Fall colors: still
Marianne Willburn
(10/2019) October and all is mums and
asters. Or not.
I am constantly pushing gardeners towards
good foliage plants and combinations for the
simple reason that blooms, however lovely, are
fleeting. If you are lucky, you get both in
one package (such as ‘Autumn Glow’ toad lily
with its strong variegated foliage and
exquisite fall flowers), but that’s not always
the case. Like it or not, foliage takes up
more space – if it’s dull, it’s hard to mask.
So, it pays to work with good (and easy)
foliage plants that stand the rigors of a
three – maybe even four – season garden.
Fall is the season to plant. ‘Nuff said.
Fall Color for Shady Sites
Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern) – The
beauty of this vigorous, evergreen fern does
not hinge, surprisingly, on those first two
adjectives. The newest fronds unfurl in shades
of orange-yellow, and whether it’s spring or
autumn, those colorful fronds just keep
coming.
Mahonia spp (Oregon grape) – I didn’t fall
in love with evergreen mahonia (aquifolium)
until M. eurybracteata came to my attention in
the form of the Southern Living Collection
selection ‘Soft Caress.’ Now suddenly I’m
finding a great deal to love. However,
protected from wind, the former does deserve a
space in shadier gardens with adequate
moisture. Grown well, it’s imposing and
unusual (even though it really isn’t), and
makes a terrific backdrop for other textures
such as a golden false cypress (which also
copes quite well with light shade).
Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’ (Golden sedge)
– What happens when the first freeze crumples
all the Sun Power hosta upon whose collective
back you based your front planting schemes?
Those who planted ‘Everillo’ carex instead
(another Southern Living offering) will still
have foliage, color and all the attendant joys
thereof. This really is a superb sedge for
part shade and still grows fairly well as the
shade gets deeper. Light, texturally fine, and
eye-popping color.
Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf hydrangea) –
This remarkably beautiful native hydrangea is
one grown for it’s large, oak-like leaves as
much as its cream-to-pink panicles of flowers
in mid-summer. If mildew hasn’t taken its toll
in a wet season, most are still holding onto
dried versions of those flowers by autumn and
begin to frame them with foliage turning
glorious shades of red, orange and sometimes
yellow. I grow the species, ‘Little Honey’ (a
chartreuse cultivar), ‘Snow Queen’ and
‘Pee-Wee.’
Fall Color for Sunny Sites
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ (Maiden
grass) – My only criticism of this stunning
grass is the fact that it is so lovely I want
to use it too much, thus undermining the
effect of using it as a specimen elsewhere.
Each 3-5mm white-margined blade is also
striped with creamy white – which catches and
reflects light – so important as the daylight
hours dwindle. If that’s not enough for you
(and it should be), in autumn it’s topped with
russet-red flowering plumes. I have yet to see
a seedling.
Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ (Virginia
sweetspire) – Sweetspire has sweet smelling
panicles of bloom that droop lazily from
strong stems in early summer, but the word
‘garnet’ in this particular cultivar should
give you an idea of what’s in store
foliage-wise come autumn.
Amsonia hubrichtii (Bluestar) – I almost
feel like this one is a given, as it has been
so popularized in the last few years, not
least of all by the National Arboretum when it
used this and native asters in a stunning
planting scheme around the National Capitol
Columns. There are many amsonias (I originally
fell in love with A. tabernaemontana), but I
defy most of them to come up with the color
goods like this one. It can get a little
pushy, and is hell on wheels to dig up and
divide, but if you find it a good situation
with good drainage in full sun, it will last a
remarkably long time and reward you every year
with lovely blue flowers in spring. Great for
meadows if you’re formulating a plan.
Stachys byzantina ‘Helene von Stein’
(Lamb’s ear) – Just before the end of the
season, I am usually cutting my standard
lamb’s ear to the crown to allow for some new
growth and to clean up the shabby mess of
rotting leaves. ‘Helene von Stein’ – a
cultivar with larger leaves and almost no
awkward flowering to speak of, is still
looking good and can be minimally tidied
without losing too much bulk in the autumn
garden. A terrific ground cover around roses,
particularly those with bright scarlet blooms.
Using strong foliage possibilities in your
fall garden is the best way of supporting your
fall blooms, whether those blooms come in the
form of asters or something more exotic.
Read past editions of The Small Town Gardener
Marianne is a Master Gardener and the author of Big Dreams, Small Garden.
You can read more at www.smalltowngardener.com