With September comes the start of fall and a beautiful, casual atmosphere in the garden. We can enjoy a final flush of colorful blooms and the activity of our resident bees and butterflies before they overwinter. It’s also a prime time for planting, setting the foundation for next season’s biodiversity and pollinator support. In fall’s moderate conditions, plants establish strong root systems to survive winter. 

Aim to plant trees, shrubs, and nursery starts four to six weeks before the first anticipated frost. This gives roots time to settle in before freezing conditions. In cold climates, direct sow seeds this month post-frost. The season gives seeds that need cold stratification (as many native perennials do) ample chill time for germination in the spring. In warm climates, hold off until temperatures cool later in the season to prevent early sprouting that’s susceptible to cold damage.

There’s no shortage of native pollinator plants to add to our collections in September. They’ll enrich our corners of the ecosystem while brimming with multi-season appeal and years of recurrent interest.

September Native Plants for Pollinators

Long bloom times help provide steady food sources.

Native plants are a hallmark of pollinator gardens. They have specific attributes that match the needs of native pollinators, and they adapt to their growing environment without requiring extra resources.

When selecting natives for pollinators to plant in September, consider those with a long bloom season. Aim for staggered flowering times for early and late pollen and nectar support. Early risers in spring and those that show a flush in fall provide early and late food reserves to correspond to emergence, migration, and overwintering.

The Xerces Society offers a comprehensive pollinator recommendation plant list by state. The USDA has an interactive plant search database that identifies site-specific natives and their associated insects.

A diversity of species brings variety in flower shape and form, ensuring pollinators have access to nectar for energy and pollen for protein. From tubular blooms with nectar-rich centers to flat-petaled flowers with open centers, a combination provides broad appeal.

Rudbeckia

Blooms nonstop and offers winter shelter for insects.

Rudbeckia is a North American native prairie perennial with a rugged nature and continual blooms from summer through frost. Plant this pollinator favorite in September for its golden yellow flowers with chocolate button centers that offer pollen and nectar all season. Leave it standing through winter, as black-eyed Susan’s hollow stems suit pollinator overwintering. The post-bloom seeds provide food for songbirds.

Rudbeckia adapts to heat, humidity, and drought. Several species make good candidates for a fall sowing and benefit from cold stratification to germinate. R. laciniata, or cultleaf coneflower, has larger features among the species. It bears sprays of sunny flowers atop mounding basal leaves that are deeply cut and serrated.

R. hirta flowers in its first year and often grows as an annual, but may last beyond a single season. Plants self-sow for future color. R. fulgida brings the characteristic golden blooms on a durable, clumping perennial form. Brown-eyed Susan, R. triloba, shows a later, longer bloom time and smaller flowers. The bright blooms are prolific in late summer until hard frost.

To direct sow, scatter seeds and lightly tamp them into place. They need sunlight to germinate and don’t require soil cover. Sow rudbeckia as late as two months before your first frost date in spring.

Helenium

Moist soil keeps these long-flowering garden favorites happy.

Helenium is another yellow ray-petaled selection with a prominent central disc. Loads of buttery yellow flowers appear until freezing conditions. Also called sneezeweed, the common name relates to old medicinal uses as snuff for colds (not allergy-inducing fits).

In species trials at Mt. Cuba Center, the Pollinator Watch Team found that H. autumnale attracted the highest number of bees and wasps. Showy and with ecosystem value, it’s one of the great September pollinator plants. It also benefits from cold exposure over the winter for germination in spring.

Helenium grows naturally along streambanks, ponds, and in wet meadows. It prefers regular moisture, even tolerating spells of standing water and poor soils.

Milkweed

Essential host plant for monarchs at every life stage.

There are a number of native milkweed species suited for a variety of growing conditions, each serving a role in pollinator support. Choose the best milkweed for your region for the best growth and role in pollinator migration. The vivid blooms and nectar attract important pollinators like monarch butterflies and beneficial insects. 

The entire plant is valuable to monarchs throughout their life cycle, first as a food source for monarch caterpillars, then as shelter for their chrysalis. And, they’re a source for those migrating.

Milkweed naturally reseeds at season’s end. Let them drop to expand the colony, as monarchs benefit from large patches for survival. Sow seeds for winter’s natural cold and moist exposure.

Aster

Late-season flowers feed bees before winter sets in.

Asters, with a number of native North American species, steal the show in the fall. Their blue-purple ray flowers bring an infusion of color and support bees and others during the summer-to-fall transition.

Transplant nursery-grown specimens in September to establish roots before winter weather. In mild climates, sow seeds for winter flowering. In colder zones, wait to grow asters from seed until after spring’s final frost.

Asters do best in moist, organic, well-draining soils. Because they’re susceptible to fungal problems, ensure plenty of air circulation through proper spacing. Thin the stems if established crowns become dense.

Ninebark

Cold-hardy shrub with nectar, berries, and peeling bark.

Ninebark is an easy-to-grow shrub with superlative cold hardiness and adaptability. Drought-tolerant, the flowering specimen grows across conditions and withstands varying soil types, from clay to rocky.

Ninebark is a favorite for pollinating insects because of its rich nectar and multitude of flowers. Birds and small mammals forage on the fruits that follow. 

Its ornamental features lend all-season appeal. Soft, pinkish-white flower clusters cover the shrubs in spring. New leaves emerge chartreuse and age to deeper green, turning yellow in late summer and fall. Drooping red berries develop post-bloom. In winter, peeling bark shows shades of red, copper, and light brown, extending the interest.

Coreopsis

Starts early, lasts long, and self-seeds for more color.

Coreopsis has an extended flowering season for waves of cheery yellow blooms into autumn. The wildflower is one of the first to show color in early spring and among the last to fade in fall. The ray-petaled perennial is a favorite nectar and pollen source for bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Songbirds forage on the seeds through winter.

