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Getting Great Fall Colour!
Getting Great Fall Colour!

Getting Great Fall Colour!

Written on November 7, 2011

This fall has been spectacular on the South Island. We have had a lot of sunny days and crisp nights, which has meant amazing fall colour. Here on the west coast we are known more for our year-round green than for fall colour, but in and around the city especially it has been spectacular. Here are a few of my favourite plants for fall:

  • Shot of Victoria from moss rocks ---
  • Red Maple (Acer rubrum) --- You need to have room to plant this tree as it gets up to 70’ tall, but at this time of year it is an absolute show-stopper. It is also gorgeous in May when it is covered in small, bright red flowers.
  • Gingko Tree (Gingko Biloba) --- I love this tree for its shape, its interesting leaves, and its glorious yellow fall colour. It also has some street cred as it was around when dinosaurs roamed…not many plants can say that. This one gets to about 60’ tall in the garden.
  • Gingko Tree (Gingko Biloba) --- I love this tree for its shape, its interesting leaves, and its glorious yellow fall colour. It also has some street cred as it was around when dinosaurs roamed…not many plants can say that. This one gets to about 60’ tall in the garden.
  • Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) --- This small tree (to about 20’) is perfect for sunny, dry areas in the garden. The fall colour is very striking, and its form is great in the modern garden. Watch out though, this one can sucker.
  • Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) --- This small tree (to about 20’) is perfect for sunny, dry areas in the garden. The fall colour is very striking, and its form is great in the modern garden. Watch out though, this one can sucker.
  • Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) --- I feel somewhat shameful giving the Japanese Maple props, given that it is widely known and respected for its beauty in all seasons, but come on. This tree is so beautiful in the fall that some cultivars actually seem to glow. There are many cultivars, and all of them make great small trees for an urban garden. They can burn with hot afternoon sun, so they need to be placed carefully.
  • Witchazel (Hamamellis x intermedia, any cultivar) --- This is a great shrub which is about 10’ x 10’ at maturity. Not only does it have wonderful fall colour, it also flowers on bare branches in late winter.
  • Highbush Blueberry (Vacciunum corymbosum) --- Look at these red leaves! The blueberry also looks great in the winter because of its bright red stems. And, obviously, wonderful sweet summer berries.
  • Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) --- This is another three-season shrub, with fantastic fall colour and beautiful white flowers in early spring. The dwarf fothergilla tops out at about 4’ x 4.’
  • Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) --- This grass flowers in the fall on stately blades and is gorgeous when back lit by the sun. IT likes a sunny position but can’t take too much drought.
  • Belladonna Lilies (Amaryllis belladonna) --- These beauties are quite content to live just about anywhere, and though they are very long-lasting and appear just when you think the flowers are gone for the year, they can be aggressive spreaders.
  • River Lily (Hesperantha coccinea) --- These look like clumps of grass for most of the season, but then when they flower in October and November all is forgiven. They are exquisite. They like a warm, sunny location, and are best planted where you walk often to get to and from your house so that you will enjoy them even when you are just dashing from place to place in the colder weather.
  • Autumn Stonecrop (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’) --- This is a classic perennial that looks great from early spring when it appears right up until the snow falls. Its flowers start a pale green, then turn to pink (when the bees goes absolutely crazy for them), and then finally fade to a deep maroon. A great plant and excellent in wildlife gardens, planted in full sun.