Add some color to your fall garden
Five colorful plants to add just the right amount of pop to your flower garden/beds
Autumn Crocus
If you love spring crocus, check out its fall flowering cousin, autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale). Actually a lily, this plant grows leaves in spring that die back in early summer. Blooms open in early to mid-fall when no leaves are present. Autumn crocus does best in full sun to part shade and grows 7 to 12 inches tall. Plant these crocus bulbs in mid to late summer, tucking them among hardy geraniums, creeping thyme, ajuga or hardy vinca — plants that can help hide the dying
Garden Mums
A fall classic, garden mums carry the season with hues of orange, gold, russet, burgundy and bronze. If you want to grow garden mums as perennials, get them into the ground as soon as you see them for sale. The plants need at least six weeks before frost to establish a healthy root system. In coldest zones, hedge your bets for winter survival by mulching plants just before the ground freezes.
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Discover this unsung member of the hydrangea family that's a native plant. Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia) is a shrub to small tree that doesn't disappoint in autumn with fiery leaf tints and fading flowers in pink shades. Blossoms form cone-shaped heads that open white and slowly fade to parchment tones by winter. Plants typically grow 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, spreading to form a colony. It's an ideal plant for a hedge. Give it a spot in part shade with a mulch over the roots. Look for new varieties from short to tall with larger flowers in different colors, including ones that open white and fade to pink.
Pansy
For outstanding fall color, make pansies your go-to plant. This annual is versatile in the garden and looks equally enchanting in containers or planting beds. Pansies bounce back from light frosts, making them perfect contenders for keeping the color show going strong, even as temps start to tumble. When buying pansies, choose from several types, including large-flowered, small-flowered, trailing and mounding. Read plant tags to make sure you get the right kind to achieve your autumn garden goals.
Fountain Grass
If you like a grass with a more flowing appearance, fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) delivers a classic undulating, soft texture. The soft, bottlebrush-like seed heads add texture to bouquets and enhance fall gardens, often lingering through winter. Look for varieties that come in different sizes and leaf colors. Fountain grass grows from 1 to 4 feet tall, depending on the type. This grass thrives in sun, heat and humidity. The one must-have for success is well-drained soil in winter.









