Types of Flowers to Plant in October
October is the time for jackets, pumpkins and leaves changing, and generally isn’t thought of as a planting season for garden flowers. However, October is the ideal month to plant a wide array of flowers that will add bright colors and fragrant blooms to your garden.
Bulbs are perennial plants that have fleshy, underground structures that store nutrients during the plant’s dormant period. Bulbs can be narrowed into two categories; spring bulbs, which bloom in the spring, and fall bulbs, which bloom in fall. The fall season is when many gardeners plant spring-blooming bulbs. Spring bulbs require time for their roots to develop before frost hits. According to the University of Vermont, spring bulbs shouldn’t be planted until the soil temperature is below 60 degrees. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are one of the earliest blooming bulbs, and it grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. Daffodils (Narcissus) grow in USDA zones 4 through 8, blooming in March and April. Tulips (Tulipa) -- which grow in USDA zones 3 through 8 -- are typically the next spring bulb to bloom, producing their flowers in April and May.
Plants that are tolerant to frost can survive the harsh conditions with little to no damage. Ice plant, hellebore and goldenrod are a few such frost-tolerant plants. Ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) grows in USDA zones 8 through 10 in full sun. It reaches heights of about 6 inches or less and produces pink or purple blooms. Hellebore (Helleborus × hybridus cvs.) can bloom in temperatures below freezing and grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. The cup-shaped flowers tilt downward and appear throughout the plant’s glossy green leaves. Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) has clusters of yellow blooms that appear at the top of tall flower stalks. It grows in full sun to part shade in USDA zones 3 through 9.
Unlike perennials, annual plants won’t return year after year and generally die off when frost hits. However, several species of annuals can be planted in fall. Called hardy annuals, these plants prefer the cooler season but need time to establish before the cold weather sets in. Pansies, petunias and garden mums are a few such hardy annuals you can plant in early October. Pansies (Viola) grow in full sun to part shade and are the go-to annual for colorful gardens. Petunias (Petunia) are deer-tolerant, cool-season annuals that produce blooms in bright colors. Hardy garden mums (Chrysanthemum morifolium) are perennials in USDA zones 5 through 9 but are generally grown as annuals in full sun to partial shade.
Fall-blooming flowers are stunning when other plants have stopped blooming for the year. In warmer climates, these fall-blooming plants can be planted directly into the ground during the fall season. “El Fuego” blanket flower (Gaillardia “El Fuego”) produces deep red blooms with fluted petals in USDA zones 3 through 8. This sun-loving perennial blooms from spring through the fall and attracts butterflies. “Chim Chiminee” black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta “Chim Chiminee”) is a butterfly-attracting perennial that grows in USDA zones 3 through 9 and has gold, yellow and bronze flowers. These stunning blooms appear in midsummer and last through the fall. “Merlot” coneflower (Echinacea purpurea “Merlot”) has bright pink blooms with a cone-shape middle that appears on wine-colored flower stems. “Merlot” grows in USDA zones 4 through 9 in full sun. The colorful flowers bloom in early spring and fall.
- University of Vermont Extension: Fall Planting for Spring Flowers
- Sunset: Planting Annuals
- Fine Gardening: Galanthus Nivalis (Common Snowdrop)
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Narcissus (Group)
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Tulipa (Group)
- Fine Gardening: Genus Viola (Pansy, Violet)
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Petunia (Group)
- Fine Gardening: Chrysanthemum Morifolium (Hardy Garden Mum)
- Fine Gardening: Delosperma Cooperi (Ice Plant)
- Fine Gardening: Helleborus × Hybridus cvs. (Hellebore)
Amanda Flanigan began writing professionally in 2007. Flanigan has written for various publications, including WV Living and American Craft Council, and has published several eBooks on craft and garden-related subjects. Flanigan completed two writing courses at Pierpont Community and Technical College.