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ZONES: 4–8 SIZE: 6 to 12 inches tall and wide CONDITIONS: Full sun; well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Europe I love a surprise, and ‘Alboplenum’ fall crocus provides one. Its stubby sprouts emerge quickly in early autumn, bursting open to reveal brilliant double flowers with thin white petals and a slightly shredded, exotic appearance. The large flowers are unimpeded by foliage, making them conspicuous in the autumn garden. Keep an eye out in late winter to early spring for its strappy, peagreen leaves, which provide interesting textural contrast for spring bloomers. This drought-tolerant bulb grows best in an open location. LICORICE FERN Polypodium glycyrrhiza
ZONES: 6–9 SIZE: 8 to 15 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide CONDITIONS: Partial shade; well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Western North America This beautiful fern is unusual for its winter green growth habit. In summer, its fronds shrivel and drop off. When the autumn rains arrive, its vibrant new green growth emerges just when many other plants are heading for dormancy. In its native habitat, licorice fern can be found growing in moss on tree trunks and branches, with fronds cascading down from high perches. Fortunately, it also adapts easily to garden culture. Try it in a hanging basket for an unusual feature late in the year. It prefers morning sun or open shade and is drought tolerant once established. SHOWY CHINESE GENTIAN Gentiana sino-ornata
ZONES: 4–8 SIZE: 3 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide CONDITIONS: Partial shade; moist, rich, well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: China, Tibet Few plants are as enchanting as gentians, and this fall bloomer is one of the most spectacular species. It is a bit of a garden diva, but if you can meet its demanding cultural needs the rewards are well worth the effort. Give it a spot with morning light or open shade, water it regularly during dry weather, and protect it from hot sun. Its fine foliage will grow tight to the ground through summer, allowing for full view of the delicate flowers in September and October. Tight, pointed buds open into upright trumpets that are blue, white, or bicolor with glowing green markings.
HARDY GUERNSEY LILY Nerine bowdenii
ZONES: 8–11 SIZE: 24 to 30 inches tall and 6 to 8 inches wide CONDITIONS: Full sun; well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: South Africa I know it is autumn when the sinewy flowering stems of hardy Guernsey lily make their surprising emergence from the bare soil, seeming to pop up from nowhere. The slight bulge at the tip of each thin stem is the only hint of the blazing pink flowers hidden inside the buds. Once open, each bloom reveals thin, strappy petals that twist and curl backward, creating an elegant and frilly display. The best thing about this bulb is that even a new planting with just a few flower stems delivers bright color that is difficult to miss. Guernsey lily is drought tolerant once established. Contributing editor Richie Steffen is executive director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden in Seattle.
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‘NEON’ SEDUM Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Neon’
ZONES: 3–9 SIZE: 2 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide CONDITIONS: Full sun; well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: China, Korea Most sedums are tough as nails, a trait belied by their frothy, candy-like flower colors. ‘Neon’ is one of the most colorful sedums available, and its name does not disappoint. Buds sit atop a compact mound of succulent foliage and burst into bloom in summer, and the flowers last well into fall. Bees and butterflies flock to the hot pink blooms, which slowly age to burgundy and then tan as autumn progresses. The foliage turns from light green to a bright chartreuse in fall, which contrasts sharply with the flowers. The blooms dry in place for winter, standing tall and providing many months of interest until spring.
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PURPLE WINTER SAVORY Satureja montana subsp. illyrica
ZONES: 3b–8 SIZE: 4 to 8 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide CONDITIONS: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Western Balkan peninsula in Europe Herbs may not top many people’s lists for late-season interest, but purple winter savory is worth seeking out. The straight species is a low, mounding, shrubby perennial with compact foliage and subtle white flowers; it is certainly not a show-stopper, but this subspecies is another story. Tight domes of finely textured foliage expand quietly all summer, and by September they are aglow with purple blossoms on compact spikes. In bloom, this plant gives the appearance of a densely manicured lavender (Lavandula spp. and cvs., Zones 5–10). Purple winter savory is drought tolerant and is comfortable on slopes and in poor soil. A light trim in spring is all the maintenance it requires.
