Plants That Freshen Up the Fall Garden

Steadfast performers get a boost from companions with late-season appeal

When we moved to British Columbia ’s Fraser Valley 10 years ago , my collaborator and I dress out to design a relaxed res publica garden that celebrate our love of plant . Though many of our best - love efflorescence peak in fountain and early summertime , the beds on our 20 - acre property still entertain plenty of interestingness as the time of year winds down . This is a time for showcasing steadfast performers that graciously withstand our region ’s dry summertime , highlighted by a few darling that show off as the days shorten .

The photograph on the adopt pages were take just before Labor Day , the unofficial close of summer in both Canada and the United States . Whether you are looking for plant with rest power or some late - season stars , I hope you will find inspiration here .

A floral pick-me-up

‘ Axminster Gold ’ ( pic above ) comfrey grabs attention from spring until hoar with its bold grain and disingenuous diversification . sit it in a spot that gets afternoon subtlety will avail to keep the parting bet fresh . A charming aster chum bestow abundant spray of lilac blue blooms throughout summer and into other fall .

1 . ‘ Axminster Gold ’ comfrey(Symphytum×uplandicum‘Axminster Gold ’ , Zones 4–7 )

2 . ‘ Monch ’ aster(Aster×frikartii‘Monch ’ , Zones 5–10 )

A study in silver and gold

A slope offer the double-dyed spot for creating layer of texture . Here , several plant with argent foliage are spotlight by a few golden - leaved companion . ‘ Primrose Heron ’ lamb ’ ear walk the assembly line between the two , with foliage that emerge chartreuse in spring , turns argent - grey in summer , then select on a gold cast in autumn . Bishop ’s flower lend airy blanched umbels from other summer through frost .

1 . ‘ Baggesen ’s atomic number 79 ’ boxleaf honeysuckle(Lonicera nitida‘Baggesen ’s Gold ’ , Zones 6–9 )

2 . ‘ Walker ’s Low ’ catmint(Nepeta racemosa‘Walker ’s Low ’ , Zones 4–8 )

3 . ‘ Primrose Heron ’ lambs ’ ears(Stachys byzantina‘Primrose Heron ’ , Zones 4–8 )

4 . ‘ Angelina ’ sedum(Sedum rupestre‘Angelina ’ , zone 5–8 )

5 . Sea kale(Crambe maritima , Zones 5–9 )

6 . Bishop ’s flower(Ammi majus , one-year )

7 . Donkeytail spurge(Euphorbia myrsinites * , Zones 5–9 )

Fill up on foliage

Leaves of various weighing machine and pattern create a tapis effect that carries the garden show into fall . As colder weather arrives , the geranium and sedum leaf will take on subtlety of red , bronze , and coral .

1 . Bigroot geranium(Geranium macrorrhizum , Zones 4–8 )

2 . ‘ Angelina ’ sedum(Sedum rupestre‘Angelina ’ , Zones 5–8 )

3 . Lavender cotton(Santolina chamaecyparissus , Zones 6–9 )

4 . Stinking hellebore(Helleborus foetidus , Zones 5–9 )

5 . Charles Lamb ’ ears(Stachys byzantina , Zones 4–8 )

6 . Boxleaf hebe(Hebe buxifolia , Zones 8–10 )

7 . Blue oat grass(Helictotrichon sempervirens , Zones 4–8 )

8 . Crocus Rose shrub rose(Rosa‘Ausquest ’ , Zones 5–9 )

Fresh flowers at season’s end

This large - leave bergenia is a spring boo-boo , but in our garden it always gives a repetition operation later in the season . Worth adding to the garden for its leaf alone , it bring home the bacon contrast for self - sow seedlings of ‘ Lime Zinger ’ and ‘ Matrona ’ sedum , both excellent foliage plants in their own right . The vine serve as a backdrop is ‘ Blue Bird ’ clematis , a vigorous give - to - summertime foul-up that follows up its flowered show with an attractive drapery of foliage studded with fluffy seed heads .

