Bringing Fall Color into Your Landscape

This time of year we get many compliments on the landscape that lines our iron fence at Cobblestone Gardens and Market.  There was a lot of thought that went into designing the landscape, including bloom cycles, texture, flower color, our wants and the designer’s knowledge.  This are all things to consider when you are choosing to improve your landscape.  I thought I would share some plants that are absolutely striking this time of year.

Tiger Eyes Sumac.  This isn’t your grandmother’s sumac.  It suckers a lot less than standard sumac and the foliage is almost fern-like.  Its feathery leaves go from a charteruse green, to softer lemons, with red interspersed.  It gets to be a height of over 6′ with a width of the same.  This plant will stand out in any landscape and put on a great fall show.

Star Showers Virginia Creeper, Boston Ivy, Engleman Ivy.  I drive down 35E in St. Paul two times a day, on my commute to and from work.  Ivy lines the median and the fences and landscape along the freeway.  It isn’t always spectacular but right now it is it is stunning!  Deep reds radiate from the otherwise nondescript landscape.  The Star Showers Virginia Creeper is showy year round  due to its variegated foilage in the spring and summer months and now with it’s brillantly colored red leaves.

Burning Bush.  The burning bush really only puts on it’s show in the fall but, oh what a show it is!  This plant has a robust red that lasts throughout the fall and will make you remember just what you love about fall, which is, the colors, crisp cool weather and starry nights.   Burning bushes can be dwarf in size, or large and even come grafted into a tree form.  There is a burning bush that would be perfect for your yard.

Ornamental Grasses.  I don’t even know where to begin.  There are soooooo many to choose from.  The most popular amongst landscapers is the Karl Forester Feather Reed Grass, or one of it’s cousins, such as Overdam, or Avalanche.  My personal favorite is Shenandoah Switch Grass, it has a wispy feel to it with airy brown panicles in the fall, that comes from its deep burgundy wine fall foliage.  Grasses are desired for their showy plumes in the fall, and the Red Silver and Silver Feather grasses are perfect this time of year.