The magic colors of autumn hardly need the help of any flowering perennials. The whole landscape around us transforms into an enchanting portrait of color. Yet our long falls here in Arkansas give us ample reason to keep the garden alive and participate in the wondrous changes by adding color of our own. As the flowering perennials of summer fade, it’s a chance to grow these species that glow whether they’re flowering or not!
Also known as sweet flag grass, this perennial displays sword-shaped leaves like an iris. They’re the main attraction of this plant, brightening the garden with light green and gold throughout the whole summer and autumn. As it’s an aquatic plant, acorus grass loves to have its feet wet, either along a water feature or in a damp area. But it will grow to its full height and spread of 12 inches anywhere, as long as you keep the soil moist.
Also known as coral bells, heucheras have some of the most colorful foliage in the garden world. Not conforming to the usual green leaves in summer and hot colors of fall, heucheras have bold colors throughout the whole season from chartreuse green, to plum, red wine, or peach with blushes of pink. Tin stems rise up from the mass of leaves below and start flowering with small, bell-shaped blossoms in June. These plants retain their color all the way into autumn when they suddenly jive with the festival of color around them.
Golden Sage is often grown as a culinary herb. It has the same aroma and flavor as traditional sage, but it’s variegated gold and silver-green leaves hold special beauty as well. While the leaves are the main ornament, this sage also has lilac blossoms that begin flowering in mid-summer. Once they fade, the leaves regain center stage. Thick, fragrant, and textured, they can be pruned and eaten anytime. They make a delicious addition to hearty fall vegetables, and with very little maintenance, continue to shine through the autumn months.
The feather-like tips of Ponytail Grass sway gently in the wind. A soft cloud of grains floats above the silk stems, giving your whole landscape a sense of lightness and movement. This glorious grass will soften the edges of a perennial border, overflow beautifully from a container, and dance with the slightest breeze anywhere in the garden. As if it wasn’t beautiful enough, the gentle green leaves turn gold in the autumn too.
Like the grasses above, the Red Rooster adds beautiful texture and motion to a landscape. But as a sedge, rather than a grass, the stiffer leaves form an intriguing arch that curls in the air like a fountain. Not waiting until autumn, the leaves show bronze and copper color throughout the whole growing season, until they finally blend with the grand spectacle of leaves in October and November.
All of these perennials offer magic in the summer, and when fall comes, they continue to color your days with beauty. Drop by our garden centers in northwest Arkansas to see how you can make the most of the garden this autumn!
