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Plants for Amazing Autumn Color
Introduction
When the days get shorter and the air gets cooler, many plants put on a spectacular show of color before winter arrives. Here are 10 of the best plants to add vibrant autumn hues to your garden.
Trees
- Crab apple ‘Evereste’: Produces rosy fruit and yellow leaves in autumn.
- Judas tree (Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’): Features purple heart-shaped leaves that turn yellow in fall.
- Acers: Known for their stunning autumn foliage in shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Shrubs
- Snowy mespilus: Coppery pink and pale yellow leaves turn scarlet and crimson in autumn.
- Beauty berry (Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii ‘Profusion’): Produces clusters of purple berries and golden purple leaves in mid-autumn.
- Cotoneaster: Displays red berries and tiny evergreen leaves in autumn.
Flowers
- Aster (Symphyotrichum ‘Little Carlow’): Produces vibrant purple flowers in late summer and autumn.
- Autumn crocus (Colchicum ‘Waterlily’): Features pink-purple double flowers that bloom in September and October.
- Nerine (Nerine bowdenii): Rewards you with a late display of lipstick-pink flowers outdoors in warm climates.
Other Plants
- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus henryana): Features delicate coppery leaves that turn crimson in autumn.
- Sternbergia lutea: Produces bright yellow flowers in autumn and is native to the eastern Mediterranean.
Tips for Growing Plants for Autumn Color
- Choose plants that are well-suited to your climate and soil conditions.
- Plant in a sunny spot with good drainage.
- Water regularly, especially during dry spells.
- Fertilize in spring and summer to encourage healthy growth and flowering.
- Deadhead spent flowers to promote continued blooming.
