The Latest Colors

I am not talking about what's new in home decor or the newest fashion trend but plants we can count on to give us color late into the fall and winter seasons.

I am noticing more each year those plants that keep their leaves the longest and those that keep colorful leaves throughout the winter.

Chanticleer Pear

Always the last of trees to lose its leaves but this year the colors were beautiful.  It usually has a darker purple/red leaf in the fall, this year every color imaginable!

 

This is the Red Maple across the street, notice all of the other trees are bare, what a treat!

 

I have had many shrubs throughout the years that do nothing most of the seasons, some didn't even flower just producing green leaves, like Alpine Currant.  I am sure they have a purpose but no longer in my garden.  My new rule is a shrub that I plant has to have at least three seasons of interest, don't have enough room for those one season plants.

 

Ninebark Summer Wine

This is like the shrub of the year, many leaf color changes throughout the seasons, flowers in June, and has exfoliating bark in the winter.  Who could ask for more?

 

Weigela Wine and Roses

This Weigela has the darkest leaves with no brown tones, still holding on in the middle of November.  I have Weigela Dark Horse also, in the front, and the leaves turn a lighter brown color which is not as attractive as this deep purple/green.

 Tor Spirea

This might become a new favorite shrub, just put in this fall so I am hoping there will be more leaves left on next fall.  The colors are great and this is a smaller shrub with very little maintenance, blooms in the spring with blue/green leaves all summer.

 

Forsythia Greenstem

Okay, I have already given in.  This is really only a two season shrub, beautiful lemon colored flowers in the spring and yellow/green leaves in the fall.  However, the color is so unusual for Forsythia that I had to have it, smaller also and looks great in a formal or casual border.

 

Hydrangea Let's Dance Starlight

Very few Hydrangeas have wonderful leaf color in the fall, this one does and the leaves hold on until a hard frost.

 

Miscanthus Udine

I have many grasses that I leave up for the winter but this is one that I agonize over each fall because it is so beautiful.  Should I cut it down or leave it?  The past two years I have left it and may do so again.  Miscanthus is notorious for flopping to the ground in heavy snow.

 

Many of the perennials we choose die down during the winter, but there are many that keep their color throughout the winter especially if snow is sparse.

 

Sedum Angelina

This is a groundcover that hugs the ground and stays green or yellow during the winter.

 

Heucherella Sweet Tea

This is one of the best, keeping its rich color throughout the winter.  I have many Heucherellas but Sweet Tea looks the best in the fall.

 

With the new strains of Villosa Heucheras they are becoming more important in the four season garden.  Many retain their leaf color throughout all four seasons, definitely worth looking for in the nurseries.

 

Heuchera Autumn Leaves

 

Heuchera Southern Comfort

Darker when planted in shadier area.

 

Heuchera Peach Flambe

 

Heuchera Pinot Gris

 

Geranium Max Frei

I was just about ready to pull this one, never remember it looking this good in the fall.  However, it is a one time bloomer and I have some ideas what to plant in between to give it some summer interest.

 

Geranium Magnificum is late this year, just beginning to turn color.

 

Geranium Bob's Blunder

I am so impressed with this geranium, great groundcover and hope it comes back next spring!

 

We fall in love with a plant and it is sometimes difficult to think about how this plant behaves or looks throughout the seasons. 

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Amaryllis - Beauty In The Winter Garden

I have planted amaryllis for many years in many ways, in large tall containers with colored marbles and water, in small pots with potting soil and stakes, in urns with painted dogwood branches for support and finally this year in larger clay pots with potting soil.

These are nine inch clay pots with the largest bulbs I could find.  I used Miracle Gro potting soil.

About two weeks ago, our garden club had a nursery owner as our presenter talking about fall bulbs including paperwhites and amaryllis.  His main point was if you want lots of blooms you have to buy the largest amaryllis bulbs you can find.  I guess I can't stand not having something blooming inside when outside has gone to sleep for the winter.  So, I gave in and bought some expensive amaryllis bulbs, huge, at $14.95 each and justified it that it is a small amount compared to what I spend in the spring and summer.

Larger pots were recommended so that the roots can spread out and become a better anchor for the two foot stalks of this amaryllis.  I never thought of this, but it makes sense that the larger the root base the less likely it will fall over.

The roots should be plentiful and healthy looking, spread out in the dirt as much as you can.  Plant the bulbs two thirds into the potting soil and water moderately.  Put in light but not direct sun and water sparingly until you see them sprouting, after which the soil should be kept damp.  Remove the flower stalks when flowers are spent.

I have bought amaryllis from Home Depot and have also ordered them online from a bulb company.  This time I went to a local nursery and picked the ones where most of them were gone, must be a good one if everyone wants it!  Well, it was a guess but a right one when I looked it up it got rave reviews.

Amaryllis Picotee

This is my winter garden, amaryllis, paperwhites and some poinsettias.  Maybe these with my yet undelivered catalogs will keep me happy until spring.

Color In The Fall Garden

You can have just about every color imaginable in a fall garden.  I was never much for fall gardening and just figured it was over after the July burst of color.

Dwarf Fothergilla

I just planted two of these this fall, had a difficult summer at the nursery but I love all of the colors it has turned in the fall.

 

Clematis Barbara Jackman

This clematis has not bloomed all season, cut it down and voila!

 

Clematis Comtesse De Bouchard

I also cut this one back slightly and I am getting lots of new flowers.  I think next year I will cut back the type III's after blooming and see what happens!

 

I have been cutting back some of my type II's and do get rebloom but it is sparse with lots of new vines for a full plant next spring.

