11 late summer perennials that peak when the garden is running out of steam

The most impactful late-summer perennials are rudbeckia (long bloom, native, drought-tolerant), Joe Pye weed (tall, structural, pollinator magnet), coneflower (extends from summer into fall), and garden phlox (longest bloom period of any summer perennial). These four alone will c

By late July, most spring-planted borders are spent. The peonies are green mounds, the iris foliage is browning, and the early daylilies have finished. Late summer — August through September — is the trough most perennial gardens fall into, and it's the gap that's easiest to fill with the right plant choices.

This list covers 11 perennials that bloom from late July through September. All are reliably hardy in zones 4—8, and most are native to eastern North America, which means they're well-adapted to the heat, humidity, and late-summer drought that characterize that period.

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1. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm')

Zones 3—9. Blooms late June through October — but peak bloom is August and September. Golden yellow flowers with dark centers, 24—30 inches tall. Full sun; drought-tolerant once established.

I grow 'Goldsturm' in three border locations on my Long Island property. Per Penn State Extension, Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' is the standard cultivar for long bloom, disease resistance, and compact habit. The species R. fulgida is native to central and eastern North America and requires no deadheading — spent flowers persist as ornamental seedheads that birds use in winter. It spreads slowly by rhizomes and can be divided every 3—4 years to keep clumps tight.