At my house, the need to wear a sweater in the evening and cows coming down from the mountains and walking along the road to their home pastures are good indicators that fall will be arriving before long. It may mean that an early frost is imminent but most likely it simply suggests that the hot days of summer are over and cooler temperatures are the rule of thumb. Gardening in fall weather can be very pleasant. Strong winds are gone, temperatures are moderate, and plants thrive in this kind of environment. It’s a great time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials because the plants won’t struggle to survive yet the soil is warm enough to allow them to establish strong roots before the onset of winter.
Sometimes fall color is lacking in the garden as we often place too much emphasis on plants that are in bloom in spring and early summer. After all, it’s hard to resist buying a plant in May when there are blooms or tiny buds that tempt us. We tend to forget that color will be just as important in September as it is in June. So let’s take a trip to the nursery to select a few plants that promise glorious fall bloom or foliage.
On arrival, we are greeted by the longstanding favorite chrysanthemums. Don’t turn your nose up at them just because they are so common. They make wonderful additions to tired looking pots and will last until a hard frost, or longer is given a bit of protection. As pumpkins and gourds mature in your garden or appear at the Farmers’ Market, create a pretty grouping on your portal that should last until after Thanksgiving.
A few personal favorites you might look at include the following:
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Hardy Plumbago) has small clear blue blooms accompanied by reddish bronze foliage in the fall. This plant will grow in sun or shade so it’s perfect for those dark corners that need a little color to make them pop. For a focal point, fill a cobalt blue pot with white or yellow chrysanthemums and elevate it above the plumbago.
Zauschneria arizonica (Hummingbird Trumpet) has red blooms that appear in early fall. It loves heat so it does well against south-facing walls.
Rhus trilobata (Three-Leaf Sumac) is such an easy shrub to grow that I wonder why its not used more often. Fall foliage is orangeish red and birds love its red berries. It grows in higher elevations, is extremely drought tolerant once established, and will tolerate partial shade.
Crabapple trees of any kind are another favorite. I try to get ones that have berries that persist through the winter and whose foliage has red or burgundy tones in the fall. The spring bloom is an added benefit.
All my favorites have red-toned foliage or blooms in the fall. I think it’s partly because this Midwest native misses the many maple trees and also because the reds look so pretty with the golds of the chamisa, aspens, and cottonwoods.