If you think that the wonderful colours of Spring and Summer come to an end in September, you could not be more wrong. Fall brings us one of the spectacular shows throughout not only the City, but also through the countryside. In fact, many people will take special trips just to revel in the brilliant colours of the Maples and appreciate our rural lands which are littered with Goldenrod and Asters. It seems as though we have to drive to the country to view these magnificent shows. Where is the colour in our own garden?
The secret is completely in the planning of your garden, long before a shovel even hits the ground. Every season begins with Spring flowering bulbs which are followed by early flowering shrubs such as Flowering Almond, Japanese Cherries and many others. These plants will only flower for a certain period of time and we must look for other shrubs and trees to continue the show of colour throughout the summer, such as Deutzia, Mockorange, Weigelia and of course Roses.
Very soon after these plants finish flowering in September we must realize that this does not mark the end of the planting season. Instead, it marks the beginning of the next season. In the planning stage, we should make room for plants that are late flowering and have brilliant Fall foliage. Burning Bush is a popular shrub that is widely used but there are many more that can bring your garden to life in the Autumn and extend your season of colour to the fullest.
Some examples of plants that have good Fall colour are:
TREES FOR FALL COLOUR
Name | Scientific Name | Colour |
Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum | orange, red |
Red Maple | Acer rubrum | red |
Other Maples | yellow, orange, red | |
Red Oak | Quercus rubra | red |
Pin Oak | Quercus palustris | red |
Katsura | Cercidiphylum | orange-red |
Ash | Fraxinus | mainly yellow |
Mountain Ash | Sorbus | orange, red, yellow |
Ginkgo | Ginkgo bilobum | yellow |
Larch | Larix | Yellow |
Dawn Redwood | Metaesequoia | golden |
SHRUBS FOR FALL COLOUR
Name | Scientific Name | Colour |
Wayfaring Tree | Viburnum lantana | purple, bronze |
Arrowwood | Viburnum dentatum | orange, red |
Serviceberry | Amelanchier | yellow, orange |
Smoketree | Cotinus | purple, red |
Sumac | Rhus | orange, red |
Blueberry | Vaccinium | orange |
Dogwood | Cornus | red, orange |
Burning Bush | Euonymus alatus | red |
Spindle Tree | Euonymus europeus | red |
Amur Maple | Acer ginnela | red |
Hedge Maple | Acer campestris | yellow |
SHRUBS THAT FLOWER IN THE FALL
Name | Scientific Name | Colour |
Bluebeard | Caropteris | blue |
Butterfly Bush | Buddleia | purple, pink, blue, white |
PeeGee Hydrangea | Hydrangea | white, pink |
Witch Hazel | Hamamelis | yellow |
SHRUBS WITH COLOURFUL BERRIES IN THE FALL
Name | Scientific Name | Colour |
Coralberry | Symphoricarpus | purple, pink |
Snowberry | Symphoricarpus albus | white |
Cotoneaster | Cotoneaster | red |
Firethorn | Pyracantha | orange, red |
Holly | Ilex | red |
Winterberry | Ilex verticillata | red |
Cranberry | Vibrunum | red |
Redleaf Rose | Rosa glauca | red |
PERENNIALS FOR FALL COLOUR
Name | Scientific Name | Colour |
Sneezewort | Achillea ptarmica | white |
Yarrow | Achillea taygeiea | yellow |
Monkshood | Aconitum | blue |
Japanese Anemone | Anemone japonica | pink, white |
Mugwort | Artemisia lactiflora | white |
Italian Aster | Aster amellus | blue, purple |
New England Aster | Aster novae-angliae | purple, pink, white |
New York Aster | Aster novae-anglise | violet |
Boltonia | Boltonia asteroides | white |
Carpethian Hareball | Campanula carpathica | blue |
Chrysanthemum | Chrysanthemum x morifolium | all colours but blue |
Coreopsis | Coreopsis | yellow |
Purple Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea | purple |
Globe Thistle | Echinops | blue |
Gaillardia | Gaillardia x grandifolia | red, yellow |
Sneezeweed | Heleniumautumnale | bronze, yellow |
Sunflower | Helianthus x multiflorus | yellow |
Heleopsis | Heliopsis | yellow |
Coralbells | Heuchera | yellow |
Rose Mallow | Hibiscus moscheutos | red, pink white |
Honeybells | Honeybells | blue |
Spotted Dead Nettle | Lamium maculatum | white |
Gay Feather | Liatris spicata | lilac, purple, white |
Cardinal Flower | Lobelia cardinalis | scarlet |
Blue Cardinal | Lobelia siphilitica | blue |
Catmint | Nepeta mussinii | blue |
Ozark Sundrops | Oenothera missourensis | yellow |
Garden Phlox | Phlox paniculata | pink, white |
False Dragon Head | Physostegia virginiana | white, pink, purple |
Ballon Flower | Platycodon grandiflorus | blue, white |
Black eyed Susan | Rudbeckia | yellow |
Autumn Joy Sedum | Sedum’Autumn Joy’ | pink, mauve |
Greek Mallow | Sidalcea | pink |
Goldenrod | Solidago | yellow |
VINES FOR FALL COLOUR
Name | Scientific Name | Colour |
Bittersweet | Celastris scandens | orange scarlet fruit |
Virginia Creeper | Pathenocissus quinquefolia | scarlet |
Boston Ivy | Parthenocissus tricuspidata | brilliant colours |
There are many plants scattered across the countryside that we generally consider to be weeds such as the Fall flowering Goldenrod. We should not take these plants for granted just because they are prevalent everywhere Instead, we should remember that in other parts of the country where they are less common, they are highly valued.
The plants listed here are only a few of what is actually available for purchase. Use these plants and others to take advantage of the change in seasons and your garden will give you an abundance of colour until the heavy frosts and first snow of winter arrive.