This cool collection of native plants provides show-stopping autumn color with very little effort
InIssue 181 , we got to know some of the plants that grace Mt. Cuba Center ’s hot , cheery South Garden during the natural spring and summer months ( 10 Great Natives for a gay Border ) . The garden had been late redesign to showcase a collection of borderworthy native that can take the heat of the Zone 7 summers in Hockessin , Delaware .
At season ’s end , the cautiously plan color pallette transition from the warm pinks and oranges of summer to an plosion of blue , gold , and burgundy . The plant list includes well - known free fall favourite as well as a few up - and - total autumn attractor , such as ‘ Summer Sunshine ’ coreopsis and ‘ October Skies ’ redolent aster . Both top performers in Mt. Cuba Center ’s flora trials , they in spades deserve to be grown in more gardens .
By mass several plant life of each miscellany together and repeating these city block of colour throughout the garden , the horticulturists who design the garden struck a delicate proportionality . The two-fold borders feel schematic but not forced , and each plant has enough space to really show what it can do .
When planning your garden ’s pin last , do n’t overleap your region ’s native works . There are many splendid species and cultivar that look arrant in a more formal setting , and your local pollinators and wildlife will apprise the autumn bounty .
Try these at home
Donna Wiley , horticulturist at Mt. Cuba Center , was on the South Garden ’s design squad and has tend this collection of heat - broad native since it was planted in 2015 . Here are her crown for savour these autumn peach in your own garden .
1. ‘Shenandoah’ switchgrass
( Panicum virgatum‘Shenandoah ’ , Zones 5–9 )
‘ Shenandoah ’ has a long time of year of pursuit , with attractive foliage that remains erect . It starts to flower in late summer ; the airy pink flower spikes reverse beige in the free fall and persist through winter .
2. Giant coneflower
( Rudbeckia maxima , Zones 4–9 )
To encourage more silver - immature basal foliage late in the season , cut stanch to the ground after the flowers fade , and clean any bad foliage from the base . The new leaves that emerge will see good through drop . Stalks left in place may flop over , but if you have elbow room for them to do their matter , yellowbird will natter often to banquet on the seeds .
3. Tiny Wine®Atlantic ninebark
( Physocarpus opulifolius‘SMPOTW ’ , Zones 3–8 )
The foliage of this bush provides plenteous , dark color throughout the season and pack on a cherry tint in fall . Prune it in tardy springiness after it bloom to keep it in scurf with the rest of your garden . Its flowers attract plenty of pollinator .
4. Willow-leaved bluestar
( Amsonia tabernaemontanavar.salicifolia , Zones 3–9 )
After spring blossom fade , bluestar can be cut back by about half to keep the flora ’s habit more full and compact . The foliation stays attractive all season , turning golden yellow in recent dusk .
5. ‘Summer Sunshine’ coreopsis
( Coreopsis palustris‘Summer Sunshine ’ , geographical zone 6–9 )
From late September into October , this low - maintenance industrial plant provides giving blooms . It has a sturdy , vertical riding habit and short - green foliation that is disease innocent . It tolerates full sunlight , red-hot weather condition , and well - drain soil .
6. ‘Dark Towers’ penstemon
( Penstemon‘Dark tugboat ’ , Zones 3–8 )
This dark - leaved plant produces a H.M.S. Bounty of attractive burgundy seed seedpod after its other summer flowers fade . It looks equally nice either cut back to expose the little potato of burgundy foliage or with source spike leave on for a grandiloquent show . Cutting the semen stalks off in late autumn help the basal foliage toughen up for the wintertime ; it also prevents unwanted seedling .
7. ‘Concord Grape’ spiderwort
( Tradescantia‘Concord Grape ’ , Zones 3–9 )
Unless the weather is lactating , ‘ Concord Grape ’ take supplemental water to get through the heat of summer . Cut staunch to the earth in June 21 after flowering starts to slack off , pull up stakes any new foliage emerging at ground level . sassy foliage will set out to grow soon after .
8. ‘Arizona Apricot’ blanket flower
( Gaillardia‘Arizona Apricot ’ , Zones 4–9 )
This slight power station salad days all season long , provided it has excellent drain and easy soil , not clay . If it is deadheaded as the flowers fade , it can bloom from early summer through late autumn .
9. ‘Bluebird’ smooth blue aster
( Symphyotrichum laeve‘Bluebird ’ , Zones 4–8 )
This pollinator - pleaser is a Mt. Cuba Center introduction . It should n’t be pruned or form , because its substance abuse is dissimilar from many asters ; it produces flower spikes that emerge from basal foliage . Give it plenty of room , and revel the show !
10. ‘October Skies’ aromatic aster
( Symphyotrichum oblongifolium‘October sky ’ , Zones 3–8 )
The short of the two asters grown in the South Garden , ‘ October sky ’ only grows about 2 feet tall . It may be abbreviate back by about half in June to make it fuller . In fact , most North American asters ( Symphyotrichumspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) may be pruned or shaped before July 4 without reducing their efflorescence .
Carol Collins is the assistant editor .
photograph : Carol Collins
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Long on color as the days get shorter.Clouds of coreopsis, asters, switchgrass, and the burgundy seed pods of ‘Dark Towers’ penstemon keep the color coming until hard frosts arrive.
Light-catching plants make the most of autumn sun.Despite its name, ‘Summer Sunshine’ coreopsis is a fall bloomer, the perfect foil for asters and ornamental grasses.
Two asters are even better than one.‘Bluebird’ smooth blue aster (left photo, top left and right) has flower spikes up to 3 feet tall, while ‘October Skies’ (left photo, bottom right) has a low, mounding habit. ‘Concord Grape’ spiderwort (right photo) provides a warm violet accent for those cool blues.
