Brighten Your Fall Garden with these Flowering Plants
Why limit the beauty of our South Florida gardens to the summer and spring months when we can extend the season to ensure that our gardens are in full bloom even during the fall months? While we can agree that the fall months present the opportunity to do a bit of spring cleaning the opportunity is also there to include flowering plants that can beautify and brighten our gardens during the fall months.
The key to putting on a flower show in our South Florida gardens during the fall months is selecting flowering plants that bloom their best during this time of the year. If this is your desire then look no further because you have come to the right place as we discuss flowers to plant in the fall in South Florida.
“This post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase, I may receive a commission.”
Best Flowering Plants for South Florida Gardens
1. Zinnias
Zinnias are a favorite because of the color pop they give, this garden beauty will surely brighten up your fall garden with their multi-colors. Zinnias are a native of North America and thrive best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 10. Depending on the zone zinnias are perennials but are treated as annuals, zinnias will grow from one season producing flowers and seeds but the parent plant will not come back in subsequent years. If you’re planning to attract wildlife to your garden then zinnias are the perfect fit for attracting both butterflies and hummingbirds.
Zinnias perform their best when planted in the full sun which will encourage flower bloom, zinnias can thrive in most soil types provided there is adequate drainage. When installing zinnias plant 4-24 inches apart. Keep the soil moist not waterlogged which will encourage root rot, during the growing season which is spring through the summer months apply 10-10-10 fertilizers. Zinnias can be planted directly into the ground or grown in a container.
2. Mexcian heather
Mexcian heather is another favorite that I have worked with on many garden projects, this drought tolerant perennial/annual is a hardy shrub that produces small white, lavender, or purple flowers. Mexcian Heathers grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, Mexican heathers are native to Florida and will attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
The planting location for your Mexican heathers is an area that gets full sun although Mexcian heathers can survive in partial shade, Mexican heathers can thrive in a range of soil that’s well-drained. Give your Mexican heathers a good soaking then allow the soil to dry out somewhat before irrigating again, a slow-release fertilizer, manure, or compost will keep your heather plants in top shape. When installing give a spacing of at least 2 ft apart. Mexican heathers can be planted directly into the ground or grown from containers
3. Impatiens
A garden beauty that will not only provide amazing colors but give that soft touch as well are impatiens, impatiens are native to northern and eastern North America and thrive best in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11. These annuals are very delicate therefore caution should be taken when planting or applying water because the flowers and stems can break easily with pressure.
Impatiens are a favorite of butterflies and bees as they seek them out to assist in pollination, plant impatiens in partial shade because the direct sun will cause the flowers including the plant to wilt, irrigating however will cause the plant to stand up again. Moist well-drained soil is ideal for impatiens to thrive however avoid overwatering that will encourage root rot, during the growing seasons or the warmer months a slow or quick-release fertilizer applied once a month at half strength or diluted is sufficient for proper growth. Give impatiens a spacing of 8-12 inches. Impatiens can be planted directly into the ground or grown from containers, hanging baskets, or garden window boxes.
4. Pentas
Pentas also known as the Egyptian star is a heat-loving perennial with tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, this flowering beauty is native to Florida. Pentas grow their best in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11. If you’re planning on installing a wildlife garden then pentas are there to assist you, these garden beauties attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Although pentas can tolerate partial shade they thrive best in the full sun, a good garden soil that holds the right amount of water but is well-drained is ideal. Give pentas a thorough soaking then allow the soil to dry somewhat before applying water again. During the warmer months or the growing season fertilize pentas with a slow-release fertilizer such as osmocote. Give pentas a spacing of 1-2 ft when installing, pentas can be planted directly into the ground, hanging baskets, containers, or garden window boxes.
5. Lantanas
Lantanas by far are one of my favorites, I love the rainbow color effect that this garden beauty produces with its abundance of clustered small flowers, this beautiful perennial is native to Central and South America and thrives best in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 and above. The bright beautiful colorful flowers of lantanas attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
When installing lantanas place them in a location that gets lots of sunlight, and give them spacing of 4 ft because lantanas once established will spread, although lantanas can tolerate poor soils they thrive best in a good garden soil that’s well-drained. When watering lantanas give them a good soaking and then allow the soil to dry out a bit before applying water again.
