Skip to main content

Unusual fall-blooming perennials for the fall garden




While this design works hard all year round, it looks spectacular in the fall. 'Blackhawks' large bluestem towers above the display in majestic columns of finely textured purple-black foliage. Below, a large mound of native Arkansas bluestar shines with orange-chartreuse foliage, while the dark green leaves of 'Plum Peachy' short-leaf ironweed contrast with its russet, pale purple flowers. That periwinkle color is echoed in the globe flowers of the low, mounding 'Ozawa' allium. A carpet of Roseanne geranium around the alliums shows off its multi-colored red, orange and green fall leaves. Above the scene, the graceful arms of a weeping lavender twist eastern redbutt are adorned with heart-shaped chartreuse leaves that echo the yellow foliage of Arkansas bluestar.


1. Weeping golden toad lily



In summer, the weeping golden toad lily fades into the background of the forest border with its arching habit of bushy, glossy green leaves. It's not until midsummer that it catches your attention with its 1- to 2-inch-long yellow, bell-shaped flowers. The drooping flowers are maroon inside. Plant this toad lily where it slopes over rocks or a wall, as these attractive flowers look best when viewed from below. Constant moisture, rich, fertile soil, and flat shade should be ideal for foliage. Expect crisp, brown leaf edges when the soil is allowed to dry out, so keep a hose handy.


2. 'Seju-do' is a Japanese Buckbane


When most people think of buckthorn, they usually picture Octaea simplex (zones 3-8), a late-summer bloomer with gorgeous purple-black foliage that has many choices. 'Seju-do' Japanese Buckwheat, native to Seju Island in South Korea, is a lesser-known relative of mine that deserves gardeners' attention. Preferring moist soil and shaded environments, 'Seju-do' Japanese Buckpane produces attractive clusters of dark-green lobed leaves that appear to be dipped in resin. Erect stems emerge from beneath glossy leaves with pearly flower buds that open to tiny white stars, adding a striking vertical element to any shady border. Its exceptional combination of foliage and fall flowers make this plant a must-have for any low-light spot.


3. Arkansas Bluestar



Arkansas bluestar is adorned with star-shaped pale blue flowers in spring. Its striped leaves add texture to any design in spring, summer, and fall, and its fuzzy leaves will stand like grass all winter long.


4. Roseanne Geranium


Roseanne Geranium has small purple-blue flowers with white centers. While the flowers bloom in the spring, they bloom sporadically throughout the remainder of the growing season.


5. Lavender Twist Eastern Redbud



In winter, bare branches of Lavender Twist Eastern Redbud add structure to empty garden beds. In spring, purple-pink flowers burst across the numerous branches. Later in the summer, large green leaves completely cover the tree and sometimes obscure the branches.


6. Yellow wax beads


A plant whose foliage makes a wonderful addition to the garden, even if it doesn't produce a single flower, is yellow wax beads. This hydrangea can grow to a shrub-like proportion in shady areas with relatively moist, well-drained soil. Sturdy stems clad in thick, fig-like leaves add structure and texture to a shady border. In early fall, terminal, branched clusters of gum-shaped flower buds open to buttery yellow bells; These flowers have a long blooming period. Yellow wax beads are a favorite of snails and slugs, so keep some diatomaceous earth on hand to deal with these unwelcome visitors.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A successful small garden requires a big idea

You can let a large garden develop. And by 'large' I mean a garden more than 80 feet (25 m) long. All of the most successful small gardens I've seen lately have a strong idea behind them. In a small space, you can see everything at once, so it's important that everything looks good together. This principle applies regardless of shape, although many small gardens are wider than they are long. See here for general tips on the Shallow Wide Garden . Here are three successful small space garden ideas to inspire you. A plant-lover's garden After visiting Philip Ostenbring's garden (open once a year for NGS), I realized that a small outdoor space for unusual plants is a wonderful display area. There is no need to plant in a small space, in threes or in drifts, as the plants are very close to you. Each model looks great in a courtyard, terrace or patio garden. Whereas if you dot a variety of single plants around a large garden, everything can look out of p

Incredible Small Garden Design Ideas To Remodel

 Incredible Small Garden Design  When you have a small garden , a large layout is essential. The limited space means every detail counts, from plant selection to hardscaping, with every element having a big visual impact. When you're planning a small outdoor space, these creative small garden design ideas will help bring out its unique characteristics. 1. Use a corner for visual interest This small garden looks surprisingly lush and full, thanks to the tall plants. By using dense foliage and large-leaved species, you can ensure your miniature space makes a bold impact. A variety of stones add to the overall style, filling spaces with color and texture Related Post -     Summer-blooming shrubs are very easy to grow 2. Corner bench and vertical garden This clever garden is a brilliant use of space. Instead of sacrificing seating, the designer created a tall bench and placed shade-loving plants underneath. On the outside of the house, two rows of wall-mounted plants catch

Great Designs for Container Groupings

Once your single containers are ready to merge It's hard to fail with a group of containers. Any size group, from a simple couple to large multiples, can enhance any outdoor space. Open patios and decks become softer and more intimate when you place pots around them. A straight and simple outdoor path lined with containers can become a wave of sorts—a formal one with some plants or an informal path with others. You never know what you'll come up with by placing one pot next to another or a particular plant with others. Once you start experimenting, you'll notice many places where a container is grouped. 1. Combine bright colors This collection of colorful pots introduces the viewer to the vivid color scheme in the beds behind it, mainly blue flowers. However, to maintain exclusivity, pots get exclusive rights to colors like magenta, pink and chartreuse. 2. Formal lateralization A combination of papyrus and vases always looks elegant, but when placed side by sid