Fall in Maryland brings a spectacular opportunity to brighten your garden with vibrant blooms. October’s cooler temperatures and moderate rainfall create perfect conditions for many flowering plants to thrive.
Adding these seasonal beauties now ensures your landscape remains colorful even as trees shed their leaves.
1. Cheerful Chrysanthemums
Maryland gardeners love these autumn classics for their incredible variety of colors and shapes. Plant mums in well-draining soil where they’ll receive at least six hours of sunlight daily.
Water thoroughly after planting, but avoid wetting the foliage to prevent fungal issues. These hardy perennials will return year after year with proper care, making them an excellent investment for your fall garden.
2. Radiant Russian Sage
Lavender-blue spikes create a dreamy haze in Maryland gardens well into October. Russian sage thrives in our region’s clay soils and tolerates drought once established.
The silvery foliage adds interesting texture, while the aromatic leaves deter deer and other garden pests. Plant in full sun positions for the most robust flowering and strongest stems that won’t flop over in autumn rains.
3. Glowing Goldenrod
Contrary to popular belief, goldenrod doesn’t cause hay fever! These native Maryland beauties produce brilliant yellow plumes that attract beneficial pollinators to your garden.
Solidago species vary in height from 2-5 feet, making them versatile for different garden spots. Plant them in average soil with good drainage and full sun. The golden flowers complement purple asters perfectly for a classic fall color combination.
4. Enchanting Asters
Purple, pink, and white daisy-like blooms create magical October displays throughout Maryland. New England asters particularly shine in our climate, reaching heights of 3-6 feet with proper care.
Plant these native perennials in locations with morning sun and afternoon shade for best results. Regular pinching back until July creates bushier plants with more flowers. Bees and butterflies flock to asters, making them wildlife-friendly additions to any garden.
5. Stunning Sedum
Often called ‘Autumn Joy,’ sedum’s flat-topped flower clusters transform from pale pink to rich copper as fall progresses. Their succulent leaves remain attractive throughout the growing season, adding interest even before blooming.
Maryland gardeners appreciate sedum’s extreme drought tolerance and ability to thrive in poor soils. Plant in full sun locations where other flowers struggle. The dried flower heads provide winter interest and food for birds when left standing.
6. Vivid Verbena Bonariensis
Tall, airy stems topped with small purple flower clusters create a floating effect in Maryland gardens. This verbena variety continues blooming well into October, providing late-season nectar for butterflies.
The see-through quality makes it perfect for planting among other fall perennials without blocking their view. Plant in full sun locations with well-draining soil. Though technically a tender perennial, it often self-seeds readily in Maryland gardens.
7. Lovely Liriope
Sometimes called lily turf, this grass-like perennial produces charming purple flower spikes in early fall. The strappy foliage remains evergreen in Maryland winters, providing year-round structure in the garden.
Liriope muscari thrives in both sun and shade, making it versatile for different garden locations. Plant under trees or along walkways where other plants struggle. The dark berries that follow the flowers add extra fall and winter interest.
8. Bold Black-Eyed Susans
Maryland’s state flower continues blooming into October when planted in late summer. Their cheerful golden petals surrounding dark centers brighten any garden space and attract numerous pollinators.
Rudbeckia varieties range from short-lived perennials to reliable self-seeders. Plant in full sun with average, well-draining soil. Deadheading spent flowers promotes continued blooming, but leaving some seedheads provides food for finches and other birds.
9. Captivating Coreopsis
Golden threadleaf coreopsis adds fine-textured brightness to Maryland fall gardens. The daisy-like flowers appear in abundance on airy foliage that moves beautifully in autumn breezes.
Plant these native perennials in full sun with well-draining soil. Most varieties bloom heavily in summer, then rebloom in fall if cut back after their first flowering period. Their drought tolerance makes them perfect for Maryland’s variable rainfall patterns.
10. Majestic Monkshood
Deep blue-purple hooded flowers give this plant its common name and provide rare true-blue color in the October garden. Monkshood thrives in Maryland’s climate, preferring partial shade and consistently moist soil.
The tall spires reach 3-4 feet, creating dramatic vertical interest among mounding fall plants. All parts are poisonous, so wear gloves when handling. This long-lived perennial requires little maintenance once established, returning reliably for many years.
