September Blooms: Veronica ‘Purpleicious’ (Speedwell)

Extend your bloom through the fall:



Veronica ‘Purpleicious’ (Speedwell) zones 4-8

Purple flower spikes 16’ to 20” inches tall perform into the fall if deadheaded.

Veronica ‘Purpleicious’ first blooms in June. Deadhead after the first wave of flowers fade, add a little low-nitrogen fertilizer to encourage more blooms, and sure enough, another wave will emerge in late August and early September. A little extra work for a lot of extra color!

(We use an organic, low nitrogen fertilizer called "Bloom" that we carry at Victoria Gardens. We find it works wonders on perennials, fruit, tomatoes, roses, and annuals.)

Veronica is not deer resistant. For similar form, color, and reblooming properties use the deer resistant perennial Salvia.

September blooms: Chelone (Turtlehead)

September can be lush with flowers, if you choose the right plants:



Chelone (Turtlehead) zones 5-9

A unique name and an easy plant to grow. The pink flowers are shaped like a turtle's head supposedly.

This plant grows 24" to 36" tall and wide in a lush stand, covered in the unusual pink blooms. Can tolerate wet soil and will grow pond side or stream side, but will also thrive in your well drained perennial border. Victoria has this one in her own yard, and the flowers really brighten up the fall garden.

September Blooms: Persicaria ‘Magic Carpet’

Continuing our profiles of September's abundant blooms:



Persicaria ‘Magic Carpet’ zones 4-9

Multicolored ground cover with light-pink round blooms. Can take it wet, but performs well almost anywhere including containers. Very low maintenance.

This ground cover is just cool. As its name 'Magic Carpet' implies, we'd go so far as to say this tie-dyed, tiny-leafed, red-stemmed plant is downright groovy.

September Blooms: Anemone Japonica

Our feature on September blooms continues:



Anemone Japonica (windflower) zones 5-8

A fall blooming Anemone (often confused with the spring blooming and summer blooming type) with single cupped flowers that stand above the foliage. Flowers are in pink or white. Performs best in the shade.

Although Anemone Japonica is NOT deer resistant, we think everyone should plant these delicate fall-blooming beauties. If you don't have a protected area, then spray the buds and flowers with a deer repellent like Deer Defeat.

Fall blooming shade plants are hard to come by, so we think the extra effort is well worth the abundance of late blooms.

September Blooms: Calamintha nepeta (Mountain Mint)

September blooms:



Calamintha nepeta (Mountain Mint) zones 5-9

Airy plumes bloom from June to October on this lovely herbaceous perennial. Blooms and leaves can be used fresh or dried to make mint tea with a rich spearmint flavor.

Like all plants in the mint family, Mountain mint is deer resistant and in general is a cold-hardy, tough perennial. For such a tough plant, we love the cloud-like softness this perennial can add to a garden.

September Blooms: Caryopteris 'Blue Mist'

Continuing our spotlight on fall flowering plants:





Caryopteris ‘Blue Mist’ Zone 6-9

(Although we have had great result with this shrub in zone 5.) Compact shrub with berry-like buds that open into clusters of blue fragrant flowers in late summer and hold their color through the fall.

You can see from the top photo that 'Blue Mist' came by its name honestly. From afar it offers a hazy swath of light blue color, and up close its architectural, star-like flowers are literally buzzing with activity. Bees and butterflies vie for spots on the multi-leveled branches.

September Blooms: Gentiana 'True Blue'

We think September has a bad reputation because of back-to-school drudgery. It is the ultimate buzz kill month. It marks the end of summer. The end of fun and freedom. And those associations die hard even for those of us decades out of school. But the gardening season is far from over!

September in the garden can be a lush, colorful, and full of exuberant blooms - with the right plants. All this month we will be featuring plants that offer not just color in the fall (fall foliage, ornamental seed heads, etc.), but truly bonafide blooms.




Gentiana “True Blue’ Zone 4-7

A ‘True Blue’ bloomer, Gentiana produces deep indigo flowers from midsummer to early fall. Gentiana grows 24” to 30” inches and is deer resistant too!

We are so impressed with these lovely late bloomers. Deep blue buds are just as attractive as the fully opened bloom.