Here’s an inspirational article by Robin Sweetser who is a contributor to the Old Farmer’s Almanac on backyard gardening tips.
ANNUALS, PERENNIALS, AND SHRUBS THAT ADD FALL COLOR
Summer may be in the rear-view mirror, but that doesn’t mean that the blooms have to end! Here are few of our favorite fall-blooming flowers and shrubs that brighten up our autumn landscape.
ANNUAL FLOWERS
Lots of annuals that can take some cold temps are still pumping out the blossoms at this time of year. These include nasturtiums, zinnias, calendula, marigolds, and rudbeckias. See our flower growing guides for planting and growing tips.
PERENNIAL FLOWERS
- Joe-Pye weed is a reliable native perennial that blooms from late summer through the first few frosts. The large, purple, clustered flowers grow on plants that can be over 6 feet tall in the right place. Where is that place? Since this plant likes moist soil, many wild ones grow along stream beds and riverbanks in full sun. Pollinators love Joe-Pye weed, so add a couple to the back of your sunny border. It has undergone a name change recently, so if you are going to buy one, look for the Latin name Eutrochiuminstead of Eupatorium.
- Buddleia—commonly known as butterfly bush—is still blossoming, giving the last of the monarchs and other butterflies and bees a source of late nectar. See our Butterfly Bush Growing Guide.
- Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is truly a joy this time of year, when deep-pink blooms emerge from its fleshy foliage.
- Asters are the queen and king of the fall garden. They are easily grown from seed, but this time of year, the garden centers offer a wide range of colors and heights to choose from. We are partial to the New England asters; despite their name, they grow throughout the US and Canada. They can get quite tall if not chopped back by half in early summer. That quick pruning encourages them to branch, giving us even more flowers on more manageable-sized plants. They have also had a name change, being moved from the crowded aster family to their own separate genus Symphyotrichum. See the Almanac’s Aster Growing Guide for growing tips.
- The white wood aster blooms in the dry shade under my maple trees, but is so invasive that even though I spend most of the spring and summer trying to rip it out there are still plenty left to blossom in the fall. It also has a new Latin name: Eurybiadivaricata. Divaricata means spreading and straggly. I can attest to those qualities!
- Japanese anemone are still blooming at this time of year.
- Foxglove that were cut back after flowering this summer are putting out second spikes of bloom.
- The rugosa rose is still producing blossoms as well.
- Don’t overlook vines: Sweet autumn clematis is blooming its heart out right now!
FALL SHRUBS AND TREES
Flowerbeds aren’t the only ones producing blooms this time of year. Trees and shrubs can add splashes of color at eye level and above.
- Bright red winterberries (Ilex verticillata), a type of holly, last until a flock of hungry birds wipes them out. Be aware that the winterberry needs male and female plants that bloom at the same time to produce any berries. I saw a new one at the garden center called ‘Sweetheart’ that has both sexes in one pot. How handy is that!
- The dark red fruit of the Sargent crabapple (Malus sargentii) will eventually contrast nicely with its yellow fall foliage and will persist into late winter. Rather than a traditionally shaped apple tree, it is a multi-stemmed shrub that grows to be about 10 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Mine has gotten huge and will get some of its many trunks removed when we are in pruning mode this winter. Plants not only bring color through their blooms and berries, but also through their foliage. Look for shrubs and trees with leaves that turn red.
- Nine-bark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is great for fall color. I have one called ‘Summer Wine’ that has attractive burgundy leaves all season long but they turn a brighter red in the fall. There are many other cultivars that have foliage in other colors ranging from lime green through coppery orange to deep purple.
- Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria) ‘Royal Purple’ has dark maroon foliage that turns even deeper purple in the fall. I always envied the one I drove past daily and finally bought a young “stick” a few years ago. It is slow getting going but eventually it will start to produce its hairy flowers which look like smoke from afar.
- Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) ‘Bloodgood’ is a standout in any season but especially so in fall. There are plenty of others to choose from if you are thinking of adding one to your landscape. Just pay attention to their hardiness zone. Many won’t survive winters that regularly go below minus 20 degrees. I love the ones with finely cut leaves (Acer palmatum dissectum) and just planted one outside that I had been growing in a pot for several years, called ‘Inaba Shidare’. Hopefully it will make the transition successfully!Add these beautiful fall flowers, trees, and shrubs to your garden to enjoy colorful blooms and foliage for even longer!Fall is a good time for planting, as the soil is still warm and moist and many garden centers offer deep discounts on perennials, trees and shrubs. See more great shrubs for fall planting.