August Blooms: Bring Radiant Autumn and Fall Hues with These 8 Flower Varieties
Extending the Blooming Season: Planting Flowers in August for Late Summer and Fall
August is an ideal time to sow fast-maturing annuals and hardy self-seeding flowers in your garden, ensuring a vibrant display of blooms from late summer into fall and even next spring.
One such favourite is Nigella damascena, commonly known as Love-in-a-Mist. This cottage garden staple boasts feathery foliage and blue, pink, or white flowers. Easy to grow from seed sown in August, it typically blooms the following spring, with potential for a second crop. Its self-seeding nature provides a whimsical effect throughout the garden.
Cosmos are another fast-maturing annual that can flower as early as 50 to 60 days after sowing. Thriving in full sun and well-drained soil, cosmos will provide colourful blooms well into September or October in many regions. They are attractive to pollinators, adding ecological benefits to the garden.
Zinnias are bright and cheerful, with blooms maturing in about 60 to 70 days. Choosing fast-maturing varieties allows for late-season blooms before frost. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
Hardy annuals like cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus), scabious, and clary sage can be sown in late August to plant out in early fall or early spring for blooms next year, extending the floral interest.
Self-seeding flowers like Lunaria annua (Honesty) and batchelor's button (Centaurea cyanus) seeded in August can provide blooms next spring, enhancing the garden’s longevity without replanting effort.
For those seeking a fragrant addition to their garden, consider stock. Although less common today, it comes in a variety of colours and has a nice, delicate scent. It tolerates frosts fairly well and is best for planting now in warmer growing zones.
Marigolds are annual flowers that do well in heat, full sun, and can be surprisingly cold hardy, lasting until temperatures are consistently below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4°Celsius). They also have the added benefit of deterring pests with their aroma, available in varieties like 'Triple Treat' or 'Strawberry Blonde' from Burpee.
Snapdragons require full sun and well-draining soil. Sown in August, they can provide dramatic flowers in time for mid or late-fall. 'Orange Wonder' seeds from Walmart can be used for growing snapdragons.
Calendula plants can last longer than expected and bloom even after a hard frost or first freeze, maturing in 30 to 40 days after sowing. They may need compost or fertilizer in poor soil and can persist through winter in warmer climates. 'Pacific Beauty' seeds from Everwilde Farm at Walmart can be used for growing calendula.
Sunflowers can bring rich, sunny tones to beds and borders as other ornamentals are starting to fade, but if started in August, choose quick-maturing varieties such as 'Lemon Cutie,' 'Zohar,' 'Junior Dwarf,' 'Sunrich Orange,' 'Sunrich Gold Summer' or 'Autumn Beauty.'
The Berry & Bird tool is useful for digging and small seed planting. With careful planning and the right selection of fast-maturing annuals and self-seeding flowers, your garden can continue to bloom well into the fall and even into the next spring.
Planting Nigella damascena, commonly known as Love-in-a-Mist, in August allows for a vibrant display of its blue, pink, or white flowers from late summer into fall and even next spring, extending the blooming season in the home-and-garden and garden areas.
Cosmos, another fast-maturing annual, can provide colorful blooms well into September or October in many regions, making them an ideal choice for liven up the home-and-garden and garden lifestyle in the late summer and fall months.
