15 Easy Perennials to Plant in October That Come Back Every Year
Plant them once in the cool of autumn and they return stronger every spring, with little watering, no replanting and blooms from May to frost.
This guide contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure · How we test our advice
October is the quiet secret of easy gardening. The soil is still warm, the air is cool and autumn rain does most of the watering for you. Perennials planted now spend the winter growing roots instead of leaves, so by spring they are settled in and ready to bloom. Every plant on this list is hardy, forgiving and happy to come back year after year with almost no help.
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- Zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun
- Height
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms
- June – September
- Deer resistant
- Yes
- Care
- Very easy
“If you only plant one perennial this fall, make it a coneflower. It asks for nothing and gives back for a decade.”
Coneflowers shrug off heat, drought and poor soil, and they feed bees all summer and goldfinches all winter. Plant them in the sunniest corner you have, water once, and leave the seed heads standing in fall. That is the whole job.
Hosta (Hosta spp.)
- Zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Part to full shade
- Height
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms
- July – August
- Deer resistant
- No
- Care
- Very easy
The answer to every shady corner. Divide an old clump in October and you get three new plants for free. Hostas need a little protection from deer, so plant them near the house or behind something deer dislike, like catmint.
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
- Zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Height
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms
- June – August
- Deer resistant
- No
- Care
- Very easy
Daylilies grow in almost any soil and bloom for weeks. Reblooming types like ‘Stella de Oro’ keep going until late summer. Plant the crown no deeper than an inch below the surface.
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Hylotelephium)
- Zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun
- Height
- 18–24 in
- Blooms
- August – October
- Deer resistant
- Mostly
- Care
- Very easy
Thick leaves store water, so sedum never needs a hose once it settles in. The flower heads turn from pale green to dusty pink to rust, and they look good standing all winter.
Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii)
- Zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun
- Height
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms
- May – September
- Deer resistant
- Yes
- Care
- Very easy
A soft blue cloud along a path. Shear it by half after the first flush and it blooms again. Deer and rabbits leave it alone, which makes it a good guard plant in front of hostas.
Hellebore (Helleborus orientalis)
- Zones
- 4–9
- Light
- Part to full shade
- Height
- 12–18 in
- Blooms
- February – April
- Deer resistant
- Yes
- Care
- Easy
The first flowers of the year, often through snow. Hellebores are evergreen, long-lived and poisonous to deer. Cut the old leaves off in late winter so the flowers show.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
- Zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun
- Height
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms
- July – October
- Deer resistant
- Mostly
- Care
- Very easy
Golden daisies that carry the garden from midsummer to frost. They spread slowly into a generous patch and seed around a little, which is usually welcome.
Frequently asked questions
Is October too late to plant perennials?
Not in most of the U.S. Aim for about six weeks before the ground freezes. In zones 3 and 4, plant by mid-September.
Should I fertilize perennials planted in fall?
No. Water them in and add mulch after the first hard frost. Feed lightly in spring.
