9 Plants to Give Your Landscaping Gorgeous Fall Color
Image by William Lucord
Introduction
Autumn is in full swing! With the arrival of fall, your landscape has the potential to burst into a symphony of vibrant colors. From the warm shades of red, orange, and yellow to the cooler hues of purple and pink, fall foliage can truly transform your yard.
If you're worried that your garden might not showcase the full spectrum of autumn's beauty, we've compiled a list of nine plants that will ensure that your landscape is as colorful as the season itself.
1. Mums: The Quintessential Fall Flower
Radiant Red and Gold Mums in Full Bloom
Mums, short for chrysanthemums, are quintessential fall flowers that bring a vibrant splash of color to your garden. These small daisylike flowers grow in large, dense bunches and are available in a wide array of colors, including shades of purple, red, white, pink, orange, and yellow.
Tips for Incorporating Mums:
- Color Coordination: To create a striking visual effect, consider planting mums in single-color clusters for a bold statement. Alternatively, arrange them in an ombre pattern to achieve a gradient effect that blends seamlessly.
- Companion Plants: Mums pair beautifully with other fall plants like asters and ornamental grasses. Be mindful of your garden’s existing color palette when choosing mums to ensure a harmonious blend.
Mums are low-maintenance and thrive in well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight, making them an ideal choice for fall landscaping.
2. Beautyberry: A Stunning Shrub with Year-Round Appeal
Beautyberry, also known as American mulberry or American beautyberry, is a deciduous shrub that adds year-round interest to your garden. This fast-growing plant reaches heights of four to eight feet and is known for its vibrant clusters of purple or white berries that persist through fall and winter.
Ideal Uses for Beautyberry:
- Natural Woodland Settings: Beautyberry is perfect for a woodland garden or as a hedge along property lines. It thrives under tall shade trees and adds a splash of color to otherwise green spaces.
- Wildlife Attraction: While the berries are edible, they are not a favorite among birds, leaving the colorful clusters intact for you to enjoy throughout the fall.
In addition to its visual appeal, beautyberry requires minimal maintenance and is highly adaptable to various soil types.
3. Pansies: The Hardy, Cold-Tolerant Bloom
Vibrant Yellow and Purple Pansies - Image by Rodwell Harinangoni
Pansies are one of the most popular cold-tolerant plants, making them a perfect choice for your fall flower beds. These hardy biennials can withstand extreme cold, even snow, without losing their vibrant blossoms.
Planting Pansies for Fall:
- Sunlight Requirements: Pansies thrive in sunny spots. If planted in too much shade, they may become leggy and produce fewer flowers. Light shade is tolerated during the hottest part of the day.
- Early Spring Blooms: Pansies grow rapidly in early spring and provide a burst of color before many other plants have started to bloom.
With their cheerful faces and wide range of colors, pansies are a must-have for any fall garden.
4. Russian Sage: Silver-Gray Foliage with Vibrant Purple Flowers
Russian sage is beloved for its striking silver-gray foliage and clusters of vibrant purple flowers that bloom from late spring through autumn. This drought-tolerant perennial is perfect for xeriscaping and adds a soft, airy texture to your garden.
Caring for Russian Sage:
- Minimal Maintenance: Once established, Russian sage requires little care. It thrives in dry, well-drained soil and needs minimal watering. An occasional application of compost or fertilizer in late fall can help maintain its vigor.
- Pruning: Regular pruning in spring and fall helps maintain its shape and encourages dense growth.
Russian sage is a fantastic choice for ground cover or as a specimen plant in open areas.
5. Goldenrod: Bright Yellow Blooms that Attract Pollinators
Goldenrod Adds a Splash of Yellow to a Sunny Meadow
Goldenrod is a vibrant, easy-to-grow perennial that adds bright splashes of yellow to your landscape. Its large fluffy plumes of yellow flowers not only beautify your garden but also attract beneficial pollinators like butterflies and bees.
