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What’s Blooming: Fall Perennials for Pollinators

 

Ericameria nauseosa

What’s Blooming:  Fall Perennials for Pollinators
by Kelly Kellow, Greenhouse Horticulturist, Gardens on Spring Creek

 

The wait is finally over and now is the time to appreciate the plants that have taken all season to start blooming.  Fall-blooming perennials begin in August or September and bloom from October to November.  These plants are particularly important for busy honeybees, native solitary bees, bumblebees, hummingbirds, moths and other pollinators, serving as a last-minute meal before the long winter season. 

 

As there are many great fall-blooming perennials, a few stick out in my head as pollinator favorites.  One that has just covered many of the natural areas with pillowy seas of yellow is rabbitbrush or Ericameria nauseosa.  While driving on east Prospect to I-25, I was amazed with all the yellow that was out there by the ponds.  Rabbitbrush is native to our region and does well in Fort Collins, requiring little maintenance.  It is drought tolerant and prefers full sun.  Rabbitbrush gets quite large, so if you’re looking for a smaller alternative for your garden, ‘Baby Blue’ rabbitbrush is a great choice. 


Admiral butterfly on a Heptacodium miconioides flower blossom

A few late bloomers that are just starting to show their colors are seven-son flower and West Texas grass sage.  Seven-son flower or Heptacodium miconioides is a large shrub or small tree that doesn’t get much taller than 10 feet at maturity, making it perfect for a smaller garden.  The flowers are in whorled sets of seven that cover the entire tree anywhere from July to September and are covered with bees for the weeks to come.  After the petals fall, the pink sepals remain giving the appearance that the plant is in flower again.  Additionally, the whitish-tan bark peels in strips and is striking against a dark background, offering winter interest as well.

 

West Texas grass sage or Salvia reptans takes the longest to bloom, spending all summer growing to about three to four feet tall with finely bladed leaves.  When it reaches its mature height, it produces small, brilliantly dark blue flowers.  Though not red in color, which is typically a hummingbird’s choice, they seem to enjoy and flock to the flower. It’s an extremely easy perennial to take care of as its drought tolerant, requires full sun and only needs to be cut back in the spring when new shoots have formed. 

 

Another blue pollinator favorite is pitcher sage or Salvia azurea var. grandiflora, with clumps of small-lipped, light blue blossoms on a raceme of three-foot-tall flowers that bloom from August to the end of September.  Bumblebees will weigh the flowers down as they visit, making it fun to watch.  This salvia is very drought tolerant and likes full sun.  It does tend to get a little floppy and may need some staking or string to keep upright. 


Bee on Clematis ternifolia

If you’re looking for a pollinator-friendly vine with late blooms, consider the silver lace vine and sweet autumn clematis.  Both are very different but provide lots of tiny white flowers with loads of nectar.  silver lace vine or Polygonum aubertii is a fast-growing vine and will need room to grow.  When given space, it will gracefully cascade over fences, pergolas and posts.  It gets the name silver lace vine from the many small, white flowers that cover the entire plant creating a lacy look in the garden.  When its in bloom it literally looks like its moving with how many pollinators are on the flowers.  Sweet autumn clematis or Clematis ternifolia will not be as aggressive as silver lace vine but is just as drought tolerant and hardy.  It’s daintier with its sweet smelling, brilliant white flowers that create a glowing effect at dusk and dawn.  Beetles and hummingbird moths are particularly fond of this flower because of its smell and white colored flowers. 

 

Another light-colored favorite is Colchicum autumnale or autumn crocus.  This spring-planted bulb blooms in late August to October.  The large white or purple flowers are much bigger than that of the spring crocus, making plenty of room for honeybees and bumble bees to visit each flower. 

 

One of the the latest blooming of this selection is the Solidago species.  While there are many different varieties, S. ‘Wichita Mountains’ and S. “Fireworks’ both bloom from September into November with tiny, bright yellow flowers.  ‘Wichita Mountains’ flowers are torch-shaped flower spikes while ‘Fireworks’ have arching sprays of yellow flowers.  ‘Wichitia Mountains’ welcomes more butterflies and ‘Fireworks’ is beloved by bees and other native pollinators.  Solidago is great for xeric gardens and requires full sun.  

 

Whether you’re adding these late bloomers to your own garden to support pollinators or enjoying the final flowers of the season at the Gardens on Spring Creek, now is a great time to watch the summer go out in bloom.

 

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