Sikes Dwarf oakleaf hydrangea. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
We’re in the season of transition, where color in the garden moves from the flowers to the foliage.
Most of the color in my garden this time of year comes from shrubs, including four types of Viburnum. Right now the V. burkwoodii and V. juddii are in full color. V. dentatum Chicago Lustre and Autumn Jazz have colored up, too. Chicago Lustre has some wine-red leaves, but many are fried because of the dry summer. Autumn Jazz has a golden color. ‘Compacta’ V. trilobum also suffered from the drought and has fewer berries and limited fall color, but many dried branches.
I’m going to wait until spring to see how the drought-damaged shrubs look before doing anything drastic.
In the flowering category, Ready to Wear Paris, a Calibrachoa from Hort Couture is still blooming as are some snapdragons (Antirrhinum). The blue flowers of ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ aster (Symphotrichum oblongifolium) mingles nicely with the golden branches of Amsonia hubrichtii.
Northstar blueberry. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
I splurged and bought a blueberry (Vaccinium), lured by the fall color. The cultivar is North Star and I think I’m going to grow it in a large container. Isn’t it lovely?
Knock Out Red (Rosa) is still sporting blooms and has begun to develop hips, which although not as showy as many roses, still provide some winter interest.
Summer Wine ninebark. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Also in full color is Summer Wine ninebark (Physocarpus), which has purple foliage all summer and brilliant read leaves in fall. Oh, it blooms, too, in spring.
Sikes Dwarf (or Sykes Dwarf) oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia) is a must for any small garden. Large showy flowers in summer and glorious red leaves, tinged with gold in fall.
Epimedium in its fall splendor. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
A favorite perennial is barrenwort (Epimedium), a woefully under used plant as a groundcover. Truly a four-season perennial with yellow flowers and red-tinged leaves in spring and green foliage in summer that turns deep burgundy red in fall and winter.
Thanks to May Dreams Gardens for the opportunity to report on our landscapes each month.
I have a nice patch of Epimedium in my shade garden. I think it’s underused because it’s very hard to find at local nurseries. When you do find it, it’s much more expensive than other perennials.
I like hearing good things about the Sykes Dwarf Oakleaf hydrangea. Added three to my garden this fall, or rather the garden designer brought three of them and her helper planted them and I admired them.