The many colors of fall
In the nursery and green industry, we’re always looking ahead. Although it’s still August, we’re in the middle of planning next year’s production schedule and thinking about overwintering plants, landscapers are bidding jobs for next summer and fall, and I think we are all wondering what 2021 will bring. It’s hard to believe during these hot summer days that fall is right around the corner. I’m not what you would call a “winter person”, so the transition to cooler weather is an annual struggle for me, but one thing that makes it easier to accept is the beauty of fall.
Like a lot of people, when I think fall color I first think trees. Some of our favorite trees for reliable fall color are maples, especially Acer triflorum and Acer Redpointe®. The brilliant red of Redpointe® and Acer triflorum’s vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red, paired with its exfoliating bark, can’t be beat. Carpinus ‘J.N. Strain’ is another variety that will stop you in your tracks; this variety of the native hornbeam was developed by Johnson’s Nursery for improved orange-red fall color, and it doesn’t disappoint. Quercus imbricaria, one of the more underused oaks, and Cercidiphyllum, with its fragrant, yellow foliage, round out our list of favorite trees for fall.
There is no shortage of shrubs that provide awe-inspiring color in the fall. Sumac, Oakleaf Hydrangea, and Burning Bush top our list. I always love seeing the conspicuous scarlet fall color of Rhus typhina on roadsides once the cooler weather arrives, and Rhus typhina ‘Laciniata’ is similarly striking with its more finely cut foliage. There are so many cultivars of Hydrangea quercifolia available, and fall color can range from the burgundy of ‘Alice’, to the reddish purple of ‘Pee Wee’, to the mahogany of ‘Ruby Slippers’. When you consider the winter interest of its exfoliating bark, Oakleaf Hydrangea is truly a plant for all seasons. Euonymus is an obvious choice for fall color, and Fire Ball® and ‘Compactus’ are reliable sources of blazing red autumn foliage. Aronia is another shrub that puts on a spectacular display of fall color; ‘Autumn Magic’, ‘Viking’, and ‘Iroquois Beauty™ are all great choices, with fall foliage ranging from shades of orange to purple to red. Aronia ‘Brilliantissima’ may be our favorite choice for fall, and is aptly named for its brilliant scarlet autumn hues. This list could go on and on: Spiraea ‘Tor’, Fothergilla, Cornus ‘Bergeson’s Compact’, Itea, and Viburnum are just a few more of our favorite fall shrubs.
Most perennials aren’t recognized for fall foliage color, but Amsonia hubrichtii is an exception. When temperatures drop, its needle-like foliage turns the most stunning shade of golden yellow, and mature plants are so impressive in size that they create a substantial, wispy mass of color. Of course, everyone thinks of asters when they think of fall-blooming perennials. Regardless of the enduring popularity of ‘Purple Dome’, I personally prefer ‘Wood’s Purple’ and ‘Wood’s Light Blue’ because of their superior habit and more rust-resistant foliage. And then there are the grasses: I love the way the way the flowers of Pennisetum ‘Hameln’ collect the morning dew, and the combination of the flower panicles of Panicum ‘Cheyenne Sky’ against the backdrop of deep red foliage is equally stunning.
How fortunate we are that the scientific process of plants preparing to drop their leaves and go dormant can be so beautiful. As we are all busy finishing up fall landscape projects, preparing for winter, and planning for next year, hopefully we can take a moment to stop and enjoy the beauty and reassuring predictability of the fall colors.
