Fall Color Is Not Just About The Trees!

My goal has been to create a four season garden in a three season climate.  Obviously, I am not going to succeed in regard to blooming plants in the winter but if carefully planned there can still be color.

The trees are a given for beautiful fall color but there are many perennials, grasses and shrubs that are stunning in both the fall and winter.

 

Azalea Karen

 

This is one of the hardiest azaleas in colder climates and also evergreen through the winter.  However, as you can see, it turns a beautiful red in the fall and deepens into a rust color for the winter never giving up its leaves.

 

 



 Ninebark Summer Wine

 

This shrub has many faces, deep burgundy in the spring with white flowers, lighter burgundy in the summer and then bright red to almost black before it loses its leaves.  In the winter it has a peeling gray bark.

 

Dwarf Fothergilla Gardenii

 

This is one of my favorite shrubs, almost looks unreal the colors it turns in the fall, white bottlebrush type flowers in the spring.

 

Mt. Airy Fothergilla

 

This is just a taller version of the dwarf and seems to turn color a little later.

 

Itea Little Henry's Garnet

 

Itea is a shrub that many times keeps its leaves all winter, white flowers in late spring.

 

Deutzia Chardonnay Pearls

 

Tor Spirea

 

Hydrangea Little Lime

 

Little Lime keeps its blooms all winter and looks great peeking out behind the evergreens.

 

Hydrangea Limelight

 

This is the larger variety and also will retain its flowers all winter.  They do turn to a tan color but still very attractive.

 

Hydrangea Starlight Let's Dance

 

Not all hydrangeas have great fall leaf color but this one does!

 

Amsonia Blue Ice

 

Many Perennials also light up the fall season with their colors.

 

Amsonia Hubrechtii Northwind Select

 

Variegated Solomon's Seal

 

Sedum Matrona

 

Heuchera Pinot Gris

 

These are a few of the many heucheras that stay colorful during the winter looking wonderful when they peek out of the snow.

 

Heuchera Southern Comfort

 

Heuchera Berry Smoothie

 

Miscanthus Udine

 

Panicum Shenandoah

 

Panicum Northwind 

 

Many of the grasses can be left up over the winter, even the above Miscanthus because it is less arching than other varieties.  The Panicums do well, popping right back up when the snow melts.

 

Green is also a great look for the winter so do not ignore evergreens and groundcovers that hold their color.