What I found to be amazing about lantanas is that even if they are not fertilized will still produce an abundance of flower blooms, however, it’s still good to supply them with a balanced fertilizer. Lantanas can be planted directly into the ground, containers, hanging baskets, or garden window boxes.
6. Shrimp Plants
As the name depicts the shrimp plant gets its name from its beautiful shrimp-shaped flowers, the shrimp plant is native to Mexico and grows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11. This garden beauty once installed will attract butterflies and hummingbirds, when planting install them in an area that gets full to partial sunlight and give them spacing of 24-36 inches.
Shrimp plants will perform their best in potting soil that’s well-drained, ensure at all times that the soil is evenly moist however it don’t overwater which will encourage root rot. Shrimp plants can be planted directly into the ground, containers, or garden window boxes.
7. Salvias
I worked at a five-star resort many years ago and one plant that we used probably year-round was salvias, these garden beauties are native to Mexico and thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 10. This hardy perennial will attract hummingbirds, especially the red varieties, install salvias in the full sun that will encourage healthy flower blooms.
When installing give salvias spacing of 1 to 3 ft apart, salvias can survive in just about any soil type but ensure however to use soil that’s well-drained for optimal growth. Salvias are considered to be drought-tolerant therefore once irrigated or given a good soaking allow the soil to dry before applying water again. Although salvias don’t require fertilization, adding compost to the soil will benefit them greatly. Salvias can be planted directly into the ground, in containers, or in garden window boxes.
8. Coneflowers
Coneflowers are a flowering perennial that is native to North America and can be found growing in open meadows, moist prairies, and open woods. Coneflowers should be installed in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8, when installing give a spacing of about 1 to 3 ft apart. This garden beauty attracts both butterflies and bees, when planting locate an area that gets 6 to 8 hours of sunlight.
Coneflowers can thrive in a range of soil from sandy, clay and rocky, medium moist soil is ideal, allowing the soil to dry out between watering however will encourage healthy growth. A granular slow-release fertilizer in early spring is sufficient for optimal growth, coneflowers can be planted directly in the soil or containers.
9. Golden Dewdrop
The golden dewdrop or the duranta erecat is a perennial plant that’s native to Tropical America and ranges from the Florida Keys through Mexico, golden dewdrops thrive best in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11. The beautiful blossoms of the golden dewdrop attract butterflies and hummingbirds, although this perennial shrub can tolerate partial shade the ideal spot is a sunny location.
Give your golden dewdrop plenty of room to grow, a spacing of 3 to 5 ft apart is sufficient, also well-drained soil is ideal for the proper growth of the golden dewdrop, adding compost will also go a long way in building the soil for healthy plant growth. Ensure that the soil is moderately moist then allow it to dry out somewhat before irrigating (applying more water) again. A slow or quick-release fertilizer will help greatly. Golden Dewdrops can be installed directly into the ground or in containers.
10. Blue Daze
The blue daze flowering plant is amazing, not only because of its beauty but because this garden plant puts forth new flowers every day, blue daze is native to Paraguay and Brazil. The USDA Hardiness Zones for blue daze to thrive are 8 to 11, this perennial will attract hummingbirds and butterflies when in full bloom. When installing blue daze give them spacing of 2-3 ft.
An area that gets the full sun is ideal, blue daze can survive in a wide range of soil provided there is good drainage, allow the soil when irrigating to be moist, not waterlogged which can lead to root rot. In drought conditions especially when blue daze begins to show signs of wilting water thoroughly or give good soaking. Adding a fertilizer that is formulated for bloom when your blue daze starts to flower will work wonders, plant your blue daze directly into the ground, containers, baskets, or garden window boxes.
In Case you missed it we also wrote an article on Vegetables to plant in the fall in your South Florida garden including the Best Buy Tools for your fall garden you can check it out here. Vegetables to plant in the fall in South Florida.
The final word on Flowers to plant in the fall in South Florida
Installing many of these beautiful flowering plants in your South Florida garden during the fall months will give that color pop that will work wonders as you beautify your landscapes and gardens that are just simply amazing. I believe that the fall months are the perfect time as the weather cools making it more comfortable to work in our gardens. We have done the homework for you now it’s time to do your part by installing many of these flowering beauties go for it you will be so happy with the results that will brighten up your days. So brighten your days with blue dazes.
Newsletter
Signup Today for Our Newsletter to Receive Up to Date Information on Herbs and Other Gardening News in the Industry.
About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.