There is no season like fall for splendid colors that everyone loves and wants to bring into their space. The autumn splashes of vivid yellows, deep crimsons and auburn oranges are just what we are used to in the Midwest as one of the best perks of living amidst deciduous forests. But trees aren’t the only plant with gorgeous fall foliage. There are many plants you can use to add fall colors to a landscape.
General Steps for Adding Fall Colors in a Landscape
Generally speaking, plants that get more sun are better at showing off their colorful clothes. Of course putting a plant that needs full shade in the full sun is a not-so-smart idea, and this rule is best applied only to the sun-loving flora. Temperature also plays a large role, as well as soil moisture. A growing season with lots of rain, followed by a dry, cool and sunny fall is what we all hope for to get best fall color. Warm days and mild frost-free nights are ideal. You can read this fantastic article to get an in-depth understanding about the entire fall leaf color process.
Eagleson’s Favorite Fall Colors Flora
Maple
Most of these trees offer brilliant fall color, though some varieties are more spectacular than others. Autumn Blaze Maples (hybrid between a red and a silver maple) have an incredible red hue. Sugar Maples have yellow-orange leaves; Norway Maples are a bright yellow; Red Maples are…well, red. Maples are generally used as fast growing shade trees for the warmer months and for superb foliage in the fall. They can be paired with just about any plant, but their shallow root systems and thick canopies can make for very dry soil beneath them. Plant in an area away from the house where it can provide shade on a patio or other relaxing space.
Oak Leaf Hydrangea
These guys have lovely flowers during the summer months, but wow their leaves in the fall are almost better, turning a mix of red, burgundy and orange that is quite appealing. They also have pretty cool bark similar to river birch which looks nice even after the leaves are done. Oak leaf hydrangeas bring color, size and year round interest to your space, and should be planted close to where you will spend most of your time outside.
Chrysanthemum
A fall favorite! Mums are perfect in containers or your landscape, and are really the quintessential fall flower. Typically, they are used as a temporary annual to bring a burst of color to a space. Mums do great on a front porch or back patio, but you can certainly plant them in a garden bed. A little more effort is needed to grow them as a perennial rather than an annual. Chrysanthemums come in many colors, shapes and sizes, growing well with about anything. A combination of chrysanthemum, aster, some sort of grass or corn stalks in a fall pot looks very nice.
Dwarf Fothergilla
One of Eagleson’s favorites for the fall! These varieties have some of the coolest fall colors. The leaves turn many different hues based on how they lay on each other. Basically, one leaf can be multiple colors at once, yellow, red or orange. These can be used in groups or as a hedge.
Burning Bush
Fall is literally the one time in the year this plant shines. It is so very blah the rest of the year, storing up its beauty points to shoot out and cover the entire world in its blazing brilliance. Burning bush turns a near-blinding shade of red, and are beautiful screen or hedge plants. Plant them where you don’t have to notice them all year, like the back of a property, but still where they are visible so you can enjoy them when it’s their time to burn.
Caryopteris
This pretty plant blooms in late summer and early fall, making it a great addition to your beds for color earlier in the season. Its flowers are blue and abundant. Caryopteris blooms on new wood, so make sure to prune them back early to ensure they push out new growth in the spring. These would be good to plant in a perennial border or as a group along with some earlier season blooming plants.
Remember, plants’ blooms and foliage come and go throughout the year. Choosing a variety of plants that provide color or interest during different seasons will keep your landscape beautiful year-round. If you want to learn more about using color in your landscape, check out our blog “Blooms and Foliage: Using Color in Your Landscape”.
Eagleson Landscape Company is happy to help with any of your landscaping needs! Contact us by email or phone at (317) 997-4803.
Eagleson Landscape Company provides landscape and hardscape services in the Greater Indianapolis area, including Carmel, Zionsville, Westfield, Fishers and Geist.
