This has been one of the most dramatic seasons for spectacular fall foliage color in recent memory. The perfect confluence of the right amount of rain at the right time and the right soil and air temperatures at the right time, and whatever else goes into the alchemy of the medley of fall colors.
Fall has always been my favorite season, and when I started doing Landscape Design I aimed to have multi-season interest in all the gardens I designed. There’s always a heavy emphasis on fall foliage color. What can be more beautiful when looking out at your landscape than seeing a mosaic of red, orange, gold, butter-yellow, and aubergine leaves?!
Here are some of the ones I admire most:
Amelanchier, Amsonia, Andropogon ‘Red October’, Calycanthus, Chionanthus, Plethora, Cornus mas, Cosinus, Diospyros americana
Fothergilla, Geranium, Hamamelis, Hydrangea quercifolia, Itea Virginia, Lagerstromia, Lindera benzoin, Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’, Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’
Oxydendron, Parrotia, PawPaw (Asimina triloba), Chinese Pistache, Rhus, Rosa rugosa
Sassafras, Schizachyrium scoparium, Stewartia, Vaccimium corymbosium, Viburnum carlessii