11. Elegant Echinacea
Purple coneflowers continue producing their distinctive blooms well into fall when planted in late summer. Beyond the classic purple varieties, newer cultivars offer sunset colors that complement autumn’s palette perfectly.
Maryland gardeners appreciate their drought tolerance once established. Plant in full sun locations with well-draining soil. Leave the seedheads standing through winter to feed goldfinches and add architectural interest to the winter garden.
12. Graceful Gaura
Often called whirling butterflies, gaura produces delicate white or pink flowers that appear to dance above the foliage. The long blooming period extends well into Maryland’s fall season, especially in protected locations.
Plant in full sun with well-draining soil for best performance. Gaura’s drought tolerance makes it perfect for Maryland’s variable rainfall. The airy texture contrasts beautifully with more substantial fall bloomers like sedum or mums.
13. Fiery Helenium
Sometimes called sneezeweed (though it doesn’t cause sneezing), helenium produces daisy-like flowers in hot autumn colors – red, orange, and gold. The blooms appear in late summer and continue well into October in Maryland gardens.
Plant these native perennials in full sun with consistently moist soil. Their height (3-5 feet) makes them perfect for the middle or back of fall borders. Butterflies adore the nectar-rich flowers while deer tend to avoid them.
14. Vibrant Viola
Fall-planted violas offer cheerful faces in Maryland gardens from October through winter’s milder days. Their cold tolerance is remarkable, often blooming during January thaws before exploding with color in early spring.
Plant these cool-season annuals in containers or garden beds with rich, well-draining soil. Choose sunny locations for winter blooming. Regular deadheading encourages continuous flowering. Many varieties self-seed gently, returning year after year without becoming invasive.
15. Aromatic Anise Hyssop
Spikes of lavender-blue flowers continue appearing on anise hyssop well into Maryland’s fall season. The licorice-scented foliage adds sensory appeal, releasing its fragrance when brushed against or after rain.
This native perennial attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds while deterring deer. Plant in full sun to light shade in average soil. The seed heads provide food for birds through winter if left standing after flowering has finished.
16. Charming Chelone
Commonly called turtlehead for its uniquely shaped flowers, Chelone produces pink or white blooms that resemble tiny turtle heads. Native to Maryland’s woodland edges, it thrives in partially shaded gardens with consistent moisture.
The glossy dark green foliage remains attractive all season. Plant these 2-3 foot tall perennials in groups for the best visual impact. Their late blooming period (September-October) provides color when many other perennials have finished flowering.
17. Magnificent Montauk Daisies
Large white daisies with yellow centers make a bold statement in Maryland’s October landscape. Also called Nippon daisies, these perennials form shrub-like clumps that become covered with flowers in mid-to-late fall.
Plant in full sun with well-draining soil, as they dislike wet feet. Their glossy, succulent-like foliage remains attractive throughout summer before the fall flowering period. Pruning by half in June creates bushier plants with more blooms.
18. Alluring Anemone
Japanese anemones produce delicate, poppy-like flowers on tall stems that sway gracefully in autumn breezes. Pink or white blooms appear from late August through October in Maryland gardens.
Plant these woodland-edge natives in locations with morning sun and afternoon shade. They appreciate rich, consistently moist soil but dislike standing water. Once established, they spread to form beautiful colonies perfect for naturalizing partially shaded areas.
19. Brilliant Blanket Flower
Gaillardia’s red and yellow daisy-like blooms continue brightening Maryland gardens well into fall. Their hot color palette perfectly complements autumn’s traditional oranges and golds.
Plant these drought-tolerant perennials in full sun with well-draining soil. They perform particularly well in Maryland’s coastal areas where sandy soils challenge other perennials. Deadheading extends the blooming season, though leaving some seedheads provides winter interest and bird food.
20. Spectacular Salvia
Fall-flowering salvias like ‘Autumn Sapphire’ and ‘Black and Blue’ produce striking blue or purple spikes well into Maryland’s October. Their nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies even as other garden blooms fade.
Plant in full sun with well-draining soil. Many varieties are perennial in Maryland’s climate, returning reliably each year. Their aromatic foliage deters deer and rabbits, making them excellent choices for gardens plagued by four-legged visitors.