As the season progresses into autumn…
We certainly hope to enjoy flowers in the garden as late as possible although we take some solace and enjoyment when seeing the tapestry of rich coloration of fall color throughout our woodlands and gardens. Mother Nature certainly makes the call on when the season’s transition and for those of us in areas where autumn includes this colorful progression of foliage, we certainly enjoy this final blast of color before the solemn tones of brown, grey and white begin to dominate our winter landscapes.
Amsonia hubrichtii
Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’
Andropogon gerardii ‘Dancing Wind’
This perennial is a solid three season performer with light blue flower clusters in early spring, chartreuse textural foliage in summer and increasingly gold fall coloration later in the season.
This big bluestem variety has the deepest maroon, late season coloration of any selection out on the market with significant textural impact and upright form.
Reddish tints start in summer on this big bluestem selection that becomes a very intense red by late September and well in to autumn.
Fall color abounds…
However, most of the credit for glowing fall color contributions goes to our stately deciduous trees like sugar maple (Acer saccharum), red oak (Quercus rubra) and other consistently beautiful natives. Many of our shrubs also offer significant fall color which is a feature worthy of consideration at the time of purchasing and placement. Unfortunately, though, the significant fall color provided by many of our herbaceous perennials goes unnoticed, under-promoted and underappreciated in the landscape.
Bergenia cordifolia
Cerostigma plumbaginoides
Epimedium hybrida ‘Black Sea’
Prior to increasingly more red/maroon fall and winter foliage color (evergreen), the many varieties of this perennial typically feature showy pink flowers in spring.
This low, mat-forming groundcover features bright blue flowers in summer which will overlap the start of reddish fall coloration on the foliage.
The dainty yellow flowers in spring are nice on this selection but the primary color contribution from this perennial is the increasingly deep red to purple/black fall color of the deer-resistant foliage that sets in with cooler nights.
Don’t miss the fall color of perennials…
The majority of our perennials are selected for features such as beautiful flowers, a long bloom time, scent, wildlife potential, wonderful foliage texture, etc. These are all valid considerations and come in to play when creating displays and combinations. All too often though, the final phase of our herbaceous perennials prior to sliding into winter dormancy includes a color transition or transformation. Even more common perennials such as irises, hostas, and daylilies get some degree of yellow that might catch the eye in the autumn landscape. Many perennials will transition into rich, autumnal tones of orange and red. It is important to note that some of the best fall colors on perennials come VERY late in the season…sometimes not until well after Halloween. November will frequently reveal some nice coloration well after deciduous trees have dropped their foliage for the season.
Geranium cantabrigiense ‘Karmina’
Geranium sanguineum
xHeucherella ‘Gold Zebra’
This low-growing, mat forming geranium has long blooming, lilac-pink blooms in late spring in to summer prior to the onset of spectacular, late season fall color on the foliage.
This species of perennial geranium forms a loose mound covered in pinkish red blooms in spring with textural foliage “tinting” with red tones beginning in summer and intensifying well in to autumn.
This intergeneric hybrid between coral bells (Heuchera) and foamflower (Tiarella) thrives in dappled light (moisture vital!) and has bright yellow foliage boldly marked with maroon-red from spring through fall.
Worth the extra look…
Observing the late-season garden for these “blips” of color is worth the effort as these explorations might reveal some welcome and warming color in a landscape becoming increasingly more barren. The significant fall color on the perennials included in this blog are reason enough to include them in the garden and enjoy them late in the season, well after their flowers are long gone.
Mukdenia rossii ‘Karasuba’ (Crimson Fans)
xMukgenia NOVA® ‘Flame’
Tiarella ‘Brandywine’
Early spring flower clusters on this shade-tolerant perennial are white although the reddening foliage begins in summer with intensifying progression of reddening foliage well into the fall.
This intergeneric cross between Bergenia and Mukdenia combines to create a perennial with showy pink blooms in spring and intense reddening of the foliage in late summer through fall.
Excellent in the shaded and partly shaded garden, this spring blooming perennial has fragrant white blooms over clean foliage that transitions to rich reddish tones in fall.
Written by Mark Dwyer
Landscape Prescriptions by MD
“This post is provided as an educational/inspirational service of the National Garden Bureau and our members. Please credit and link to National Garden Bureau and author member when using all or parts of this article.”
