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​Summer perennials that offer colorful Fall foliage

​Summer perennials that offer colorful Fall foliage

Jul 13, 2024

Summer perennials that offer colorful Fall foliage

Perennial plants are summer-blooming plants suitable for maintaining garden color throughout the summer and fall. When the bee begins to buzz among the flowers, the summer sun weakens and is replaced with the cool breeze of fall, and many gardens start to wither. Nevertheless, with a few considerations and a proper choice of flowering plants, your garden can shine till the beginning of the autumn. Here is how, with the help of coral bells, hostas, ferns, and sedum, your summer and fall garden will stay bright and spirited.

Coral Bells (Heuchera)

Coral bells delight gardeners with foliage that can range from deep purples and reds to silvery green. Their lovely bell-shaped flowers bloom in summer, but the leaves produce the most stunning color spectacle in the preceding fall. However, owing to growing conditions, wide coral bell varieties intensify their color when the temperature cools, offering a pop against the yellow and orange backdrop typical of fall. They do well in part-shade, making them suitable for edges and lining in treeing gardens.

Hostas

Hostas are another great perennial that can brighten your garden beyond the summer. Popularized by their tender and large leaves, hostas are available in almost black-green, sky blue, and different combinations of both with a lighter green color. Perhaps most famous for the flowers they produce in summer, the star is the foliage during fall. With the arrival of September and October, some of the Hosta varieties even have yellow or white margins, giving a sensational sheen to the garden. They also grow very well in the shade and can be used where other horticultural plants may not survive.

Ferns

Ferns complete a garden's look with their finer fronds and make perfect ornament pieces in any garden. Although most ferns seem to be summer plants, many keep their appearance fully blooming even in the fall. Some of the types are the Japanese-painted fern and the autumn fern, which have the extra feature of making color and appearance throughout the season. It combines the pattern of fern colors with the tradelines of the foliage and cool, earthy colors, giving the garden a quiet and harmonious look.

Sedums

Sedums are some of the best flowering plants for the fall garden in terms of colors. Autumn Joy and Purple Emperor sedums are upright varieties that stay green in spring and summer and then develop flower buds that bloom in gorgeous pink or purple calyxes. This color remains on the plant for several weeks and does not wash out even when subjected to light frosts. The non-lingering sedums are ideal for ground coverage, and many of them have bright red or purple fall colors.

Creating a Year-Round Garden

The key to creating a tapestry of color and texture to change the feel and look of the garden is by including coral bells, hostas, ferns, and Sedum. Here are some tips to make the most of these perennials:

Layering

These perennials are best sown in layers to give depth to the garden area. For example, taller plants such as hostas and ferns can be planted in the back of the dish garden and coral bells and Sedum in the front.

Extend Bloom Season

These perennials are best mixed with other fall-flowering plants, such as asters, chrysanthemums, and ornamental grass, to make the garden more beautiful, longer, and fuller. Companion plants are lungwort (Pulmonaria) and foam flower (Tiarella); they provide an excellent addition as they have a woodland effect when grown along with coral bells. Another plant that shares generously with hostas is the Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa), which has a contrast in texture.

Companion Planting

To maintain flowering continuity, mix many of the plants in this group with fall-blooming flowers like asters and chrysanthemums.

Regular maintenance is necessary to ensure the health and proper growth of the plants in the well-mulched and watered garden beds. Next, tidy up the overall appearance of the plants and shrubs by removing any dead or damaged foliage.

Design Considerations

They should reflect on plants' color schemes and height when arranging gardens. For instance, coral bells have a rich purple color that provides contrast when planted beside hostas in a golden hue. Ferns will provide softness and texture; Sedum should be put in areas where its fall colors will be appreciated best.

Choosing these summer perennials allows you to enjoy a colorful and attractive landscape far into autumn. Coral bells, hostas, ferns, and sedums are fantastic alternatives for any gardener wishing to extend the attractiveness of their outdoor space through the changing seasons.

Consequently, the idea is to choose coral bells, hostas, ferns, and sedums that are active throughout the year, not just during spring and summer. Mixing summer perennials with striking fall themes can greatly enhance the beauty of one's landscape until winter arrives. It is simply impossible to have a garden filled with bright and cheerful blooms from summer until the early frosts of autumn with only a bit of prep.

These summer perennials will make one appreciate the changed seasons and still have flowers in every season's touch with their bright colors and feel. By paying attention, your garden can stay beautiful and comfortable well into autumn, providing that perfect refuge that becomes important on long nights.