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Friday, March 7, 2014

The Fall Garden Fall Blooming Perennials Shrubs

Fall Garden

Autumn has arrived in the northeast and as daytime temperatures decline there are still a variety of fall blooms that can brighten and add longevity to your landscape. As many of the summer blooms start to fade fall blooming perennials and shrubs such as Sedum, Aster, Liriope, Goldenrod, Butterfly Bush and dwarf grasses among others can add interest to your late summer-fall garden and bring you enjoyment late into the planting season. The varieties of shrubs and perennials mentioned below have proven to be hardy and reliable in my zone 7 northeastern garden and will be sure to add delight to your outdoor space.

Variegated Liriope (Lillyturf)
Zones 6-11
Sun-Part Shade-Full Shade
Height 8-16", Width 8-12 "

Variegated Liriope or Lillyturf is a wonderful perennial for all summer long with interesting texture and grass-like variegated foliage followed by vibrant eye-catching spikes of purple blooms in late summer and fall. It fits nicely into either a formal or informal landscape and lasts into winter. At this time of year it is at its peak and is spectacular!

Sedum Brilliant
Zones 4-8
Full Sun to Part Shade
Height 18-24", Width 18-24 "

Sedum Brilliant is a more compact form of sedum which stays upright while other varieties such as Autumn Joy tend to get top heavy and fall over. Brilliant displays vibrant deep pink blooms that turn orange in fall on top of succulent-like clumping foliage. Planted along with dwarf grasses it makes a nice fall statement. I have plenty of these on my own property and they always add wonderful interest to the fall garden.

Aster Michaelmas Daisies (Pink)
Zones 5-9
Full Sun
Height 12-24", Width 12-18"

Asters are a known sign of autumn and are commonly seen in perennial borders or in container plantings. They add an eye-catching display of color to the garden.

Aster Michaelmas Daisies (Purple)
Zones 5-9
Full Sun
Height 12-24", Width 12-18"

Asters come in a variety of colors including pink, purple, red, blue and white and serve nicely in a cut bouquet or as dried flowers.

Solidago sphacelata Golden Fleece (Goldenrod)
Zones 4-9
Full Sun - Part Shade
Height 18-24", Width 18-24"

Goldenrod is a bright fall perennial that displays golden-yellow flowers on arching branches and is popular in the New England cottage garden. Do not confuse it with Ragweed which blooms about the same time and is an allergen to many! Goldenrod comes in a number of varieties ranging in size from two to six feet. Golden Fleece (above) stays at a more compact height of only two feet.

Hydrangea Tardivia
Zones 3-8
Full Sun-Partial Shade
Height 3-6, Width 3-6

Hydrangea Tardivia is a beautiful long blooming variety of hydrangea that lasts well into fall with large elongated white blooms on dark green foliage. While other varieties of hydrangea have completed their bloom season Tardivia steps up to the plate and lasts well into the first frost. The gently fragrant blooms are an added wonderful delight as one passes by.

Dwarf Fountain Grass
Zones 4-9
Full Sun -Part Shade
Height 2-3, Width 2-3

Dwarf fountain grasses are a popular addition to the garden due to their wispy silvery bottle brush plumes produced in fall. Fountain grasses add interest and movement in the garden throughout the season and provide winter interest as well. The variety pictured above is Hameln which stays as a compact 2-3 foot plant and serves well in just about any type of garden.

Echinacea purpurea Magnus (Purple Coneflower)
Zones 4-9
Full Sun
Height 24-36", Width18-24" Wide

Echinacea or Coneflower forms showy upright clumps of vibrant blooms from late summer into fall that are a feeding station to many species of butterfly. There are many varieties of this beautiful perennial ranging from pink to yellow to white and they serve beautifully in a perennial border, cottage or prairie garden.

Rudbeckia
Zones 3-9
Full Sun-Partial Shade
Height 2-3. Width 18-24"

Rudbeckia or "Black Eyed Susan" is a popular perennial in cottage, woodland and prairie gardens and blooms from late summer throughout fall into the first frost. Bright golden-yellow petals surround a darker central portion that pop in the garden. Rudbeckia spreads freely and serves nicely as a mass planting in sun or part shade. Rudbeckia and Echinacea complement one another beautifully.

