Fall-Blooming Wildflowers We Love

By Southern Living

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Whether we're happening upon a patch of wildflowers in a forest somewhere or planning a trip to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, we're always delighted to encounter wildflowers. They're hardy bloomers that sprout where they're planted, and they add a scattering of pretty flowerheads even in environments where other plants find it difficult to grow. Depending on the species of plant, you can find wildflowers growing wild at any time of year. They seem particularly special in the fall when leaves are falling and branches are growing bare. Smatterings of blooms in assorted colors brighten up the landscape and add an infusion of cheer. That must have been what Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady and namesake of Texas's botanic garden, had in mind when she called wildflowers "the stuff of [her] heart." When we see fall-blooming wildflowers, we can't help but wholeheartedly agree.

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Anemone

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Anemone

Anemone species that thrive in partial shade include meadow anemone (Anemone canadensis), anemone hybrids (Anemone x hybrida), wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa), and grapeleaf anemone (Anemone tomentosa).

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Angel’s Trumpet

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Brugmansia

Tropical blossoms and big, verdant foliage are the calling cards of Brugmansia species, also known as angel’s trumpet.

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Asclepias

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Asclepias

These summer-blooming plants are classified as milkweeds because of their milky sap.

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Coneflower

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Echinacea

These easy-to-grow plants thrive in full sun and bloom in a wide array of shades.

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Coreopsis

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Coreopsis

These flowers come in an array of forms and hues, including hybrids, Coreopsis grandiflora, Coreopsis tinctoria, and Coreopsis tripteris.

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Euphorbia

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Euphorbia

Euphorbia corollata and Euphorbia roemeriania produce long-lasting flowers and are also known as spurges.

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Lobelia

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Lobelia

Lobelia cardinalis and Lobelia siphilitica are native to the Eastern U.S.; the former produces spiky red flowers in the summer months and the latter has white or bright blue blooms.