{"id":8664,"date":"2024-09-16T08:00:40","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T12:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/?p=8664"},"modified":"2024-09-25T11:01:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T15:01:49","slug":"fall-perennial-garden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/fall-perennial-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"Fall in the Perennial Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"

Traditional fall perennials like Sedum, Anemone, Mums, Asters, and Rudbeckia are coming into their own! It’s the time of year for a refresh into the new season.<\/p>\n

However, there are some other fall flowers you may also want to consider. Let us take a look at the staples in the fall garden and then we can get on with some cool stuff!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Belgian Mums<\/p>\n

Mums<\/h4>\n

Grown for us by a single nursery, they are not just any \u201cMums\u201d but Belgian mums. Does it make a difference? Yes. Belgian \u201cmums\u201d have much stronger and, more importantly, pliable plant stems. Meaning they do not break when you look at them wrong. They also produce a uniform crown. Don\u2019t forget that all mums are an important fall crop for bees and butterflies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Red Cabbage Brassica<\/em><\/p>\n

Ornamental Cabbage & Pansies<\/h4>\n

Both are waiting for cooler temps before they will show up. Pansies are very cold hardy. We\u2019ve even had potted pansies flowering in January. Cabbage will freeze just like it is and sit like that all winter. Cabbage is an annual whereas the Pansies are semi-perennial \u2013 it all depends on how they fill and what the winter is like.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Ornamental Peppers Capsicum<\/em><\/p>\n

Ornamental Peppers<\/h4>\n

These have become all the rage. If you have not seen them, they\u2019re worth checking out. They are literally small peppers that come in a multitude of colors.<\/p>\n

Swiss Chard<\/h4>\n

We are going to have some this year \u2013 YEAH!! Hopefully, you can get some of them before we buy them all!! This is an ornamental Swiss Chard (yes, you can buy Swiss Chard and Cabbage at the supermarket, but they are just plain old green!) Ornamental Swiss Chard has stems in all shades of red and green with dark green leaves that are thickly veined in white. Very catchy!<\/p>\n

Fall Anemone<\/h4>\n

There are a couple of plants and a few bulbous Anemones that bloom in the spring. However, all the cool hybrids are fall flowering. A couple of our favorites are \u2018September Charm (2-3\u2019 tall with pink flowers) and \u2018Sweetly\u2019 (from the \u2018Fall in Love\u2019 series, these grow 2-3\u2019 tall with dark rose-colored flowers).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Purple Dome Aster<\/em><\/p>\n

Aster<\/h4>\n

There are a multitude of Asters. Actually, there were so many, and they seemed so different that now we no longer use the word Aster, the new genus word (for some of them) is Symphotrichum. This is where you will find the \u201cFall Asters\u201d. All of them will come in about 12-24\u201d and there are numerous colors available. We are rather choosy here and try to pick asters that will maintain themselves. Many of the older cultivars need a trim in early summer to keep them compact. (A friend once told me to mow them down with the lawnmower on the 4th<\/sup> of July. It is advice that I\u2019ve never tried and don\u2019t necessarily recommend, but it certainly gives a strong visual.) We try to only offer cultivars that don\u2019t need that kind of maintenance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Kickin’ Sapphire Aster<\/em><\/p>\n

The one everyone loves \u201cPurple Dome\u201d with the purple-blue flowers is one that needs a little trim, but the color is very distinctive. We like the \u2018Wood\u2019s\u2019 series. They come in several colors and top out around 12\u201d tall and are compact and uniform. We have also been selling the \u2018Kickin\u2019 series which is a new set of cultivars, again numerous colors, reaching about 15\u201d. Aster as a group are a crucial butterfly nectar source in fall. You will find Painted Lady\u2019s, Swallowtails, Sulphur\u2019s, and Red Admiral fighting the bees for winter storage!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

American Gold Rush Rudbeckia<\/em><\/p>\n

Rudbeckia<\/h4>\n

We will say that because we\u2019re on a butterfly tangent these will supply nectar for Silvery Checkerspot and bees. There are some new ones on the market we have been trialing. They are worth checking out for fall. Some are hardy, others are supposed to be hardy. It will probably depend on the severity of the winter. Time will tell.<\/p>\n

\u2018American Gold Rush\u2019 possesses the traditional Rudbeckia daisy-shaped flowers except they are small but way more numerous. These are<\/em> hardy and have proven themselves. The plants will reach 2-2.5\u2019 and start blooming in late summer and all the way through fall.<\/p>\n

There are numerous hybrids of Rudbeckia hirta <\/em>and Rudbeckia fulgida<\/em>, and these are the ones who may not be quite as perennial as hoped! However, even as an annual they are worth it for the fall show!<\/p>\n

\"Denver<\/span><\/p>\n

Denver Daisy Rudbeckia<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018Denver Daisy\u2019 is one of our favorite Rudbeckia. It has a yellow flower that has a mahogany center and a brown eye. The mahogany center is quite large and makes for a spectacular show in the fall. This one should definitely be treated as an annual.<\/p>\n