Knock Out Rose Radrazz

Zones 5-10

Full Sun
Height 3-4, Width 3-4

Knock Out Roses are an excellent addition to the garden since they produce continuous blooms from summer throughout fall. The above variety Radrazz puts on a show of vibrant pinkish-red fragrant blooms all the way until frost and is a favorite of garden enthusiasts. This one is also a personal favorite of mine right along with Pink and Red Double Knock Outs.

Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Zones 4-9
Full Sun
Height 3-4, Width 2-3

Russian sage produces bushy upright stalks of grayish leaves that are lacy and fragrant. Spikes of violet-blue blooms appear in late summer and last well into fall. The open informal habit of Perovskia makes it a great filler in the backdrop of a cottage style perennial garden or border.

Chelone lyonii Hot Lips (Turtlehead)
Zones 3-8
Sun-Part Shade-Full Shade

Height 24-30", Width 18-24"

I recently discovered Chelone (Turtlehead) in a friends garden this fall. Turtlehead are native wildflowers that adapt easily to garden conditions. Showy and long-lived they are a magnet to bumblebees and butterflies and bring nature to the garden. They serve nicely in an informal perennial border.

Chrysanthemum morifolium (Hardy Garden Mum)
Zones 5-9
Full Sun-Part Shade
Height 1-2, Width 2-3

Last but not least is the traditional fall flower..the hardy Garden Mum. Mums come in a vast variety of colors and last well into the first frost. They are often planted in containers for a fall punch of color or can be placed in the garden for autumn blooms.

The arrival of Autumn does not mean the end of the gardening season. By simply adding one or more of these selections to your landscape your garden blooms will be prolonged well into fall and bring extended enjoyment to your outdoor space.

Whats blooming in your garden?

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Glory of the Snow

Chionodoxa

Very low growing, early spring flowering bulbs that are great for naturalizing.
They prefer growing on well drained soil under hardwood trees where they receive abundant sun during early spring, then partial to full shade during summer.
It is recommended to plant them 3 to 5 inches deep at the base of the bulb during autumn. They are drought tolerant during summer but need consistent moisture while actively growing during spring. Do not cut back the foliage until it naturally turns yellow or brown, or you will stunt its growth and reduce flowering in following years.

* photo taken on April 4 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on April 11 2011 in Columbia, MD

Chionodoxa forbesii
A great bulb for naturalizing, reaching up to 6 inches in height. It can be used to carpet the floor of a hardwood deciduous forest as well as the smaller garden.
The rich blue flowers are borne during early spring.
Hard zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on fertile, moist soil.

Chionodoxa lochiae
Also called Chionodoxa gigantea. A great bulb for naturalizing, reaching up to 10 inches in height, that is native to moist pine forests in high elevations in the Toodos Mountains of Cyprus.
The narrow leaves, up to 11 ( rarely over 8 ) inches in length, are bright green.
The bright blue ( with white eye ), starry flowers, up to 1.6 inch across, are borne in clusters during early spring.
Hard zones 4 to 8 in full sun to shade on fertile, average to moist soil. Drought tolerant while dormant. Deer resistant. The bulbs should be planted 6 inches across, though this plant will naturalize after many years.

Pink Giant
Deep pink flowers.

Chionodoxa luciliae
A great bulb for naturalizing, reaching up to 8 inches in height, that is native to Turkey. It can be used to carpet the flood of a hardwood deciduous forest.
The narrow leaves, up to 11 ( rarely over 8 ) x 0.8 inches, are bright green.
The rich bright blue ( with white eye ), starry flowers, up to 1.3 inch across, are borne in clusters during early spring.
Hard zones 3 to 8 ( requires heavy mulch in 3 ) in full sun to shade on fertile, average to moist soil. Drought tolerant while dormant. Deer resistant. The bulbs should be planted 6 inches across, though this plant will naturalize after many years.

Alba
White flowers.

Chionodoxa sardensis
A bulb, reaching up to 8 inches in height, that is native to southwest Turkey. It can be used to carpet the floor of a hardwood deciduous forest as well as the smaller garden.
The narrow leaves, up to 11 ( rarely over 8 ) x 0.6 inches, are bright green.
The rich blue ( with very small white eye ), starry flowers, up to 1.6 inch across, are borne in racemes of up to 22 during early spring.
Hard zones 4 to 8 in full sun to shade on fertile, average to moist soil. Drought tolerant while dormant. Deer resistant. The bulbs should be planted 6 inches across, though this plant will naturalize after many years.