ZONES: 5b–11 SIZE: 1½ to 3 feet tall and 1½ to 2 feet wide CONDITIONS: Full sun; well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: West Texas, northeastern Mexico With so many autumn sages available, it can be hard to choose just one, but ‘Wild Thing’ rises to the top for its flower power and hardiness. Jewel-like blossoms in shades of red-violet sparkle on a symmetrical, shrubby form and lure in hummingbirds. Flowers begin blooming around June and reach a crescendo in fall. This tough plant is perfectly at home in gritty soil among boulders and on dry sunny slopes; it’s a must for any xeric garden. Good drainage and full sun will keep it thriving for years. Cut it down to 4 to 6 inches high in spring to maintain a nice habit. To ensure its success in colder areas, place it in a sheltered microclimate. PRAIRIE ZINNIA Zinnia grandiflora
ZONES: 4–9 SIZE: 4 to 8 inches tall and 15 inches wide CONDITIONS: Full sun; well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Southern Plains and southwestern United States; northern Mexico Big things come in small packages. Prairie zinnia’s long-lasting golden flowers are just over an inch wide and have gently reflexed petals. They densely blanket the foliage from high summer into fall. The blooms are very attractive to butterflies and native bees. As fall progresses, the flowers slowly shift from yellow to papery shades of tan. This tough, drought-tolerant Southwestern native can be found in the wild growing in prairies and grasslands but can easily be grown in other situations. Rocky to average soil, blazing sun, and occasional water are all it needs. Its slowly spreading, finely textured mound of foliage makes it a perfect ground cover. It can also be used on the edge of a flower bed or in a xeric pollinator garden.
REGIONAL EXPERT
Dan Johnson lives and gardens in Denver and in Tucson, Arizona. He is an associate director of horticulture for the Denver Botanic Gardens.
ZONES: 4–9 SIZE: 2 feet tall and 1½ feet wide CONDITIONS: Full sun; average to dry, well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Hybrid The stunning blooms of this coneflower have lime green–tipped petals that melt into pink bases with red central disks. These blooms just might remind you of a slice of watermelon. ‘Sweet Sandia’ has compact, uniform growth, with flowers that stand tall from midsummer into fall, attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. This coneflower has a profusion of blossoming stems that will provide you with cut flowers for months. It establishes quickly and emerges rapidly in spring. ‘Sweet Sandia’ tolerates poor and gritty soils and is deer resistant. ‘RUBY TUESDAY’ HEUCHERA Heuchera ‘Ruby Tuesday’
ZONES: 4–9 SIZE: 16 inches tall and 14 inches wide CONDITIONS: Full sun to partial shade; average to dry, well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Hybrid You just can’t beat the newer heucheras when looking for colorful foliage. The leaves of ‘Ruby Tuesday’ are a deep ruby color, maturing to merlot with a silvery cast in fall. They are very ruffled and fluted and grow in a mounded, dense habit. Best of all, ‘Ruby Tuesday’ is on the larger side for a heuchera. Plant it where you want maximum contrast in texture and color. Tiny, starlike, white to pale peach flowers appear in late spring. Once established, this cultivar is drought tolerant; be sure not to overwater, as it is susceptible to root rot.
ZONES: 3–7 SIZE: 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide CONDITIONS: Full sun to partial shade; average, well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Hybrid Attracting bees and butterflies aplenty, this lovely bush clematis’s lavender, bell-shaped flowers first appear in summer, with a large second flush occurring in autumn. This hybrid is a cross of the North American native Fremont’s leather-flower (C. fremontii, Zones 4–7) and the European solitary virgin’s bower (C. integrifolia, Zones 4–9). It’s deer and rabbit resistant and dies back at the end of the season. Cut old stems to about 4 inches from the ground in late winter or early spring, and apply a fresh layer of mulch. While not a climber, ‘Stand By Me’ still does best with some support.
ZONES: 3–8 SIZE: 4 feet tall and wide CONDITIONS: Full sun to partial shade; average to moist soil NATIVE RANGE: Hybrid This is a vigorous, fast-growing nativar that attracts birds, bees, and butterflies, especially monarchs. It’s also deer and rabbit resistant. ‘Polished Brass’ Joe Pye weed’s parents are native late Joe Pye weed (E. serotinum, Zones 4–9) and nativar ‘Milk and Cookies’ American Joe Pye weed (E. perfoliatum ‘Milk and Cookies’, Zones 3–8). A large, upright plant that doesn’t spread, ‘Polished Brass’ has glossy foliage with a bronze-red tinge. Its soft white flowers cover the foliage completely in late summer through fall. This hybrid is the perfect choice for a pollinator garden, and it is tolerant of many different soil types.
