Fall is here. What a wonderful time! Chrysanthemums get a lot of attention in fall and that attention is well deserved, but there are other perennials for us in North Dakota that are equally stunning:

Start with New England aster (Aster). Its pink and purple flowers are irresistible to us, bees and butterflies. Asters are easy to grow and prolific bloomers. They have tall stems that make for striking bouquets. ‘Purple Dome’ is a big seller. 'Wood's Pink' is shown.

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) is one of my favorites. Its mounded plants are adorned with golden daisies. The chocolate brown seedheads persist through winter, attracting birds. ‘Goldsturm’ is a classic cultivar; a true Hall of Fame perennial.

Russian sage (Perovskia) tolerates drought and grows well here. It features silvery foliage and tall, airy spikes of blue flowers. ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ is popular for its short and sturdy stems.

Stonecrop (Sedum) is one of the finest perennials for dry sites. Look for varieties with eye-catching foliage in summer as well as radiant flowers in fall. ‘Autumn Joy’ has been a standout for decades and the new Sunsparklers® are outstanding groundcovers.

The flowers of Japanese anemone (Anemone) are lovely as they sway in the breeze. ‘Honorine Jobert’ has pure white blooms. It grows especially well as a border in partial shade.

One of the most interesting fall bloomers is black snakeroot (Actaea). A favorite in shade gardens, the coppery-purple plants send out flower spikes that look like fuzzy white snakes. Fascinating!

Written by Tom Kalb, Extension Horticulturist, North Dakota State University. Photos were made available under Creative Commons licenses specified by the photographers: Paul Cooper; Virginia Oakes; Walters Gardens, Inc. (2); jjjj56cp; and Leonora (Ellie) Enking.