8. Crocus
You might have some difficulty differentiating fall-blooming Crocus from Colchicum if you plant both in your garden, but keep in mind that true crocuses will have green foliage while they’re flowering.
Hardy in Zones 6 to 9, crocuses do best in full sun locations with well-draining, organically rich soil with a neutral pH, but they can tolerate partial shade.
Purple or lavender flowers are generally short in stature, maxing out at around four inches in height.
Several species of Crocus will bloom in the late summer through fall, including C. sativus, or the saffron crocus.
Saffron Crocus
As an added bonus, you might even try harvesting your own saffron. Corms are available from Eden Brothers.
C. pulchellus, or the hairy crocus, is another lovely option – despite its unfortunate name.
It has pale lilac blooms with yellow centers, and deep purple veins that provide some added visual interest with a stripy appearance.
Learn more about growing crocuses here.
9. Dahlia
A colorful favorite for the late summer garden, butterflies love them – and you will, too.
Dahlias are available in a huge range of colors, shapes, and bloom styles, from the ivory and lilac ‘Eveline’ to the deep burgundy and exquisitely striking ‘Karma Choc.’
Dahlias are deer resistant, and they grow best in full sun in Zones 7 to 10. Depending on the variety, they can reach heights of one to six feet with a spread of one to three feet.
Red, pink, yellow, orange, lavender, purple, white, and more – basically every bloom color is available to you, except blue.
And the fun doesn’t stop there, with a variety of single- and double-flowering shapes and petal configurations on the market today including anemone, orchid, collarette, waterlily, decorative, formal, ball, pompon, cactus, and semi-cactus.
Dahlias should be planted in organically rich, well-draining soil, preferably with a slightly acidic pH, and medium moisture.
Keep in mind that taller varieties should be planted deeper than those with a shorter stature at maturity.
Most gardeners like to dig up their precious tubers and store them for the winter, but you may be able to get away with skipping this in warmer growing zones.
Dahlia tubers are available from Burpee and Eden Brothers.
Learn more about growing dahlias here.
10. Eucomis
Eucomis, or pineapple lily, thrives in full sun to partial shade in Zones 7 to 10.
With a height and spread of 18 to 24 inches, greenish-white or pinkish-purple flower clusters with little green tufts to top them off resemble the fruit that they’re named after.
These grow atop long stalks, and the plants sport strap-shaped leaves. Purplish seeds provide continued ornamental interest later in the year.
Flies love to pollinate these. I know, I know – you’re probably not a fan.
But along with other types of beneficial insects, many types of flies provide a vital service in the garden as pollinators! Butterflies like them, too.
Eucomis needs moderate moisture and grows best in mildly acidic to neutral soil comprised of chalk, loam, or sand.
Dig up the bulbs and store them indoors through the winter in cooler regions, for replanting in the spring.
‘Safari Adventure’
‘Safari Adventure’ pineapple lily bulbs are available from Burpee. This is a striking cultivar with green and burgundy leaves, and ivory, rose, and purple flower spikes.
11. Gladiolus
Another towering tropical, these showy funnel-shaped flowers develop spikes of multiple blooms on narrow stems, and they love full sun exposure.
Grown from corms, Gladiolus may reach heights of one and a half to six feet with a spread of one to two feet, and they are hardy in Zones 7 to 10.
Blooms are available in a variety of colors, including white, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink, green, lavender, and purple.
Plant in slightly acidic to neutral, humus-rich, well-draining soil with medium moisture.
This fragrant flower attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, moths, wasps, and flies. Dig them up for winter storage, or plan to start fresh next year in colder growing zones.
Corms are available from Eden Brothers and Burpee.
Read more about growing Gladiolus flowers here.
12. Hyacinth
Hyacinths are typically regarded as a spring-blooming plant, but when grown in containers indoors, they can be forced to flower in the late summer, fall, or winter.
This is an excellent option for apartment-dwellers looking for a bit of lively color to brighten things up.
Sweet-smelling and available in a variety of pastel hues, dense flower clusters on tall stems may occasionally require staking.
They’re compact, reaching heights of six to 12 inches, with a spread of three to six inches.
Plant hyacinths in well-draining soil and keep the containers in a cool, dark place until they sprout.
Your average potting soil should do the trick, as they prefer light, loamy soil with a neutral pH.
Bulbs to grow flowers in all of your favorite shades are available from Eden Brothers.
Learn more about growing hyacinths here.
13. Iris
With so many different iris varieties to choose from, it’s going to be hard to pick just one. But why would you do that?
If you have a moist but well-draining, acidic to neutral location with loamy or sandy soil, pick a few and get ready for the show of blooms to come!
Late-blooming bearded irises are a gorgeous option for this time of year, and some cultivars will rebloom as well, increasing their appeal in the garden.
Check plant tags and product listings carefully to determine which varieties will bloom at this time of year.
‘Matinata’ is a reblooming variety with velvety, dark purple-blue blossoms.
‘Blatant’
And ‘Blatant,’ available at Burpee, is another much-loved cultivar that’s hard to ignore, with its bicolored canary yellow standards and magenta falls.
Check out more iris varieties, available from Burpee.
Read more about growing irises here.
14. Nerine
Nerine, aka spider lily, likes full sun in Zones 8 to 11.
Again, this is a plant that shares a common name and some visual similarities with another one of our top picks, but they are in fact different plants!
Not true lilies, these are more closely related to Amaryllis.
Springtime leaves die down in the summer, with waxy pink or rose flowers to follow.
Six narrow petals curve at the ends in a starburst umbel formation, with prominent stamens. The bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds won’t be able to stay away.