REGIONAL EXPERT
Cheryl Moore-Gough is a retired Montana extension horticulture specialist and a coauthor of The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds.
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CHOCOLATE DAISY Berlandiera lyrata
ZONES: 4–10 SIZE: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide CONDITIONS: Full sun to partial shade; dry to moist, well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Mexico This daisy is beloved for its striking chocolate scent. Merely brushing up against the flowers can bring out the aroma, and on hot summer days you can often smell it from a distance. The flowers, cheerful yellow rays about 2 inches across, are held on long stems growing from mounded or slightly sprawling clumps of gray-green foliage. Chocolate daisy blooms nearly year-round in warm weather, and most reliably between April and November. The seed heads that come after the flowers are also beautiful, and I can never resist putting one in my pocket for later. I like to use this species in rock gardens and other arid locations, as the plant is very drought tolerant. FROSTWEED Verbesina virginica
ZONES: 8–11 SIZE: 3 to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide CONDITIONS: Partial to full shade; dry to moist, well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Pennsylvania, west to Texas and south to Florida Frostweed makes a great transition plant from wild woodland edges to more-manicured garden areas. Because it is shade loving, it is a great understory plant; in the wild I commonly see it growing in the shade of large oaks. Frostweed grows rather tall and lanky with dark green leaves, and it produces clusters of white flowers in fall. While the foliage and blooms are sufficiently beautiful to warrant including this species in your garden, frostweed also has a special winter trick: With the first hard freeze of winter the stem splits, and a delicate, ephemeral spiral of ice emerges. If you’re lucky you may even witness the phenomenon twice. WESTERN IRONWEED Vernonia baldwinii
ZONES: 5–9 SIZE: 3 to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide CONDITIONS: Full sun; dry to moist soil NATIVE RANGE: Central United States Tall and robust Western ironweed holds its own through our long, hot summers. It produces gorgeous purplefuchsia blossoms that contrast perfectly with its dark foliage. You can expect it to spend the whole summer gaining height and foliage mass before bursting into bloom in late summer and autumn. While it is most commonly listed as growing 3 to 5 feet tall, I’ve always had it meet or exceed the upper end of that height range in my garden. It is definitely a plant that looks best in a grouping, and keep in mind that it may outgrow its original space through rapid root spread. But who would ever want less of this beauty?
Karen Beaty is a forestry specialist for the Wildland Conservation Division of Austin, Texas.
HEARTLEAF ROSEMALLOW Hibiscus martianus
ZONES: 8–10 SIZE: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide CONDITIONS: Full sun to partial shade; dry, well-drained (even rocky/gravelly) soil NATIVE RANGE: Texas, northern Mexico This little native hibiscus from South Texas is a stunner. The flowers are very showy, about 2 to 3 inches across and bright velvety red. Even in drought conditions the plant will thrive and bloom, although it will remain smaller. The heart-shaped leaves are a silvery green (a common foliage color found in desert plants). Heartleaf rosemallow will flower nearly year-round as long as it isn’t subjected to a hard freeze. Because it is native to the very southern portion of our region, this unusual perennial needs to be planted in warmer microclimates within the garden and protected with mulch in more northern areas.