Benefits of Planting Goldenrod:
- Attracts Pollinators: Goldenrod is a magnet for butterflies and bees, making it an excellent choice for pollinator-friendly gardens.
- Pest Control: It can help deter harmful insects from your vegetable garden by attracting beneficial bugs that prey on pests.
With hundreds of varieties available, goldenrod can be tailored to suit any climate and garden style.
6. Blue Fescue: A Year-Round Perennial with Striking Blue Hue
Blue fescue is an ornamental grass known for its striking blue-gray foliage that remains vibrant throughout the year. This clump-forming perennial is versatile and drought tolerant, making it ideal for rock gardens, xeriscaping, and container planting.
How to Use Blue Fescue:
- Versatility: Blue fescue can be used in mass plantings, as an accent plant, or in containers. Its spherical shape and soft, feathery flower stalks add texture and color to any garden.
- Drought Tolerance: Blue fescue is highly drought-tolerant, making it perfect for low-water gardens and challenging growing conditions.
With its unique color and low maintenance needs, blue fescue is a fantastic addition to any landscape.
7. Japanese Maple Tree: A Versatile Tree for All Seasons
A Stunning Japanese Maple in Its Autumn Splendor
The Japanese maple tree is a stunning addition to any garden, offering year-round beauty with its ever-changing foliage. In spring, its leaves are bright red, turning green in summer and transitioning to vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall.
Choosing and Caring for Japanese Maple Trees:
- Variety Selection: Japanese maples come in various shapes and sizes, from dwarf varieties to larger trees up to 30 feet tall. Their leaves can be lacy, palm shaped, or even featherlike, with colors ranging from red to purple to green.
- Investment in Landscape: Although many Japanese maples are grafted and can be pricier, they add significant value to your landscape and home, making them a worthwhile investment.
Japanese maples are perfect for adding a touch of elegance and color to your garden throughout the year.
8. "Morning Light" Miscanthus: Elegant Grasses with Silver Shimmer
'Morning Light" miscanthus is a striking ornamental grass that adds movement and texture to your garden. This grass forms dense clumps of thin green blades with white margins, creating a silvery shimmering effect that catches the light beautifully.
Growing "Morning Light" Miscanthus:
- Moisture Needs: This grass prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil. Water deeply and regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system. Once established, it can tolerate moderate drought conditions.
- Winter Interest: The reddish inflorescences persist through the winter, adding visual interest to your garden even in colder months.
"Morning Light" Miscanthus is perfect for adding texture to flower beds, borders, and landscapes.
9. Coral Bells: A Splash of Color for Shaded Areas
Heuchera Adds Bold Colors to an Autumn Garden
Coral bells, also known as heuchera, are versatile perennials that thrive in shaded areas, making them an excellent choice for adding fall color to those often-overlooked parts of your garden. Their vibrant foliage comes in a wide range of colors, including shades of red, purple, bronze, and silver.
Benefits of Coral Bells:
- Foliage Variety: Coral bells are known for their stunning, colorful foliage that lasts throughout the growing season. In the fall, their colors intensify, providing a striking contrast to other autumn plants.
- Ideal for Shade Gardens: These plants thrive in partial to full shade, making them perfect for areas where other sun-loving plants might struggle. They also work well as ground cover or in container gardens.
- Low-Maintenance: Coral bells are relatively low-maintenance, requiring only occasional watering and minimal fertilization. They are also deer resistant, making them a great choice for areas where deer are prevalent.
With their rich foliage and adaptability, coral bells are a beautiful addition to any fall garden, adding depth and texture to shaded areas.
Conclusion
We hope you found our list of favorite autumn-colored plants inspiring! These plants not only add vibrant color to your landscape but also provide texture, interest, and ecological benefits. Did any of your favorite plants make the list? What do you plant to enhance your garden’s fall colors?
Share your thoughts and ideas with us—we’d love to hear from you!
Originally posted on August 13, 2018.
