Staring at your garden and dreaming of filling it with fall plants that thrive on neglect? You’re not alone; who has the time (or frankly, the energy) to fuss over high-maintenance plants, especially when fall rolls in and to-do lists pile up?
Thankfully, there are plenty of fall-flowering plants and hardy plants that practically prefer to be left alone, rewarding you with plenty of fall color, texture, and wildlife interest… and that’s even if you forget about them for weeks on end. After all, many of our most resilient plants also happen to be some of the most beautiful – and they play an important role in supporting pollinators late in the season.
Better yet, most of these species are native or well-adapted to USDA hardiness zones across North America, which means they fit right into the local ecosystem. That makes them not just easy to grow, but environmentally responsible choices too. Win!
Fall Plants That Thrive on Neglect
It doesn’t really matter whether you’re looking for late blooms, striking foliage, or pollinator magnets; you can find plenty of fall plants that flourish without any coddling whatsoever, making them ideal choices for gardeners with very little time on their hands.
With that in mind, then, here are our pick of those fall plants that thrive on neglect. And we promise, each one is tough, resilient, and ready to shine in your garden with minimal effort.
1. Aromatic Asters
Asters have long been heralded as hardworking horses of the autumn garden, thanks to their ability to bloom brightly even as other flowering perennials around them fade. The aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium), however, is a particular favorite with Andrew Bunting, VP of Horticulture for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and author of The Plant Lover's Guide To Magnolias (available on Amazon).
“This native aster blooms late in September to early October, requires little care, and is a great late source of nectar and pollinators,” he says of this fall plant that thrives on neglect.
You can pick up an Aromatic Aster from Nature Hills if you want a pretty (yet still deer-resistant) flower for your autumn garden.
2. Threadleaf Bluestar
Threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) is native to the mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma, which means it has a very distinct appearance – not to mention a very tolerant approach to temperatures and soil types.
“This indestructible perennial has sky blue flowers in the spring and fantastic golden yellow fall color,” says Andrew, who has long been a fan of this tough little plant.
Grab yourself a Threadleaf Blue Star from Walmart if you want to try this stunner out in your own backyard; we promise it’s another of those fall plants that will reward you for barely any effort.
3. Angelina Stonecrop
Angelina stonecrop (Sedum reflexum or Sedum rupestre) are, much like other sedum plants, native to rocky, mountainous slopes in Europe and Asia, and are hardy in US hardiness zones 3 to 11. They are also, more importantly, brilliant for adding a bold pop of fall color to your outdoor space.
“Throughout the season, this groundcover has bright golden yellow, succulent foliage,” says Andrew. “It is great for dry gardens or xeriscaped beds.”
You can pick up an easy-to-grow Sedum Rupestre Angelina from Amazon.
4. Iron Butterfly
Yet another native plant (are you sensing a theme here?), iron butterfly – or Vernonia lettermannii if you prefer – produces fine feathery flowers throughout USDA zones 4 through 9.
“Blooming in late summer to early fall, it is covered with tiny, vivid purple flowers, which means it’s great for late-season pollinators,” says Andrew, who suggests using it as a bloom for the back of the flower border.
Pick up an Iron Butterfly Ironweed from Nature Hills if you’d like to reap the benefits of this one over the autumn.
5. Mountain Mint
Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) is an unsurprising addition to our list of fall plants that thrive on neglect; as part of the mint family, it grows incredibly quickly and is native to most of the eastern US.
“This might be the very best plant for attracting a myriad of pollinators, despite still being deer-resistant,” says Andrew.
You can grab yourself one of Walmart’s Mountain Mint Live Starter Plants if you want to make life as easy as possible for yourself when planting this one out.
6. Rough Goldenrod
Rough goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) is another of those native wildflowers that love to be left almost completely alone in your garden; just pop it in a spot in full sun, or a spot with a little shade, and make sure the soil is well-draining, too. Then, voila! Bright yellow blooms to lift your mood over the ever-darkening weeks ahead.
You can buy rough goldenrod seeds from Amazon. Or, alternatively, you could try something like blue-stemmed or wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) if you want a goldenrod that grows in dry shade.
7. Switchgrass
If you’re in the market for fall plants that thrive on neglect, don’t forget switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), which grows exceptionally well in zones 5 to 9.
“This native grass is a stalwart perennial. It has attractive upright leaves and plumes of air flower clusters late in the season,” promises Andrew.
If you have the time, you can grow this one from seed; pick up a packet of Outsidepride Switchgrass Plant Seeds from Walmart and get sowing.
8. Zinnias
Zinnia flowers (Zinnia elegans) aren't just some of our favorite fall plants that thrive on neglect; they're one of our favorite fall plants full stop! Sure, they need a little deadheading and flower removal to keep them blooming until the leaves have turned, but these half-hardy annuals are drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and great for adding an instant pop of color to your outdoor space.
For bold gold hues, go for Walmart's Outsidepride Zinnia Swizzle Scarlet Yellow Flower Seed; they're ideal if you're in zones 3-10.
Of course, there are other classics that you could consider if you want fall plants that thrive on neglect (Russian sage and coneflowers spring to mind), but these hardy and oh-so-striking natives are genuinely laidback and ready to handle your ‘treat ‘em mean, keep ‘em keen’ approach to gardening like stalwart heroes.
Happy planting…