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JAPANESE YELLOW SAGE Salvia koyamae
ZONES: 6–10 SIZE: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide CONDITIONS: Partial shade; average to dry soil NATIVE RANGE: Woodlands of Japan A salvia that grows in the shade? Count me in. This plant has become one of my go-to shade perennials, and it gives so much to the garden. It has abundant autumn flowers and large, fuzzy, highly ornamental leaves reminiscent of Turkish sage (Phlomis russelliana, Zones 5–9). The soft yellow flowers are held on 1- to 2-foot spikes. When I say “soft yellow,” I do not mean pale; this is a color that will really brighten up a shady spot. Japanese yellow sage is a good grower, and after a couple years it can get to be 2 feet across. TRUMPET SPURFLOWER Plectranthus effusus var. longitubus (syn. Isodon longituba )
ZONES: 6–9 SIZE: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide CONDITIONS: Partial shade; average to moist, well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Japan Is it Plectranthus, Isodon, or Rabdosia ? Whatever you call it, this is a great choice for adding fall color in the shade. To some degree it makes me think of salvias (Salvia spp. and cvs., Zones 5–11); it is from the same family, but it is a little more loose in habit while flowering. The blue-purple flowers appear in early to midfall on 3-foot-tall stalks. Happy plants produce hundreds of flowers, which look divine near a shrub with yellow fall color or maybe combined with Japanese yellow sage. For the best blooms, opt for a spot with light shade rather than deep shade. POLLIA Pollia japonica
ZONES: 5–8 SIZE: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide CONDITIONS: Partial to full shade; average to wet, well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Eastern Asia Because I love tropical plants but do not want to dig the entire garden every fall, I will try any perennial with a tropical vibe. Pollia, with its long, glossy leaves spiraling up 2-foot-tall stems, has a look usually reserved for jungles. In summer, terminal spikes of spidery white flowers bring some brightness to the shady spots that these plants prefer. By fall, the flowers are replaced by exotic blue berries on reddish pedicels. Pollia spreads slowly by rhizomes and a bit by self-sowing.
ZONES: 5–8 SIZE: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide CONDITIONS: Partial to full shade; moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Japan If you need something other than gold hostas (Hosta cvs., Zones 3–9) to brighten up shady spots, try ‘Golden Angel’, the golden-leaved form of Japanese shrub mint. Growing up to 3 feet tall and wide, it can hold a corner of the garden easily. You may grow it primarily for the foliage (as I do), but this plant also has creamy spikes of pollinatorpleasing flowers in early fall. The foliage color will likely diminish but still remain relevant as the season progresses.
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Irvin Etienne is curator of herbaceous plants and seasonal garden design at Newfields in Indianapolis.
ZONES: 6–9 SIZE: 15 to 24 inches tall and 18 inches wide CONDITIONS: Full sun to bright shade; well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Parts of Texas Uniquely purple and truly perennial, ‘Grape Sensation’ is a standout among blanket flowers. Its wiry stems sway in the breeze, bringing movement and whimsy to the garden from midspring up until the first frost. This clumper enlarges gradually each year, putting on a dazzling performance at mature size. Not only is it low-maintenance, but it is arguably better if not deadheaded, as its button-like, sterile seed heads resemble gomphrena (Gomphrena spp. and cvs., Zones 9–11). Though it is more tolerant of moisture than most blanket flowers, it performs best in well-draining soil. ‘PRAIRIE LODE’ SUNDROPS Calylophus serrulatus ‘Prairie Lode’
ZONES: 4–9 SIZE: 8 inches tall and 15 to 18 inches wide CONDITIONS: Full sun; well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Western and central North America Don’t be fooled by its underwhelming appearance in a nursery pot; this is a perennial that delivers for seven to eight months and asks for nothing in return. ‘Prairie Lode’ develops into a magnificent, clumping ground cover once established. It has distinct needle-like foliage and cheery yellow blooms from May until frost. A tough prairie native, it thrives in even our driest, poorest soil, improving notoriously difficult areas with its golden glow. ‘Prairie Lode’ is delightful in mass plantings and draping over the edges of containers. Cut it back hard in early spring to refresh the foliage, and then leave it to work its magic for the rest of the year. BLUE STAR CREEPER Pratia pedunculata
ZONES: 6–9 SIZE: ¼ to 1 inch tall and 1 to 2 feet wide CONDITIONS: Full sun to partial shade; moist soil NATIVE RANGE: Australia This short, creeping ground cover shines with an abundance of tiny blue stars from spring through fall. It is a favorite for adding a carpet of flowers between pavers, softening rock hardscapes, and spilling over the sides of fall containers. In the border, it can provide a cohesive understory of color beneath roses and other shrubs. The dainty, scalloped leaves are charming even when it is not in bloom. Blue star creeper can spread vigorously, so consider that when planning your site.
