Plants for Fall Color

A compact and heavily flowering Mophead Hydrangea, the sterile florets of Akadama™ Hydrangea open deep pink in alkaline or neutral soils and a deep purple in acidic soils that contain Aluminum ions and darken as they age (click the "More Details and Growing Info" link or the image to learn more about Hydrangea flower color in relation to soil pH and Aluminum availibility). This is a compact growing Bigleaf Hydrangea with deep green disease resistant foliage that deepens into shades of purple during cool fall or spring weather.  Akadama™ Hydrangea's dense well-branching compact size lend it to use as a container plant as well as in gardens and landscapes of all sizes. As with other Bigleaf Hydrangeas provide Akadama with a moist, well-drained soil in an area that receives morning sun and shade during the hottest portion of the day. Images courtesy of Star® Roses and Plants, all rights reserved. Item# 12160

A vigorous and reliable Oakleaf Hydrangea selection with sturdy stems and good sun tolerance. The 10-14" white bloom panicles, with individual blooms as large as a half-dollar, are borne in spring and fade to pink. Oakleaf Hydrangeas are beloved in the garden not only for their blooms but they also have the beautiful oak-leaf shaped foliage, which turns to shades of pink, red, burgundy, and purple in fall along with the interesting peeling bark on older stems. Item# 9103

The American Beautyberry adorns itself in dense clusters of 1/8" wide, rich purple ,rarely white, berries that encircle the stems. The fruit begins to ripen and color up in summer but they are most noticeable on the bare winter stems. Apparently the berries sweeten as winter sets in and songbirds find them irresistible. A fast growing, native, deciduous shrub that is tolerant of sun to semi-shade but generally flowers and fruits best in full or mostly sunny conditions. Because it flowers on new growth, if the American Beautyberry gets too large it will benefit from periodic hard pruning and still produce fruit the same year if pruning is done before new growth begins in spring. Item# 10688.

The dainty white flowers of spring are soon followed by bumpy green fruits that mature to pink and then nearly to red. Once fully mature the pods split open to display the bright orange seeds inside giving it the name of Hearts-A-Burstin'. The American Strawberry bush is typically a deciduous to tardily deciduous large shrub (this selection seems to be more consistently evergreen) with green stems and dark to medium green, somewhat glossy foliage that is native to much of the eastern and central US. Excellent fall color in oranges, reds, and yellows. Images of fruit courtesy of Susan Thomas Spell. Item# 10218.

The 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year! Arkansas Blue Star provides three seasons of interest with starry light-blue to nearly white flowers in spring, soft-textured narrow medium green foliage in summer, and wonderful golden yellow, orange, and chartreuse fall color. A sun loving and heat tolerant reliable perennial that is mannerly enough to grace any garden. Item# 9715.

Large clusters of white late spring flowers produce green berries that ripen to a blue-black. The flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators and the edible fruits attract a variety of wildlife, especially birds. Arrowwood Viburnum is a vigorous growing, naturally rounded, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with rich green foliage and is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions. Fall color includes yellows, orange, reds, and near purple. Arrowwood Viburnum makes an easy hedge, background specimen, or screen. Easy and reliable. Item# 10922

The medium pink balloon-shaped buds burst open to nicely contrasting light pink star-shaped flowers with darker pink veining are produced over an extended period from late spring until fall. Astra Pink Balloon Flower is a dwarf compact selection that grows to about 8-12" high and 6-8" wide making it a choice plant for containers or as a long-lived garden and landscape addition. The compact habit helps this cultivar start flowering sooner than its larger growing cousins. Balloon Flowers make long-lived low maintenance additions and the interesting buds and large flowers are sure to make this a conversation piece. Purple and yellow fall color on a taprooted clump forming perennial. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, all rights reserved. Item# 11632

The 6-petaled starry flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red are heavily speckled and flecked with red and are produced on sturdy stems atop the fans of medium to light green iris-like foliage in summer over a period of several weeks. The flowers of the Blackberry Lily, Belamcanda chinensis or more recently Iris domestica, are followed by seed pods that split open to reveal shiny black round seeds that are sometimes used in dried arrangements for fall. This is a hardy clump forming heirloom perennial with a tough constitution as well as being a colorful and low-maintenance addition to the garden and landscape. It will do best in an average to well-drained, average moist, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12304

