I'm no expert but except for the miscanthus, which I do not grow all that you listed are blooming now in my gardens. I even have a couple of flowers on my boltonia which was always a late summer fall bloomer in my Pittsburgh garden. I do have some helianthus which are still not quite ready to bloom and some asters that are not blooming yet although some of my asters are. This is only my second summer here and I am also looking for things that will bloom late summer early fall when the whether is nicer.

Many of the salvias that are hardy to 7b bloom well into the fall here so you might want to add them into your mix. Hot Lips salvia is a particularly nice one although I grow many others that are drought tolerant and bloom from early spring till first frost.

Can't wait to see what others add to the list. I'm ready with pencil and paper. Adele

I keep a journal listing each flower as it blooms. Here are some late season entrees from last year... late Aug: "hardy Hibiscus, Turtlehead. Sep: Asters, Swamp Sunflower. Oct 29 light frost occurs but nothing affected. Oct 29 Confederate Rose Hibiscus". I have had Roses and Malva Zebrina continue to flower up until the first hard frost, and tons of annuals that I wont list here since you want perennials; however, I must recommend Pansies which bloom Fall thru Winter into Spring here.

I have to recommend Muhlenbergia capillaris- a must have late blooming grass. Salvias- greggii, microphylla,chamaedryoides, leucantha, madrensis, Indigo Spires and I'm sure there are more. I'm not endorsing here but check out Plant Delights Nursery and Niche Gardens websites for what they list for fall bloom time. They are both very informative for this region.

Daylilies, black-eyed susans and coneflower are all currently in bloom. I've seen Joe Pye grown in dry places but the soil was heavily amended. It's starting to bloom now. I've got coastal Joe Pye which starts going dormant in Sept after it blooms.

Aromatic aster is a really good fall aster for this area -- rather low-growing, to 2', and is not invasive. It blooms during the month of October here, as does swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius).

I second Shari's recommendations -- Muhlenbergia capillaris is a stunner, and very easy to grow, and salvias can be counted on to be their best in the fall.

My main flowerbed has many large clumps of Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum' (or maybe it's R. hirta, whatever the common wildflower is) and they put on quite a show. My only complaint is that they tend to rest in between flushes of blooms - so there are long periods where I don't have any color. And the pattern of when they bloom or not bloom is totally up to the weather and is different every year.

Mixed in with them is every color of Garden Phlox available and they bloom up til the first hard frost in my yard (which is usually November).

I also have Obediant plant. In my bed it isn't much of a thug. I planted it last so it isn't winning the turf war with the phlox or black eyed susans. The bed endures long periods of dryness and only gets 4 hours of stong light in the late afternoon so that may be why it just sorta limps along and pops up here and there between all the tall bloomers.

I grow a lot of Goldenrods and especially like 'Fireworks' which tends to bloom around mid September.

Stokesias do well for me as long as they are out in front of everything else. They tend to bloom now and then rest and rebloom in Sept or Oct.

I really like using baby palms (Sabal minor) as foliage accents mixed in with all the bloomers. Once they get tall they tend to dominate everything - but with my lack of strong sunlight that takes forever. You don't really see the 'fan' shape of the leaves just long pokey spikes sticking up and through the clouds of blooms. I know, most folks would want the palms front and center but I like them this way.

I have two perennial mums and I don't know either of their names. One is a pale apricot, sorta wild flower looking and very stunning with the right shades of yellow or oranges around it. The other is like stubby white daisies and it blooms way late in the year - like after first frost and on til Christmas if the weather stays mild in the daytime.

Coneflowers are blooming now but seem to persist well up to fall. I would add 'Miss Huff' lantana since it blooms all summer and fall and is extremely carefree. (other varieties are not as reliably hardy). Some other fall suggestions are solidago and perennial mums. Helianthus 'lemon queen' is also good if you want something tall. Mine is just about to burst into bloom now. Verbena bonariensis blooms from spring to fall but can get annoying to some people with it's self seeding. There are also lots of agastaches that bloom summer to fall. -Ais.

Seashore mallow is a good plant for bloom in Sept. It comes in white and pink and will grow in wet or dry soil.

Thanks for all these great suggestions! I'm really glad I asked...

Pineapple sage is my number one fall blooming plant. And if you have room, Tardiva paniculata hydrangea, or some of the other fall blooming paniculatas are beautiful.

I'll add climbing aster to the list of fall bloomers - I think it's also called carolina aster. It's more or less a vine and is the last thing that blooms in my garden - usually at the end of October or beginning of November. It would probably bloom earier than that in Raleigh - just guessing.
I second the suggestions for Rudbeckia - mine starts in July and goes through September, cone flowers - also start blooming in July, gaura - blooms in July and August for me. Agastache is a nice choice, too, and St. John's wort.
As for daylilies, mine have finished blooming by July, so you would have to look for some late bloomers if you want everything blooming at once. The biggest difference I've noticed between what blooms in the Northeast and what blooms in the South is that plants that bloom at the same time for you bloom in succession for us.

Some suggestions based on my experience and bloom records:
- Aster carolinianus (Halloween. This is a gangly vine of an aster that needs support. I have it growing up through a blue holly, which gives lots of contrast and support.)
- Aster novi-belgii 'Professor Kippenburg' (Sept)
- Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies' (Oct-Frost)
- Caryopteris divaricata 'Snow Fairy' (Late Aug-Sept)
- Caryopteris x clandonensis 'WorcesterÂs Gold' (Late Aug-Sept)
- Delosperma 'Kelaidis' (Mesa VerdeÂ) (June-Frost)
- Eragrostis elliottii (May-Frost. Would recommend no irrigation for this small grass. It thrives when it is hot and really dry)
- Helianthus giganteus 'SheliaÂs Sunshine' (Late Sept)
- Lantana camara 'Miss Huff' (June-Frost)
- Lantana montevidensis (June-Frost)
- Lilium formosonan (Aug-Sept)
- Miscanthus 'Little Zebra' (Sept. A dwarf variegated Miscanthus.)
- Muhlenbergia capillaris (Sept. Others have mentioned this grass and for good reason. Place where it can be viewed against the sunlight.)
- Salvia greggi 'Cherry Queen' (May-Jul, Late Aug-Frost)
- Sedum spectabile 'Rosy Glow' (Sept)
- Sedum x 'Autumn Joy' (Sept)
- Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' (Sept)
- Vernonia arkansana (Late Aug-Sept)
- Zephyranthes 'Labuffarosa' (June-Aug)

In my experience, Joe Pye Weed, which blooms in August here, requires a bit of moisture to look really good. It will however survive during periods of drought.

Some shrubs/small trees that would provide structure, color, and complement many drought-tolerant perennials:

- Abelia grandiflora 'Sunrise'
- Cotinus corrigya 'Royal Purple'
- Ilex cornuta 'O'Spring'
- Juniperus 'Saybrook Gold'
- Lagerstromia indica 'Centiennial Spirit'
- Loropelatum chinensis 'Plum Delight'
- Salix purpurea 'Nana'
- Spirea bumalda 'Goldflame'
- Vitex agnus caste

More great ideas, thanks.

I see a lot of asters mentioned. I have a lot of trouble with mildew on most of my asters -- does it affect aster carolinianus?

When does butterfly bush stop blooming for you (if you don't deadhead)?

I haven't noticed mildew on the climbing asters I've seen. I've never seen mildew on aromatic aster here.

The only buddleia I've had for more than a year is Royal Red (so it's the only one I can comment on), and that one blooms without deadheading until frost.