Lance-leaved coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) has the hallmark golden ray petals with yellow centers on slender stems. The drought-tolerant perennial is clump-forming, with a pincushion of basal leaves. Plains coreopsis (C. tinctoria) has yellow petals with deep red highlights and brown button discs. Though considered an annual, a single plant may flower for two to three years.

Coreopsis self-seeds to expand the colony. To direct sow these September pollinator plants, scatter the seeds on a prepped surface and tamp them in lightly to secure them in place. There’s no need to cover them with soil, as they need light to germinate.

Scarlet Sage

Red tubular blooms draw hummingbirds until frost arrives.

Salvia, with its vibrant, tubular blooms, is a favorite pollinator plant that adds color in September. Look to native Salvia coccinea for a compact sage with spikes of red tubular flowers until frost. Hummingbirds find them irresistible.

Emerging earlier than other salvias, the species has a neat, tidy habit. Like many in the genus, scarlet sage is heat and drought-tolerant. It perennializes in warm, frost-free climates. Where not hardy, it performs well as a summer annual and reseeds in zones 6 and above for additional seasons of color.

Serviceberry

Produces white spring flowers followed by sweet summer berries.

Serviceberry is a flowering specimen tree with multi-season interest. Its multi-trunked form, blossoms, and edible fruits make it a sweet landscape addition. September is prime for planting this pollinator native, as the moderate conditions allow roots time to develop before winter. Several species and naturally occurring hybrids are native to North America.

Showy white flower clusters appear in spring before the leaves. Small berries ripen to purple-black over the summer and taste like blueberries. The leaves turn shades of gold and burgundy in the fall.

The small tree bridges the ornamental and edible landscape and supports diversity, as well as visual interest. The blossoms are a valuable early food source for pollinators, and birds and wildlife enjoy the berries.

Anise Hyssop

Aromatic foliage and purple blooms last until frost.

Anise hyssop is the showiest of the native mints with profuse purple-blue bloom spikes. The flowers and gray-green, aromatic foliage are edible and good for drying for teas. The petite tubular blooms are a rich nectar source for our important garden inhabitants.

Anise hyssop flowers until frost. Deadhead to keep the blooms coming until the season’s end. When sowing, plant seeds shallowly with light tamping for contact. They need light exposure and a short chill period to develop.

Penstemon

Reliable in sandy ground with good drainage.

Many species of penstemon are native to the U.S., with showy blooms and attractive dark green leaves. The tubular flowers, from violet-blue to scarlet, are beacons for pollinating insects and birds.

Rocky Mountain blue penstemon (Penstemon strictus) is a long-lived, reliable heirloom with striking violet-blue bloom spikes in early summer. Firecracker penstemon (P. eatonii) bears scarlet bell blooms on tall spikes in spring through summer. The adaptable genus tolerates varying soil conditions and dry spells.

Penstemon grows best in dry, light soils with good drainage. Seeds benefit from fall or winter sowing to allow exposure to cold temperatures and moisture.

Summersweet Clethra

Thrives in moist ground and tolerates part shade.

Clethra is a flowering shrub with highly fragrant bloom clusters, unique seed pods, and fall color. Bumblebees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators favor the pinky-white flowers, spiced pepper scent, and high-quality pollen and nectar. It flowers during the high summer heat when other plants take a break, providing essential resources.

The tough shrub withstands different soil conditions, from moist and sometimes wet to occasional dry spells once established. Avoid sites that are overly hot and dry, as it performs best with consistent moisture. Provide afternoon shade protection from intense sun in hot climates.

Echinacea

Leave seedheads standing for birds and overwintering insects.

Coneflower, the durable prairie wildflower with an easy show of purple ray flowers, is a prime nectar source for insects. The prominent central disc of orange florets is the draw. Seeds bring winter interest and forage for birds and wildlife. Don’t cut them back in the fall, as the hollow stems and dried leaves become nesting cavities for native bees and other insects.

Echinacea thrives in the summer heat and in various soils with good drainage. Wait until after fall’s first heavy frost to scatter seeds. They’ll benefit from cold stratification for successful sprouting.

Blazing Star Liatris

Narrow leaves and upright blooms suit meadow plantings.

Blazing star yields dense flower spikes in purple, pink, and white in the heat of summer. The tall, upright stems rise above fine-bladed, arching foliage that mounds and clumps.

Blazing star is cold-hardy, withstands heat, and is drought-tolerant once established. It benefits from four to six weeks of cold and moist stratification with a fall planting.

Sweet Joe Pye Weed

Big flower clusters attract a wide mix of insects.

Joe Pye weed is dynamic in a naturalized mass planting. The large, domed flower clusters in purple-rose create a big show in late summer and into fall. Its landing pad trusses attract all kinds of beneficial insects.

In addition to the flowerheads, leaves are long, coarse, and dark green with purple-hued leaf nodes. Dark seed pods last into winter, extending the interest. Eutrochium benefits from a chill period over a few months.

The adaptable perennial grows in challenging conditions and different soil conditions, including clay. It flowers best in moist, well-drained situations.

Silverbell

White bell-shaped flowers brighten shady woodland spots.

Carolina silverbell is a lovely flowering tree for woodland and naturalized plantings. The understory species is native to the Appalachian Mountains and the southeastern U.S. In spring, delicate, white bell blooms hang from the stems in clusters. Four-winged nuts emerge in fall and last into winter for extended seasonal interest.

The multitrunked specimens are long-lived and grow easily in average, well-drained soils. They do best in organically rich, moist, and acidic compositions. In their native range, they grow along low slopes and stream banks. They benefit from supplemental irrigation during drought. Plant them in cooling afternoon shade to protect them from intense afternoon sun and heat.