1 . expectant - leafage bergenia(Bergenia ciliata , Zones 5–8 )

2 . ‘ Matrona ’ and ‘ Lime Zinger ’ sedum seedlings(Hylotelephium‘Matrona ’ and ‘ Lime Zinger ’ , Zones 4–9 )

fall flower combinations

3 . ‘ Blue Bird ’ clematis(Clematis macropetala‘Blue Bird ’ , Zones 4–10 )

Dramatic architecture and color

Although ‘ Vicar ’s Mead ’ angelica is a biennial or , at best , a shortly - inhabit perennial , it is well worth adding to a layer . Removing the flowers might help the plant last longer , but how could you ? or else , allow it to reseed in moist , fertile soil , or collect ripe germ at season ’s end to secure future generation . Its burgundy stems and leaves provide bluff contrast for fine - textured artemesia and Nipponese wood eatage . Black Scallop ajuga allow a color echo at ground level and helps to control weeds .

1 . ‘ Vicar ’s Mead ’ angelica(Angelica sylvestris‘Vicar ’s Mead ’ , Zones 4–9 )

2 . ‘ Powis Castle ’ artemisia(Artemisia‘Powis Castle ’ , Zones 6–9 )

3 . variegate Nipponese forest grass(Hakonechloa macra‘Albovariegata ’ , Zones 5–8 )

4 . Black Scallop ajuga(Ajuga reptans‘Binblasca ’ , Zones 4–9 )

Easygoing path edgers

‘ Silver Mound ’ artemisia is a low - upkeep makeweight , grow quickly to organise 12 - inch cushions of finely cut leave . A purple - leaved New Zealand bur spreads at its feet , adding a wash of ardent colouration to the mix , while brightly magniloquent verbena blooms seem to float above on stringy , nearly leafless stems . The grass in the background is a wild plant that spring up on its own ; a similar effect could be attain by planting an ornamental cultivar like ‘ Karl Foerster ’ feather reed grass ( Calamagrostis acutiflora‘Karl Foerster ’ , zone 5–8 ) .

1 . ‘ Silver Mound ’ artemisia(Artemisia schmidtiana‘Silver Mound ’ , zone 3–7 )

2 . New Zealand burr(Acaena inermis‘Purpurea ’ , Zones 6–10 )

3 . Tall verbena(Verbena bonariensis , Zones 7–10 )

Stars with staying power

Everyone needs industrial plant that they can count on . Here are a few low - maintenance favorites from our gardens that expect great all time of year without a pile of fuss .

‘Baggesen’s Gold’ boxleaf honeysuckle

Lonicera nitida‘Baggesen ’s Au ’

Zones:6–9

Size:4 to 6 feet tall and spacious

atmospheric condition : Full sun to partial shade ; average to moist , well - drain grease

aboriginal range : China

‘Powis Castle’ artemisia

Artemisia‘Powis Castle ’

Size:2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet all-inclusive

consideration : Full sun ; average to dry , well - drain soil

Native kitchen range : cross of Mediterranean and Eurasian species

‘Pacific Fire’ vine maple

Acer circinatum‘Pacific Fire ’

Zones:5–9

Size:18 feet marvellous and 15 feet blanket

shape : Light specter to fond shadowiness ; adaptable to a all-encompassing orbit of well - drained grunge , including guts and stiff

Native cooking stove : Pacific Coast from southwestern British Columbia to Northern California

Tiger Eyes®sumac

genus Rhus typhina‘Bailtiger ’

Zones:4–8

Size:3 to 6 metrical unit improbable and full

circumstance : Full sun to fond shadiness ; adaptable to a across-the-board range of well - drain grunge

aboriginal chain of mountains : Eastern North America

*Invasive alert: Donkeytail spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites)

This industrial plant is considered incursive in CO , OR , UT , and WA .

Please visitinvasiveplantatlas.orgfor more selective information .

Thomas Hobbs and his partner , Brent Beattie , own and go Southlands Nursery in Vancouver , British Columbia .

exposure : Carol Collins

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