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Planting for Autumn Color Terry L. Yockey |
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When autumn comes some people are already thinking about next season and putting this year's gardens to bed. If you have planned ahead, your garden can still be going strong when others are done blooming. Most can't resist at least one of those gorgeous mums that are beckoning to us at every nursery--but there are many other perennials that can lengthen the blooming season. My favorite late-bloomers are two of the tall sedums 'Autumn Joy' and 'Brilliant.' These are not the low-growing groundcovers you may be accustomed to, but can grow from 12 to 24 inches high. They aren't invasive but stay in a compact clump. 'Autumn Joy' has large, flat blossoms that start light pink and darken all season. 'Brilliant' has bright hot pink flowers that last well in cut flower arrangements. Both are very popular with bees and butterflies.
Goldenrod is very popular in Europe, but hasn't caught on here in the US. It's a shame because it is very hardy, dries well, and is drought resistant. Maybe it's the myth that it causes hay fever (it's really the ragweed!) that has kept gardeners here from growing it. Plant goldenrod in a dry, sunny, location with average fertility. Some good new cultivars are 'Golden Fleece,' 'Fireworks,' and 'Lemore.' If you have a large perennial bed try a native North American plant named "Joe Pye Weed." At 4 to 6 feet tall, Eupatorium makes an imposing statement in the fall garden. It has huge rosy pink flowerheads that are a butterfly favorite. Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstonne' is another imposing autumn bloomer. 'Herstonne' can reach 7 to 8 feet and has large 5 inch wide yellow blossoms. The yellow petals droop downward accentuating the bright green central cone. A "Perennial of the Year", Russian sage (Perovskia) has such a long flowering season that it is usually going strong well into the fall. It has fragrant silvery gray foliage and blooms with an airy quality reminiscent of baby's breath. Physostegia or obedient plant is another late summer bloomer. It gets it's name because supposedly you can bend it any way you like and it will stay that way. It never does for me--but maybe yours will prove to be more obedient.
New England asters are an easy to grow perennial that blooms well into October. The daisy-like flowers range in color from purples and lavenders all the way to roses and pinks. They are a good back of the border flower because they have a tendency to sprawl, and will usually grow to about 3 to 4 ft tall. Like mums they benefit from division at least every other year. Cut off the healthy outside shoots and replant them, then discard the woody center.
Catmint (Nepeta) starts blooming in late spring and is usually still going strong in the fall. To ensure a repeat bloom, shear all the spent blossoms off when it first finishes. There are several varieties, but my favorite is the species faassenii which is a low silvery edger. They all have a distinctive fragrance and are relatives of the smellier catnip. I plant Bergenia for the brilliant red color the large fleshy leaves turn in autumn. Visitors in the fall usually notice it's vivid red color before anything else in the garden. It's a good groundcover for almost any area--even a dry shady one. The only pest it has is slugs, who love to come out at night and chew a few holes right in the middle of each leaf.
Please see my article on
Planting a Flowering Shrub Garden for more fall color ideas. |
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