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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