TUSCAN GOLD™ FALSE SUNFLOWER Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Inhelsodor’
ZONES: 4–9 SIZE: 24 to 32 inches tall and 24 inches wide CONDITIONS: Full sun; moderately fertile, well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Central and eastern North America With radiant gold blooms that perfectly encapsulate the changing seasons, Tuscan Gold™ can withstand the heat of summer and carry the garden all the way into fall. While this cultivar is more compact than most false sunflowers, and easier to tuck into small spaces, it steals the show in mass plantings. It is a mid- to late-season powerhouse: drought tolerant, deer resistant, and a magnet for butterflies. For a winning combination, pair it with complementary flower colors such as the brilliant violet of ‘Homestead Purple’ verbena (Verbena canadensis ‘Homestead Purple’, Zones 6–10). Cheyenne Wine, a lifelong gardener, is a writer and photographer for Rare Roots nursery in Virginia.
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TUBE CLEMATIS Clematis heracleifolia var. davidiana
ZONES: 4–9 SIZE: 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide CONDITIONS: Full sun to partial shade; average soil NATIVE RANGE: Northern China, Korea This nonvining clematis is easy to grow and brings a unique presence and delicious fragrance to the late summer–early fall garden. The lovely 1-inch lilac flowers are tubular in shape and have strongly recurved petals. They occur in the leaf axils and tips of lax stems, which are up to 3 feet long. The blossoms are often likened to those of a hyacinth due to the shape and fragrance of the individual flowers. Use this scandent clematis to trail over a wall, weave through other perennials and shrubs, or form a large ground cover; it will spread by rhizomes and seed. The robust leaves are thrice divided (ternate), dark green, and coarsely toothed (and unperturbed by insects or disease). After the flowers fade, the characteristic fluffy clematis seed structures are interesting for several weeks. This plant can be cut back to 6 inches tall in spring or fall. WILLOW GENTIAN Gentiana asclepiadea
ZONES: 4–8 SIZE: 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide CONDITIONS: Full sun to partial shade; fertile, evenly moist, slightly acidic soil NATIVE RANGE: Central and Eastern Europe, Asia Beautiful deep blue funnel-shaped flowers lie elegantly along the arching stems of this undemanding gentian in late summer and early fall. Adjacent to the flowers, lance-shaped leaves, opposite one another or sometimes whorled, adorn the 2- to 3-foot-long stems. The blooms occur most abundantly on the upper portion of the stem. This beauty is native to moist woodlands in mountainous regions and so is happily established in shady gardens with rich, evenly moist but not boggy soil. Just imagine how beautiful the wandlike stems, bedecked with brilliant blue flowers, would look cascading down a slope. NUTTALL’S RAYLESS GOLDENROD Bigelowia nuttallii
ZONES: 5–9 SIZE: 8 to 12 inches tall and wide CONDITIONS: Full sun; well-drained soil NATIVE RANGE: Southeastern United States Airy clusters of bright golden blooms top the stiff, upright stems of this plant from late September into October. This charming member of the Asteraceae family bears numerous disk flowers held in flat-topped clusters that hover above the grasslike foliage and are quite showy in mass. The blossoming stems bear a few similarly narrow leaves scattered along their length. This unusual native perennial makes a great rock garden or green roof plant, eventually forming mats. Adding bright cheer in autumn and self-sowing where happy, it’s very long blooming and a treasure to late pollinators looking for flowers when little else is available. As a bonus, the stems can be cut and used in floral arrangements as an especially bright filler.
FALSE SINNINGIA Hemiboea subcapitata
ZONES: 6–9 SIZE: 12 inches tall and wide CONDITIONS: Full shade; evenly moist, fertile soil NATIVE RANGE: China I first stumbled across this plant on an early fall day in a beautiful shady garden in southern New Hampshire. The glossy green foliage and tubular white flowers with interior purple spots grabbed my attention. What was this enticing vixen with hairy little foxglove-like flowers? My hostess rattled off the awkward name, Hemiboea subcapitata, and revealed that it is in the Gesnereaceae family. What? A hardy member of the African violet family—woah! This unusual plant is by no means mainstream; it is largely only known and grown by garden cognoscenti (those who frequent specialty nurseries, plant society meetings, and botanic garden plant sales), but it is worth seeking out and giving a prime position in dappled shade. Where it is happy it will begin to colonize pleasantly, making your gardening friends both curious and envious. Joann Vieira is the director of horticulture at The Trustees of Reservations in Massachusetts.
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