The 10 Most Colorful Fall-Blooming Flowers in Michigan

Color is king in the fall. Being in Michigan gives you the opportunity to see a myriad of flower blooms. Throughout the entire season, the scenery is blazing with vibrant reds, oranges, yellows, and golden shades that dance in the wind.

How can you get these beautiful colors in your own garden? We’ve scoured the internet to find the top 15 fall blooms in Michigan. You can add these to your yard and have a sprinkle of color everywhere you turn.

1. Aster

The two best times to plant Aster flowers are in the summer and the fall. When a lot of flower blossoms are dying, asters brighten the garden and give pollinators such as butterflies a snack in the autumn months.

To maintain the color, grow these native perennials in the middle of spring. Asters are hardy perennials that resemble daisies and are the garden’s main attraction for pollinators from the end of summer through October in Michigan.

Depending on the type, these standing flowering plants can reach heights of one to six feet tall and produce cheery flower heads with stars that range in color from violet to white to turquoise.

Asters require full to medium sun exposure, cool, moist days, and chilly nights. Asters do not enjoy the intense afternoon sun in warmer regions. The ideal soil is loamy, wet, and well-drained.

2. Toad Lily

The toad lily adds style to any autumn garden. Toad lilies are just starting to bloom when nearly all other shade plants are done flowering and are preparing to slow down for the colder months of the year.

This perennial grows in Zones five to nine. They have mottled flowers, beautiful arching stems, and frequently speckled or multicolored leaves to complement the delicate blossoms.

Typically, the flowers are white, yellow, violet, or light pink in color. Some toad lily variegated variants have gold foliage with spots or tips of a different color. Plant these plants in areas such as the borders of forests and creek banks where they naturally occur.

They thrive when largely in the shade, particularly in warm climates. Be sure to plant these beautiful flowers in the spring to have them in full bloom come autumn.

3. Goldenrod

Native to North America, goldenrod is a perennial wildflower that stands slender and tall with puffy golden spikes of flowers that come in numerous shades of yellow. Goldenrod was once thought of as an invasive weed, but now people value it more due to varieties that grow well and have prettier blooms.

Goldenrod flourishes in temperatures from 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This flower thrives in sunny areas of your yard. Once established, immature goldenrod flowers should only get extra water during droughts in order to maintain moist soil.

Goldenrod doesn’t require any fertilizer at all. It may be important to some gardeners in Michigan that the size and look of the numerous species of goldenrod vary somewhat.

4. Russian Sage

If you’re looking for a beautiful flower to plant in Michigan that resembles lavender, look no further than Russian Sage! In USDA zones five to nine, Russian sage is simple to cultivate and cold hardy.

It thrives in warm regions and can handle clay or ordinary soils so long as the drainage is superb. However, in order to grow an abundance of flowers and strong stems that won’t topple down as they get bigger, it requires ample sunlight.

For the Russian sage to flourish, full sun is necessary. If you give a plant some shade, the stems will often flop down as they reach for the sunlight. Russian sage enjoys heat and sunlight.

Because Michigan is no stranger to frigid winters, we suggest bringing these plans in during the winter. Once spring arrives, plant them in an area of your garden with plenty of sunshine!

5. Perennial Sunflower

Sunflowers are arguably among the most popular and well-known flowers worldwide. Because of their enormous, vividly colored blooms, they are frequently a choice for borders and centerpieces.

The perennial sunflower is not nearly as big as its annual relative, but it more than thrives as a late summer and fall flower. The majority of varieties of perennial sunflowers come in various tones of gold, with a few having a gentler vivid yellow hue.

Many varieties of sunflowers have unique leaves. These plants have a very delicate and delicate texture since they only branch at the ends of their flowering stems. It’s best to plant these flowers in a place that receives the most sunlight.

As with most flowers, the soil has to drain properly for perennial sunflowers to thrive.

6. Blue Mist Shrub

If you want to add blue to your garden in Michigan, consider a blue mist shrub. Blue mist plants can be grown either as woody perennials that die back to the ground each winter or as deciduous shrubs, depending on the climate.

The tiny silver-gray leaves, which resemble willow leaves, grow from tidy little mounds. From June through early October, the shrub is covered with tiny, pale blue blooms. Low-maintenance blue mist plants can withstand both drought and shade, and they don’t require a lot of fertilizer.

But just like other plants, blue beards have preferences, so if you want them to grow well, plant them in full sun with medium-moisture soil. Every year, they typically gain between 18 and 30 inches in height.

7. Sedum

Sedums are grown for their colorful, patterned, mushy succulent leaves, but they additionally yield star-shaped blossoms that draw butterflies along with other pollinators such as insects.

When used in bulk plantings, sidewalk segments, rock landscaping, hills, or pathways, the growth pattern creates a wonderful border. Sedums provide a number of other plants with mid- to late-season appeal when they bloom, which can occur from the beginning of summer through the autumn based on the type.

Sedum can grow in rocky or normal soil with adequate drainage, but it prefers the latter. Root rot is brought on by standing water, which is produced by clay or compacted dirt.

Sedums are more tolerant to drought and dry weather because their thick leaves retain water. Only during extended dry spells or times of intense heat should you offer extra water.

8. Ornamental Kale

You may not think of kale as anything other than something you have to eat to maintain your health. Did you know the foliage of this vegetable can be absolutely stunning?

Ornamental kale also goes by the name flowering kale. Ironically, this plant rarely grows actual flowers. Their lavishly ruffled and wrinkled leaves are where the color is. The best method to cultivate ornamental kale plants is by planting it in the spring for an autumn harvest.

If you’re just getting started with this plant, consider using a container garden to have more control over the soil. If you want ornamental kale to blossom in autumn, plant it no later than the beginning of July!

9. Northern Sea Oats

If you’re looking for an earthy or bohemian addition to your garden, look no further than Northern Sea Oats! Northern sea oats have characteristic bouncing flat seed heads that resemble small fish.

Though it thrives in direct sunlight, it is one of the most suitable decorative grasses for moderate shade. The arched seed heads, which turn golden copper as they age, work well in both fresh and dried bouquets.

If you choose, you can leave this plant growing throughout the winter; it looks lovely covered in snow. But if you want to stop this vigorous reseeder from spreading all over, clip off the seed heads in the autumn season.

10. Ornamental Pepper

Although it’s technically not a flower, you have to take a look at ornamental peppers. They look as if they’re tulips just about to bloom! Even though ornamental peppers can be eaten, they have not been cultivated for flavor like the larger, vegetable garden types.

The dazzling small buds of ornamental peppers, which give the appearance of Christmas lights, produce wonderful garden displays. The fruit and leaf colors and forms of new kinds are distinctive.

Look out for cultivars that can also have longer bloom times if you’re planting for a fall bloom in Michigan!

Summary of the Best Fall Flowers to Plant in Michigan