It’s almost Fall but it’s still hot. And thankfully, there are plenty of perennials that absolutely love it. Late summer can bring some of the prettiest color of the entire season, especially as we head into September. Labor Day may unofficially mark the beginning of Fall, but here in East Tennessee, we all know the heat doesn’t exactly check the calendar. We’ll still have plenty of warm days ahead before things finally begin to cool down.

We have a wide selection right of colorful perennials now, whether you’re looking to fill an entire perennial garden, plant in larger groups for impact, or just tuck a few plants here and there into existing beds that need a little something extra.

One of the things we love most about perennials – they’re versatile. Have a sunny area? Shady area? Or somewhere in between? There’s probably a perennial for it.

And while we could make a long list of everything available right now, here are just a few longtime favorites:

• Asters
• Astilbe
• Bee Balm
• Black-Eyed Susan
• Coral Bells
• Coreopsis, or Tickseed
• Coneflowers
• Ferns
• Hosta
• Japanese Anemone
• Lavender
• Lenten Rose
• Lungwort
• Rosemary
• Sedum

…okay, we’ll stop there but there are a lot more.

Perennial Highlights

Japanese Anemone

Among all those familiar favorites is one we think deserves a little more attention, especially if you have a part-sun or part-shade area that can sometimes be tricky to fill:

Japanese Anemone.

Anemones include both spring-blooming and late-summer-to-fall-blooming varieties, and the fall bloomers can be especially beautiful at a time when some of the summer garden is beginning to wind down. Anemones are members of the Ranunculaceae family, making them relatives of Buttercups, Clematis and Ranunculus. We have a new perennial shipment arriving this week that includes four great fall-blooming Anemone varieties:

• Prince Henry
• September Charm
• Honorine Jobert
• Pamina

Coneflowers

We’re also still nicely stocked with Coneflowers from two of our primary perennial growers, Riverbend Nursery and Monrovia Nursery.

And we’re proud to work with growers like these. Starting with well-grown, quality plants makes a difference, and our goal is always to give you plants that have the best possible chance of being successful once they make it home to your garden.

Sedum & Lavender

If summer watering is one of those things you’re…maybe not always perfect about, Sedum and Lavender deserve a look. Both groups handle heat and drier conditions exceptionally well once established. They also bring beautiful summer and fall interest without demanding nearly as much attention as some other plants. Hot weather? They can handle it.

Pansies Have Arrived!!

Yes. You read that correctly. Our first shipment of pansies has arrived this week in both 4-packs and 3.5-inch pots. One of the great things about gardening in our East Tennessee climate is that pansies and violas can give us color over a surprisingly long stretch of the year. These are cool-season annuals, which means they thrive during the months when many of our warm-season flowers are finished. Plant them in fall and enjoy that first burst of color now. Depending on winter conditions, they may continue flowering periodically through winter, then perk right back up and put on another beautiful show in early to mid-spring. Basically, you plant them for fall and often get a second act in spring.

We’ll take that bonus.

Mums Are Here Too!

Another fall favorite has officially arrived – Mums! One of the easiest ways to immediately make a porch, patio, planter or landscape bed feel like fall. They’re loaded with color and typically give you several weeks of beautiful seasonal interest. Although mums are considered tender perennials, we often recommend enjoying them primarily as seasonal accents. That said, there are definitely a few things you can do when planting them that may improve their chances of returning the following year. Ask us next time you’re at Evergreen. We’ll be happy to share our tips.

Hydrangeas

If you’ve been admiring Panicle Hydrangeas around town all summer, now is a great time to decide where you’d like one in your own landscape. Pick your spot. Find the variety you love. Get it planted. Panicle Hydrangeas are one of our favorite hydrangea groups because they are remarkably easy to grow and dependable bloomers. Once established in the right location, they can put on an incredible summer display year after year.

Ornamental Grasses

They’re one of those plant groups that can completely change the feel of a landscape without looking like they’re trying too hard. Their movement, texture and softer shape contrast beautifully with shrubs, flowering perennials and other more structured plants.

And there are so many sizes and styles to choose from:

• Pampas Grass
• Bluestem
• Maiden Grass
• Feather Reed Grass
• and more

And they’re incredibly easy to work into those open spaces where the landscape just feels like it needs…something.

So while fall may be starting to creep into the conversation, there is still a LOT happening in the garden. Late-summer perennials are blooming. Fall favorites are arriving. Pansies are here. Mums are here. And it’s a great time to plant.