Autumn bursts with color. Fiery reds, glowing oranges, and sunny yellows steal the spotlight before winter’s chill moves in. While I love the drama of fall foliage, I’m equally smitten with plants that keep blooming and reseeding as the season winds down.
One of my favorites is Begonia grandis, the hardy begonia. From late summer into early fall, it dazzles with delicate pink or white blooms. Tiny bulblets drop to the ground and start new plants, ensuring it returns year after year. I especially love how the red-veined leaves glow when sunlight shines through them. Though most sources insist hardy begonias prefer moist soil, mine thrive in the dry shade of my woodland garden—one even popped up in my compost pile!
Another standout self-seeder is Tinantia pringlei. Visitors always notice its striking variegated foliage and purple blooms that light up the garden until the first hard frost. Once you plant Tinantia, you’ll always have it—and plenty to share. As a bonus, deer tend to leave it alone.
An unusual plant that thrives in harsh conditions is Impatiens balsamina, a flower native to India and Myanmar. While technically not hardy in my plant zone, it readily produces seed that can be direct-sown in dry areas—even gravel driveways!
Special partners in the shade garden, Aster divaricatus and Solidago caesia settle into the arms of other plants and weave their way into a yellow-and-white tapestry that delights humans and pollinators alike.
I’m thrilled to share my garden with these “seedy” characters. They bring beauty to the late-season landscape and provide plenty of plants to pass along to friends. Honestly, what could be better?