One of the hottest new native grasses on the market! Blackhawks Big Bluestem starts off in spring as a deep green clump of upright to arching blades that may be tipped with red to purple. It is in late summer when the real show begins with the upright and arching foliage and flowering stems of August deepen to red to red-purple and further deepening and intensifying as the cooler fall weather arrives becoming nearly all black as its sturdy and showy flowering stems begin to mature. Blackhawks Big Bluestem is a slightly more compact plant reaching about 4-5' high when in flower. The species is native throughout much of the eastern 2/3's of the US and is a clumping to slowly spreading rhizomatous grass whose seeds are utilized by a number of seed eating birds. Provide a full to mostly sunny site with an average to well-drained, acidic soil for the deepest foliage colors and optimum vigor. Plants are in their best form when grown in a low fertility soil. Overly fertile soils can cause them to topple at maturity. Images courtesy of Brent Horvath, Intrinsic Perennials, all rights reserved. Item# 12169

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With some of the deepest blue flowers of any Amsonia and a consistently compact habit, Blue Ice has become one of the most popular Bluestar cultivars on the market. The clusters of deep blue, starry flowers open from deep violet buds and will be sure to brighten any spring garden. Yellow fall color adds to its interest. Bluestars are pest, disease, and deer resistant perennials that are considered to be somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Item# 10652.

Clusters of starry light blue flowers are produced in late spring to early summer atop the fine-textured foliage that transforms to a rich butterscotch yellow adorning contrasting red stems in fall. Butterscotch® Arkansas Bluestar, a hybrid of or selection of Amsonia hubrichtii, boasts richer fall color, flower petals that extend outward, instead of recurving backwards, makng the flowers seem larger, and has good disease resistance. This is a clump-forming, long-lived, herbaceous native perennial with an almost formal habit at maturity reaching about 3'H x 4'W. It can be utilized as an informal hedge or backdrop and will look great paired with native grasses in fall. Butterscotch Amsonia is easy, sunloving, heat tolerant, and deer and rabbit resistant. Images courtesy of Emerald Coast Growers, all rights reserved. Item# 12890

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Big deep cherry red florets surround the smaller pink star shaped fertile flowers of this exceptionally cold hardy Hydrangea when grown in alkaline soils. In acid soils the colors tend toward lavender or purple hues. Cherry Explosion™ Hydrangea flowers on new wood and on seemingly every stem and thus extending its range into zone 4. Fall color ranges into deep burgundy on this compact naturally rounded growing Hydrangea. An exciting new introduction from McKay Nursery Company and Star Roses. Image courtesy of Star Roses, all rights reserved. Item# 11120

Large, 4-7'', clusters of fragrant brilliant white flowers are borne in spring as the rich green new growth emerges. A beautiful and easy small flowering tree. Rich dark glossy green foliage. Durability, toughness, and vigor lend this tree to use as a street tree or practically anywhere in the garden. Chinese Fringe is moderately drought tolerant once well established. Highly recommended by Dr. David Creech at Stephen F Austin University, Nacogdoches, Texas where a huge planting of this wonderful tree lines Wilson street on campus. A 2003 UGA Gold Medal winner! Item# 11089

This rare and magnificent member of the Witchhazel family, Hamamelidiceae, is a close kin to the more widely grown Persian Ironwood, Parrotia persica, but offers better cold hardiness, improved heat tolerance, brilliant red long-lasting fall color, better wind resistance, excellent disease and pest resistance, and it tends to be faster growing. The Chinese Ironwood, Parrotia subaequalis, develops into a multi-trunked, naturally vase-shaped to rounded, deciduous large shrub to small tree growing to 15-30' high. The beautiful exfoliating bark in shades of green, tan, and white and on mature trunks add another season of interest while the clusters of small Witchhazel-like red winter to early spring flowers are hardly noticeable. The fall color of the Chinese Ironwood starts out maroon and deepens to an intense glowing red that lasts for weeks whether grown in sun or shade. It is considered to be drought resistant but should be provided with average moisture until well-established. Item# 12265

The large, deep coppery red tropical-looking foliage is accented by random splashes, flecks, and patches in red, pink, and orange tones when grown in sunny conditions. In shade the colors are less intense and lean toward bronze, pink, green tones. Copperhead Copper Plant is a moderately vigorous selection with a naturally upright to rounded habit. This heat and sun-loving, naturally evergreen tropical shrub is well suited for use as a thriller in mixed container gardens, as specimen container plants, as well as for a tropical accent in sunny gardens and landscapes providing continuous color from spring to frost. Foliage colors often intensify as summer wanes and autumn approaches. Provide your Copperplants with an average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and health. Copperhead is very similar to Louisiana Red. Item# 12587

The spring and summer clumps of yellow-green foliage are accented with and tipped with red and in late summer tall, 4-1/2-5-1/2' high, sturdy spikes of decorative reddish seed heads are produced. As fall approaches the foliage becomes red and then deepens into fiery scarlet. Dancing Wind Big Bluestem, a selection of Andropogon gerardii, has a slightly shorter, sturdier upright habit than the species with excellent fall color. The species is native throughout much of the eastern 2/3's of the US and is a clumping to slowly spreading rhizomatous grass whose seeds are utilized by a number of seed eating birds. Provide a full to mostly sunny site with an average to well-drained, acidic soil for the deepest foliage colors and optimum vigor. Plants are in their best form when grown in a low fertility soil. Photos courtesy of Brent Horvath, Intrisic Perennial Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12852

