September in Georgia brings cooler temperatures but doesn’t mean your garden has to lose its vibrant colors. Many flowers and shrubs actually thrive as summer heat fades into fall.
With the right plants, your Georgia garden can continue showcasing beautiful blooms well into autumn, attracting late-season pollinators and adding colorful charm to your landscape.
1. Autumn Joy Sedum
Star-shaped flower clusters transform from pale pink to deep copper as fall progresses, creating a stunning color show in your garden. Native bees and butterflies flock to these blooms for final feasts before winter.
Plant in full sun with well-drained soil for best results. These drought-tolerant perennials require minimal care once established, making them perfect for busy gardeners or those new to fall gardening.
2. Mexican Bush Sage
Velvety purple flower spikes emerge in abundance during September, creating dramatic vertical interest in Georgia gardens. Hummingbirds can’t resist these nectar-rich blooms during their fall migration south.
Growing up to 4 feet tall, this sage variety loves Georgia’s warm climate and continues flowering until the first frost. The silvery-green foliage provides beautiful contrast to the vibrant purple blooms.
3. Georgia Aster
Named for our beautiful state, this rare native wildflower sports vibrant purple-blue blooms with golden centers. Once covering vast areas of the Southeast, Georgia Aster now primarily grows in protected areas and thoughtful gardens.
September brings out its best display, with flowers lasting well into November. Plant in sunny spots with medium moisture. Supporting this threatened native helps preserve Georgia’s natural heritage while attracting important pollinators.
4. Confederate Rose
Morning reveals pure white blooms that gradually blush pink by afternoon, finally deepening to red by evening – all on the same plant! This dramatic color-changing hibiscus creates conversation-worthy garden displays throughout September.
Despite its delicate appearance, Confederate Rose thrives in Georgia’s climate. Growing as either a large shrub or small tree, it reaches impressive heights of 6-15 feet, creating a stunning focal point in any garden space.
5. Goldenrod
Bright yellow plumes create waves of sunshine through Georgia gardens in September. Contrary to popular belief, goldenrod doesn’t cause allergies – that’s actually ragweed blooming at the same time!
Native goldenrod varieties support over 100 butterfly and moth species. Plant in full sun to partial shade in average soil. The cheerful yellow blooms add perfect fall color while providing vital food for beneficial insects preparing for winter.
6. Beautyberry
Clusters of vibrant purple berries encircle branches like jeweled bracelets, creating spectacular fall interest even after leaves drop. Birds absolutely love these berries, making beautyberry a perfect choice for wildlife-friendly gardens.
Native to Georgia, this deciduous shrub thrives in partial shade to full sun. Growing 3-5 feet tall and wide, it requires minimal maintenance once established. The stunning berry display peaks in September and often persists into winter.
7. Toad Lily
Exotic-looking orchid-like flowers speckled with purple dots appear along arching stems, bringing unexpected beauty to shady garden corners. The unique spotted pattern gives these flowers their common name.
Perfect for woodland gardens, toad lilies thrive in the dappled shade typical under Georgia’s mature trees. Plant them where you can appreciate their intricate details up close. Their September-October bloom time provides garden interest when many other shade plants have finished flowering.
8. Japanese Anemone
Delicate pink or white flowers dance on tall, wiry stems above mounds of dark green foliage. Each bloom features a striking center of golden stamens, creating an elegant garden presence through September and beyond.
These perennials prefer morning sun with afternoon shade in Georgia gardens. Once established, they form beautiful colonies that return reliably each fall. The graceful blooms make excellent cut flowers, bringing September garden beauty indoors.
9. Swamp Sunflower
Masses of cheerful yellow daisy-like blooms tower on 6-8 foot stalks, creating dramatic height in September gardens. Native to Georgia’s wetlands, these giants attract countless butterflies and bees with their abundant nectar.
Despite their wetland origins, swamp sunflowers adapt well to average garden conditions. Plant them at the back of borders where their impressive height won’t block shorter plants. Their bright yellow flowers pair beautifully with purple asters for classic fall color.
10. Encore Azalea
Unlike spring-only azaleas, these special varieties burst into a second round of colorful blooms each September. Available in shades from white to pink to deep purple, there’s an Encore Azalea for every garden color scheme.
Developed specifically for multi-season flowering, these shrubs thrive in Georgia’s climate. Plant in locations with morning sun and afternoon shade for best results. Their compact growth habit makes them perfect for foundation plantings or mixed shrub borders.
11. Sweet Autumn Clematis
Cascades of tiny white star-shaped flowers blanket this vigorous vine, filling September evenings with sweet vanilla fragrance. The flowers eventually transform into feathery seed heads that add visual interest well into winter.
Train this climber on fences, arbors, or trellises for dramatic vertical impact. While incredibly vigorous in Georgia gardens, regular pruning keeps it manageable. Plant where you can enjoy both its visual beauty and delightful evening scent during early fall gatherings.
12. Joe-Pye Weed
Massive dome-shaped clusters of tiny mauve flowers crown 6-foot stalks, creating dramatic height in September gardens. Butterflies swarm these blooms, making them fascinating focal points for wildlife watchers.
Native to Georgia’s moist areas, Joe-Pye thrives in average garden soil with regular water. Despite its common name, this isn’t a weed but a valuable native plant. The impressive height makes it perfect for back borders or naturalistic plantings.
13. Autumn Fern
New fronds emerge in brilliant copper-red hues, creating colorful contrast against mature green foliage. While not a flowering plant, autumn fern provides essential textural interest among September blooms.
Perfect for shady spots where flowers struggle, this evergreen fern maintains year-round beauty in Georgia gardens. The coppery new growth appears most vibrantly in spring and again in September when cooler temperatures trigger fresh growth. Pair with toad lilies for a stunning shade combination.
14. Rose of Sharon
Tropical-looking hibiscus flowers in white, pink, purple, or blue continue opening daily throughout September. Each bloom lasts just one day, but plants produce so many buds that the show continues for weeks.
These hardy shrubs reach 8-12 feet tall in Georgia gardens, creating impressive flowering hedges or specimen plants. Newer varieties feature sterile flowers that won’t self-seed around the garden. Butterflies and hummingbirds frequently visit the abundant blooms.
15. Turtlehead
Hooded pink flowers resembling turtle heads emerge from glossy dark green foliage, adding unique charm to partly shaded gardens. Native to Georgia’s stream banks, turtlehead brings natural heritage to home landscapes.
Growing 2-3 feet tall, these perennials form attractive clumps that expand slowly over years. Plant in rich, moist soil for best performance. The unusual flower shape attracts specialized pollinators, supporting Georgia’s biodiversity while creating September garden interest.