\u2018Prairie Sun\u2019 has 5\u201d golden yellow petals tipped a lighter yellow. These are a hirta<\/em> variety and should be treated as an annual. \u2018Prairie Sun\u2019 will reach 3-3.5\u2019 tall.<\/p>\n

\u2018Gloriosa Daisy\u2019 are annuals coming in at 24-30\u201d. They are yellow with either a red or an orange edge that start blooming in August.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Goldstar Rudbeckia<\/em><\/p>\n

And, from the same breeding as \u2018Goldstrum\u2019, comes \u2018Little Goldstar\u2019. We have been carrying this one for a while now and it is a fab little plant. Only 15\u201d tall and covered with traditional flowers from mid-summer to fall.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Neon Sedum<\/em><\/p>\n

Sedum<\/h4>\n

I saved this for the last of the common fall flowers. Everyone seems to think Autumn Joy is it! It\u2019s not. (Sedum \u2018Autumn Joy\u2019 has the orangish-red flower and stands about 2\u2019 tall.) Check out some of these others for fall flash!<\/p>\n

\u2018Brilliant\u2019 and \u2018Neon\u2019 have magenta to reddish flower.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Plum Dazzled Sedum<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018Plum Dazzled\u2019 Sedum has plum leaves with raspberry red flowers. \u2018Dazzleberry\u2019 has blue-gray foliage with red flowers. Both of these are part of the \u2018Sunsparkler\u2019 series. There are several others in the series all with different colored leaves. We like the \u2018Sunsparklers\u2019 because of their height \u2013 1-1.5\u2019 with flowers.<\/p>\n

\u2018Mohave Jewels\u2019 also has several varieties in this series with different colored foliage. My favorite is \u2018Sapphire\u2019 with purplish-blue leaves and rose colored flowers. (12-15\u201d tall)<\/p>\n

Now for the fun part \u2013 all the other stuff!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Solidago<\/h4>\n

Why don\u2019t you use this more often!?! There are several native species you see blooming along the roadside. There are, also, several species and cultivars available to use in landscapes. All of them get around 3-5\u2019 and have a flashy golden spike on top of them. Some people say the color is hard to place. In the fall garden? Not buying it. Why Solidago? Well, Solidago is the #1 source of food for Honeybees in the fall. Honeybees collect large amounts of nectar for winter food. It is also a nectar source for Sulphur and Painted Lady butterflies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span>\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Autumnale Salsa Helenium<\/p>\n

Helennium<\/h4>\n

I call this my happy plant. It makes me smile even when I am just saying the word. The available colors are best describes as an autumn pallet; red, yellow, and orange. They have daisy-like flowers that point up to the sky, reaching 3-5\u2019 tall and 3-5\u2019 wide at maturity.<\/p>\n

Heliopsis<\/h4>\n

H. annus is the traditional annual sunflower. H. helianthoides is the \u201cFalse Sunflower\u201d. Much smaller flowers but LOTS of them. Like their cousin, the annual sunflower, \u201cFalse Sunflower\u201d can get 3-5\u2019 tall. There is a shorter one, \u2018Tuscan Sun,\u2019 coming in at about 2-2.5\u2019. All flowers are golden sun colored. Heliopsis is unpalatable to deer and rabbits and is a pollinator for bees and butterflies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Eupatorium<\/em><\/p>\n

Eupatorium<\/h4>\n

There are several natives belonging to this family and only a few cultivars. Eupatorium are deer, rabbit, squirrel, etc. resistant. Eupatorium produces a sap that tastes bad, can be poisonous and exists thoughout the entire plant. (Pointsettia are a Eupatorium) Nothing is gonna take a bite of these and if they do there will not be a second bite! The native eupatorium can reach 5-6\u2019 even up to 8\u2019 \u2013 they can get huge. There are a few dwarf varieties that will only reach 3-4\u2019. Try \u2018Little Joe\u2019 2.5-3\u2019, or \u2018Baby Joe\u2019 2.5-3\u2019. Eupatorium flowers are a dirty white to rose red. This plant is a POWER pollinator. Bees, Monarchs, Skippers, Swallowtails, and Sulphurs, numerous moth species, and Sparrows will eat the seeds. This one feeds everybody!<\/p>\n

Before we let you go to enjoy Fall \u2013 do not forget your fall bulbs! As long as you\u2019re planting, you might as well drop in some bulbs. They will not brighten up a fall display, but they will be worth it in the spring! You will not be sorry when they start to pop up as the weather warms up next year! And, by then your back will not hurt anymore from all this fall planting!  <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Traditional fall perennials like Sedum, Anemone, Mums, Asters, and Rudbeckia are coming into their own! It’s the time of year for a refresh into the new season. However, there are some other fall flowers you may also want to consider. Let us take a look at the staples in the fall garden and then we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8684,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[112,22,8,6],"tags":[124],"class_list":["post-8664","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-112","category-landscaping","category-perennials","category-plants","tag-the-perennial-team"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8664","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8664"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8664\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8717,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8664\/revisions\/8717"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8664"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}