The large deep purplish-blue star-shaped flowers open from balloon shaped buds look as though one flower was neatly tucked inside the other. The Double Blue Balloon flower is a clump forming taprooted perennial that produces more and more flowering stems as the plant ages. They begin to flower in about mid summer and continue nearly until fall. Double Blue is a larger growing variety that can reach about 30" high and also produces purple and yellow fall color. It was also one of the top-rated cultivars from the Chicago Botanic Garden's trials receiving 4 out of 4 stars. An easy, low maintenance, and conversation starting perennial for the garden and landscape. Item# 11629

Masses of deep brick red trumpet shaped flowers nearly cover up this vine in spring or early summer just in time for arriving hummingbirds. It's almost like the two coordinate it or something! The red Dragon Lady Crossvine is a vigorous evergreen to semi-evergreen clinging vine(it does so via pads on the end of its tendrils and so is not destructive to brickwork and masonry) that can easily clamber up or along masonry, tree bark, fences, or other structural supports on its own. Crossvines are a low maintenance choice for fences, posts, arbors, and larger trellises. The deep red trumpet shaped flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators. The foliage takes on purple and burgundy coloration throughout the cooler months when grown in full to mostly sunny conditions. Dragon Lady Crossvine is reported to be a slightly more cold hardy selection and was chosen as the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society's Gold Medal Award winner in 2003. Item# 391

Another excellent native shrub for the landscape! The dense neat mound of deep green glossy foliage and red tinged stems is topped by clusters of white flowers in spring which make way to red berries ripening through purple and finally black. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators and the fruit attract songbirds and smaller fructivores. Walter's Dwarf Viburnum, Viburnum obovatum 'Densa', is a compact, densly branching selection of this southeastern native. This shrub's dense habit lends it to use anywhere a small to medium-sized shrub is desired in the landscape. It is generally evergreen into zone 8A and tends to be deciduous to semi-evergreen in zones 6 and 7. Use this tough native shrub in place of Dwarf Yaupon, Indian Hawthorne, or anywhere a medium-sized, disease resistant, low maintenance shrub or hedge is desired. Provide a full sun to part shade site in an average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor. Images shown are an example of what to expect with this cultivar but are of the common Walter's Viburnum, Viburnum obovatum. Item# 12731

Rich purple, 1" wide daisies with a nicely contrasting sunny yellow eye are produced in mass in fall attracting bees and other smaller pollinators with a late season burst of color just in time for LSU Football! Geaux Tigers! Ezo Murasaki Japanese Woods Aster or Asian Aster, a selection of Aster ageratoides var. ageratoides, is a vigorous rhizomatous perennial adorned with deep green ovate foliage that makes an easy warm season groundcover topping out at about 24" high. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soils. Item# 13049

2022 Missouri Botanic Garden Plants of Merit selection! 18" long arching spikes composed of numerous dark golden yellow flowers burst onto the scene in late summer and fall creating a much needed feast of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies including migratory Monarchs, and other garden beneficials. Fireworks is an award winning selection of the native Roughleaf Goldenrod, Solidago rugosa, and it won top marks in the Goldenrod trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. This is a hardy, clump-forming slowly spreading (a.k.a. short rhizomatous) herbaceous perennial that is both adaptable and manageable. Fireworks Goldenrod prefers a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist to moist fertile soil although it is tolerant of part shade, part sun conditions. Use this easy to grow native perennial in naturalistic settings and in mixed perennial gardens and landscapes. Item# 12313

The fountaining clumps of large, dark burgundy to near black, 1"+ wide, sword shaped foliage makes an outstanding accent or backdrop for smaller growing perennials in the summer and fall garden and landscape. First Knight™ Hybrid Purple Fountain Grass, a trispecific seed sterile hybrid Pennisetum, was developed and selected for its exceptionally dark foliage color, vigor, disease resistance, and zone 8 cold hardiness. In areas with mild winters, the plants produce tall fuzzy spikes in late summer and fall adding to its interest. We have a similar selection growing at the back of one of our beds and have always been impressed with the statement it makes each year. We have even been known to utilize the foliage and occasional seed heads in cut flower arrangements. This is a vigorous and easy growing, low maintenance addition to the garden and landscape and it is vigorous enough to be used as an annual outside of its hardiness zones. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist, soil with average or better drainage. Item# 12853