birds pecking at the fluffy seed heads this time of year or using ‘Brush Strokes’ little bluestem for cover. This reliable perennial grass is heat and drought tolerant, and is typically unbothered by deer. Plant it en masse or singly for its fine texture and rich tones in sunny landscapes in zones 3-9.    

Winter may be coming, but not before Just Chill^™ camellias bloom! 

Just Chill^™ Double Mauve camellia

When your cheeks start to blush from the crisp fall air, Just Chill^™ Double Mauve camellia, which was selected for its extra helping of cold hardiness, will begin its fall show. This semi-double-flowered, bright mauve pink flowered selection produces plentiful blooms that pop against the glossy, dark green leaves from fall into winter. When not in bloom, its durable foliage provides a beautiful textural backdrop in the landscape. Use it to form a mid-sized 5- to 8-foot-tall hedge or as a specimen in the landscape.

Looking for the best place to plant your new camellia? Choose a somewhat protected spot in full sun to part shade where it won’t be subjected to strong winds in the winter. Well-drained, moist soil is essential. Mulch well to retain moisture and protect the roots through winter. Just Chill Double Mauve and other camellias in this series are hardy in zones 6b-9. 

Perfecto Mundo Fuchsia Carpet^® reblooming azalea joins nine other stunning members of the series in 2025.

Perfecto Mundo Fuchsia Carpet^® reblooming azalea

Wouldn't it be amazing to have azaleas blooming this bright and beautiful in your fall garden? Perfecto Mundo^® reblooming azaleas, will be in full color this autumn, just as they were in the springtime. These heat tolerant azaleas took years to develop and introduce, ensuring only the very best would be included in the series.

In addition to the upright forms in this series, the gorgeous new pink selection pictured here is a lower growing groundcover form that spreads about twice as wide as it is tall. It’s a showstopper when planted en masse in landscapes where it will help stabilize the soil and keep down the weeds while looking amazing doing so. 

Hardy in zones 6b-9b, Perfecto Mundo reblooming azaleas are better suited to milder coastal climates of zone 6b than harsh Midwestern sites. If you wish to plant them in zone 6b, choose a protected location and mulch well. They prefer full sun to part shade.