 

Eryngium Big Blue

I just put this in the raised border on the south side about six weeks ago and it has rewarded me with several blooms, and they are BLUE!  For some reason, I did not think it would be this pronounced.  Eryngium Big Blue is a middle of the border plant.  I have it planted in between Chicago Apache Daylily and Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine.

 

Ruby Perfection

I love this color in the border, not my containers.  It is a little fussy and can lose a few leaves until it settles in until the snow files.

 

I think my favorite centers are the bright pinks.

 

Yuck, brown!

Not my favorite color but does provide a nice background for all of the striking hues.

 

Ajuga Black Scallop

 

Weigela Wine and Roses

 

Purple and black are also great colors for a backdrop of all the rich fall colors.

 

Hydrangea Starlight

Looks better than it has all summer!

 

I didn't think I would see white in the fall garden, but here it is, think it is in the mushroom family.

 

Amsonia Blue Ice

This is a low growing spreading plant with blue flowers in the spring and turns yellow in the fall, looks great in front of the Ninebark.

 

Amsonia Northwind Select is just beginning to turn a lovely yellow.  I am still evaluating this Amsonia in comparison to Hubrechtii.  We will see how it fills out next year as they are slow to reach maturity.

 

 

 

Ninebark Summer Wine continues to amaze me with the range of colors throughout three seasons and a fourth season of exfoliating bark.

 

Azalea Karen will turn a little darker than this and remain with full leaves all winter.  It doesn't do much during the summer but remain green, but the spring and fall show is worth planting this specimen.

 

Chanticleer Pear

The leaves have always turned a purple/red at first and then slowly dropped, last tree to drop leaves.  However this year it is turning a bright orange/red and it is early for it to be turning any color.

 

My Magnolia turns a bronze color in the fall, not much summer interest but another plant that performs in spring and fall.

 

Panicum Shenandoah

 

Panicum Northwind

 

Panicum Ruby Ribbons

 

I am just thinking to myself, did I ever have any reason for not having color in my fall garden?

 

Don't overlook those perennials that have been sitting quietly all spring and summer, they can star in the fall, but you have to cut them back to produce new leaves!

 

Pulmonaria

 

Heucherella Stoplight

 

Heucherella Golden Zebra

 

I am on a mission to have color through all four seasons!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside, Outside!

Every year at this time I try to make the inside of my home resemble what I want to remain outside.  I am looking for the rich colors of fall and the spirit of the holidays that are forthcoming.

The spiders have moved indoors quite at home on an orb web tablecloth.

My favorite rose Rainbow Knockout suffered through much of the summer, Japanese Beetles, Rose Midge and mildew.  It is putting forth a great effort to add some color until November but nothing like its previous fall shows.

Jerusalem Cherry is a great fall plant to give a little zing to your indoor decor.  It is toxic so keep it away from pets and children.  The fruits are not edible but the color is wonderful and will last through November, can be kept as a houseplant.

Ninebark Summer Wine is showing its many fall colors with reds popping up in the middle of the shrub.

Azalea Karen is at its height of color, something I would love to bring inside!

Bring that color inside, some faux some real and dried. 

 

 My favorite local nursery person suggested making a small bow for my corn.  She was right, it really makes it special.

 

Henry's Garnet Itea

 

Plumbago is a late blooming groundcover with bright blue flowers, but it has an added attribute in that its leaves turn red in the fall.

 

Faux but lovely on the dining room buffet, never complete without some birds.

 

Tor Spirea

I said I would never buy another spirea until I saw this one, low maintenance, white flowers in the summer and fall color (purple, red, coral).  It grows about two to three feet tall and wide with a mounding habit.

 

They are not on a tree but hang from my mantle, fall ornaments add a special feeling in the fall.

 

 

 

I love doing real with faux intermingling real pumpkins with faux fall decor.

 

 

Clematis Bourbon (Type II)

 

Anemone Andrea Atkinson is a new one that I planted on the north side of my home where I used to have the Carex grass, so much more interesting.  The buds are as interesting as the flower.

 

Jacobs Ladder (Brise D'Anjou)

This one was a total surprise, not necessarily for the blooms but for the ability to withstand the heat and look great all summer and fall.

 

Variegated Solomon's Seal

This is a plant that is stunning in its decline!

 

Endless Summer Hydrangea is not a star in my garden only one bloom cycle in my garden.  It was full but smaller blooms this year and then nothing.  At least the fall color is interesting.

 

Unique Hydrangea Paniculata

This is a beautiful hydrangea but does not hold up during the winter, needs to be cut early for drying.

 

Snapdragon La Bella

I first saw this one at the Chicago Flower Show, grew it from seed and it came back last spring.  I will leave it in the ground and see what happens this year.

 

Phlomis Russelina on the south side, did not bloom this year.  It is a wonderful blue green fuzzy leaved plant that is interesting even without blooms.  I think it was overshadowed by the Lythrum and Helianthus.  I will try to give it more room next year.

 

Faux in the Fireplace

This could be a title of the above vignette, safe and forever.

 

Heuchera Pinot Gris

 

Eupatorium Chocolate

I always appreciate this plant in the fall!

 

Eryngium Big Blue

I planted this in the raised bed on the south side, revamp this summer and it is so trying to bloom, but I don't think it is going to make it.

 

Green Velvet Boxwood

The is not the time of year when you would trim boxwood in zone 5 and colder.

 

 

 Ramona (Type II)
Trim in the spring but do not cut down.

Allysum

Lasts through all but a killing frost.  If you leave in place it will reward you in the spring, pull up and sprinkle wherever you want allysum and it will reseed for you.

This is a Maidenhair  fern that just fried during the summer but it has come back strong.

 

This is truly the last great rose of summer, Pink Promise, a winner some years back.