Chrysanthemum

Choose hardy mums for the perennial garden. In Northern Minnesota, many mums are grown as annuals. Transplant as early as possible so they have time to establish good root systems. Mums bloom in almost every color, can be tall or short, and generally keep to themselves without spreading. It's very important to mulch hardy mums heavily after first frost to protect them from our harsh winters. Water well, give them full sun, and they'll be reliable fall bloomers for many years.

Heliopsis (False Sunflower)

Heliopsis blooms small, happy yellow flowers. It begins a little earlier than most fall-blooming perennials and continues for weeks until first frost. Plant in masses for best effect (three or more plants in a group).

False Sunflower stems tend to be fine and somewhat fragile, so grow this plant in a perennial cage to help it stand up. If you like, allow the plants to trail on the ground. Some varieties are lower-growing on sturdier stems so they flop less.

Sedum (Stonecrop)

Sedums are awesome. Their foliage is deeply colored from lemon yellow to deep green and they bloom profusions of flowers later in the season. The Autumn Joy variety is perhaps the finest example of the sedum.

These plants tend to spread slowly through the garden and require minimal attention. Water occasionally if there's been a dry spell, but otherwise you can leave sedums alone and they'll thrive. They look best when interplanted with each other so foliage and flower colors can contrast.