'Sikes Dwarf' oakleaf hydrangea. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

The incredibly mild fall weather here in Central Indiana has created incredible fall colors and prolonged the life of many blooming plants. Here’s a rundown:

Annuals

‘Snow Princess,’ a new sweet alyssum (Lobularia) from Proven Winners, is still going strong. Alyssum, in general, likes cooler temps, but this one gets raves for withstanding the heat and benign neglect when it comes to watering.

Calibrachoa continues blooming into fall despite a lack of water. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

And, while we are on neglect, check out a hanging basket of Calibrachoa that relies pretty much on rain for its watering needs, yet it is still blooming, albeit pitifully. I’m sure it would appreciate a drink. Maybe tomorrow.

‘Henna’ coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) from Simply Beautiful plants and its impatiens companions are in a protected area on the east side of the house and they are managing to hang on.

Proven Winners’ ‘Flirtation,’ an orange Diascia, is another cool-weather loving plant, which also looks good for this late in the season. All summer, it was in a little more shade than it might have preferred and now, with the leaves off the trees, its pumpkin color has livened up, making it a perfect fall plant. One of its companions in the container is one of the hardest working plants in the garden, ‘Victoria Blue’ salvia (S. farinacea), a very cold tolerant annual.

Purple leaf oxalis still blooms in a protected area. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

Also able to withstand some of the cooler temps with a little protection is the big purple leaf Oxalis, which is still shooting up pink flowers.

Seed-grown ‘Sangria’ ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum) have turned a deep red, ready for harvesting for drying and cooking.  A chef friend said the peppers have a little bite to them, but the research says they are safe for planting around children. I have not researched these peppers with my own taste buds. Maybe tomorrow.

Blooming with the peppers is Easy Wave ‘Burgundy Star’ petunia from Simply Beautiful. Verbana and snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) and verbenas also are blooming well.

Perennials

Plain, white and pink, regular Chrysanthemum from Yoder Brothers, whose tags were lost long ago, are full of blooms.

Dianthus Scent First. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

As for new perennials…and these are so new they are still in the pots waiting to be transplanted…maybe tomorrow…Dianthus Scent First from Skagit Gardens has done extremely well in a 4-inch container all summer. It has bloomed on and off with fragrant, velvety-red, carnation like flowers. At maturity, it will be about 12 inches wide and 5 inches tall — 10 inches when flowering. And, it has that lovely blue-green grassy leaves that make dianthus a true four-season plant.

'Paladin' daisy from Terra Nova Nurseries has one bloom and the bud of another. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

‘Paladin’ (Leuchanthemum x superbum) from Terra Nova Nurseries is a trouper in a nursery pot, too. It has one flower in bloom and one more bud opening up. It has been in part shade most of the summer. At maturity, this daisy will get about 15 inches wide and 16 inches tall (20 when in bloom).

The ground cover epimedium's leaves have started to turn purple, which they will hold through winter. Nearby is a creeping foam flower (Tiarella) and Helleborus. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

As for fall interest on perennials, at the top of the list is Epimedium, which has started to take on its bronzy purple hues. This under used groundcover is a three-season plant. It blooms in early spring, usually before the plant leafs out. The leaves emerge with tinges of red, but turn all green as the trees and shrubs nearby leaf out to shade the plant. In fall, when the trees and shrubs drop their leaves, the leaves on epimedium turn deep purple. Epimedium is a great plant for dry shade. It grows in a clump and would never be considered invasive.

Shrubs

‘Annabelle’ (Hydrangea arborescens) is still holding one white head high. ‘Rozanne’ Geranium, which has been blooming all summer, still has a few flowers and the ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ aster (Symphyotrichum oblingifolius) looks fabulous.

'Blue Mist' fothergilla colored up nicely this fall. Epimedium is in the background.(C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

One of the first shrubs I bought when I moved into this house was ‘Blue Mist’ fothergilla (F. gardenii), because of the blue foliage in summer and its spectacular fall color. Ordered from Fairweather Gardens in New Jersey, it had that promised color the first fall. Subsequent years, the fall color has been so-so, but this year, it’s been spectacular.

All the hydrangeas’ leaves except ‘Annabelle’ have good fall color and at the top of the list are the oakleafs, such as ‘Sikes Dwarf’ (Hydrangea quercifolia). One of the other standouts in the fall garden is ninebark ‘Summer Wine’ (Physocarpus opulifolius), which I have paired with ‘Limelight’ hydrangea (H. paniculata).

Indeed, fall in Indiana has been simply lovely this year. Wonder what December holds.

To find out what’s blooming in other bloggers’ gardens, check out Indianapolis’ Carol Michel’ Day Dreams Gardens.