Falling for the Colors of Autumn

With the leaves falling, and blowing wildly around us, it makes me think of all the fun plants and the variety of fall colors they bring into the landscape. One of the most popular fall plants is the Burning Bush.

Euonymus alatus 'Compacta' or Dwarf Burning Bush is the most popular variety, though there are variations that will range from 5 feet tall to 20 feet tall. A tolerant and hardy green bush in spring and fall, with nondescript white flowers, the burning bush is known for the reliable brilliant red leaves in fall. The bush does well left in a natural form or pruned as a hedge for a more formal look. It is moderate on its water use and loves sun, but can handle part shade.

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Ginkgo biloba 'Autumn Gold' - Autumn Gold Maidenhair Tree is a unique 50 foot tall tree with a brilliant golden color in the fall. A wonderful shade tree the Ginkgo has a distinct fan shaped leaf. The Ginkgo is one of the oldest tree species and is the last remaining in its plant division, all of the other species are now extinct. Look for male Ginkgos to avoid the messy fruits. Ginkgos come in several varieties with a spread of 15 to 30 feet. The trees require minimal water and are not too picky on maintenance.

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Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance' - Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry is a small, shrubby tree. It is hardy, drought tolerant and doesn't require a lot of water. Plants get about 25 feet tall and 10 feet wide. They make a nice small area tree, or shrubby screen. The trees have beautiful, pure white flowers in spring which are followed by edible purple berries. The berries look and taste like blueberries. Which is great for our climate since blueberries don't grow as reliably well here. The berries work well in jams or for snacking.

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Panicum virgatum 'Hot Rod' - Hot Rod Switch Grass wont make you wait for spring to see it change color. This ornamental grass gets four feet tall and about three feet wide. The water use is low once the grass is established. Each spring the grassy blades emerge a beautiful blue-green color. As the season progresses the blades pick up red tints until fall when the whole plant turns a lovely burgundy color. Look for red seed heads to emerge around July. As with all ornamental grasses the only maintenance they take is to be cut back while dormant. Leave the dried grass until February for added winter interest in your garden.

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Cornus sericea 'Isanti' - Isanti Dogwood will grow five feet tall and eight feet wide. The bright red stems and green leaves host white flower clusters in spring. The green leaves turn purple-red in the fall and give way to the bright red stem in winter. This is a great plant for providing year-round interest without requiring maintenance. Dogwood like part shade and moderate water. If you like a little more summer interest look for Cornus alba 'Variegata' to provide a cream and green variegated leaf.

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