September blooms: Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)

September blooms couldn't be easier:



Buddleia (Butterfly Bush) zones 5-9

Most of you are familiar with this butterfly beacon. It comes in many colors, grows 5 to 10 feet tall, and reseeds itself when happily situated. If you deadhead the past blooms, the buddleia will continue to provide color for your garden and nectar to your butterflies through the fall!

Buddleia is a deer resistant, full sun staple. Because so many people have them, we get lots of questions regarding when and how and how much to cut the shrubs back.

You basically have three options: You can leave it be in the fall and cut it back in the spring as leaves emerge. At that point, trim back the parts that don't leaf-out.

Or you can cut the shrub in half during your fall clean-up, but most likely you will still need to trim it up a bit again in the spring as it leafs-out.

Or you can completely neglect your butterfly bush, leaving the buddleia alone for years at a time until at some point it looks like it needs attention. (They are pretty and pretty easy, which is why they are so popular!)

September Blooms: Geranium ‘Rozanne’

Our feature on plants that actually flower in September continues:



Geranium ‘Rozanne’ zones 3-9

A perennial geranium that belongs in everyone’s garden. Why? Because it produces a profusion of purple flowers from May until October! Super low maintenance. Absolutely the most bloom for your buck!

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.