The fall season is incredible in the Pacific Northwest, as the green leaves of summer turn to beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow. Autumn is a great time to plant and refresh your fading summer garden with trees, shrubs, and perennials that offer a spectacular fall show. Fall conditions help new plants settle in and grow strong roots - the temperatures are mild, and it often rains. We have a great selection of plants for fall color, and we would like to share a few of our favorites.
Bold, fiery Colors
Looking for some bold colors in tones of red, orange, and yellow?
The Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) offers a beautiful spectacle, with leaves turning bright scarlet red, and is great planted on its own as a specimen or as a hedge.
The bluish-green leaves of Mount Airy Fothergilla change to orange, yellow, and red to create a spectacular fall display! This shrub blooms in spring with fragrant white bottle-brush-shaped flower spikes.
Kaleidoscope Abelia (Abelia × grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope') dazzles in the fall with bright gold, orange, and red tones. In spring, leaves emerge with yellow borders and light green centers, turning gold in summer. Tubular white flowers attract pollinators.
Another must-have shrub for sunny gardens is a Blueberry! Flowers in spring for pollinators, delicious edible berries in summer, and a spectacular show of fall color on many varieties!
Contrasting Cool Colors
Fall color in the garden can be more than tones of red, orange, and yellow. Incorporating silver with pink and purple can add depth and contrast.
The striking silver of Cushion Bush (Calocephalus brownii) creates a spectacular contrast with green or purple foliage plants, such as purple Heucheras. In summer, small yellow flowers bloom on top of the stems.
The deep purple leaves of Prince Calico Aster and pink-centered flowers complement silver foliage plants, and add interest late into fall. Prince Calico Aster grows about 2 feet tall.
Russian Sage is another great choice with silvery-green leaves and lavender flower spikes. Try planting Aster or Sage with the lush, dark purple-black scalloped leaves of Black Scallop Bugleweed (Ajuga), which creep along the ground. An outstanding combination for fall & winter plantings in the garden and in containers!
To add a bit of extra color to beds and containers, think about incorporating Ornamental Cabbage with its textured leaves of bright pink and dusty, purple-tinged green.
Color with Texture & Movement
Add some colorful texture to the garden by mixing in plants with grass-like leaves.
The coffee-brown evergreen leaves of Cappuccino Sedge (Carex tenuiculmis 'Cappuccino') are a beautiful complement to dark green and purple foliage plants.
New Zealand Iris (Libertia species) is also a showstopper with distinctive striped leaves in green, gold, bronze, and orange. It provides beautiful color throughout the season with white flowers in summer and bright seed pods well into fall.
A colorful garden doesn’t need to fade at the end of summer. There are many plants waiting to brighten your area with a colorful fall display. We would be happy to help you choose the best plants for your garden!