No wonder, then, that so many are keen to suss out the best perennials to plant now. It doesn't matter whether you dream of late summer flowers, cottage garden shrubs, or simply alluring plants to liven up your garden,

A cool-season flower that can be set out in early spring, sweet alyssum fades in the summer heat, but its clusters of tiny white, pink, or purple blooms will likely cover your garden again in the fall when temperatures stabilize.

Late summer into fall can be a vibrant time in the garden. Try these perennials to add some late-season color.

One of the most famous and best autumn-flowering perennials is the aster (or Michaelmas daisy, if you prefer), which blooms right through October – so long as you keep it well watered during dry spells and deadhead regularly to prolong flowering.

Catmint is the ideal low-maintenance perennial for any garden setting. Available in heights ranging from 8 inches to 3 feet tall, the silvery-green foliage has a minty-spicy scent that deer and rabbits tend to leave alone. Spikes of pink or purple flowers appear for weeks in mid to late summer.

If you’re hoping to catch the blazing colours of autumn, your best bet is to head to your nearest arboretum. I was lucky enough to grow up a stone’s throw from Westonbirt, the National Arboretum in Gloucestershire,

Fall flowers are a valuable source of nectar and pollen for butterflies and other beneficial insects at a time when food sources are scarce.