Fall Color

All seasons produce emotional responses, but for many of us, that strange nostalgic feeling of autumn is especially strong and quite unique. As the trees and other plants respond to shorter days and cooler temperatures, the spectacular display of color brings us emotionally to that mysterious, pivotal edge between the melting heat of summer and the freezing cold of winter.

Autumn color also signifies the great harvest -- the wonderful bounty of our well planned, well worked summer gardens. When the first frost withers the once vibrant leaves of the summer squash and pumpkin patch, we know it's time to sort the jack-o-lanterns of Halloween from the pies of Thanksgiving.

With some planning, it is easy to conjure the magic of a New England fall into our gardens. Our particular region offers the needed changes that trigger the autumn color -- and we offer the plants that will respond to the changes our seasons can bring. Here is a sampling of trees:

• Turkastan Maple (Acer turkestanicum) -- a small shrub with slender branches offers bright red leaves in the fall.
• Autumn Blaze Maple (Acer X Freemanii) -- this rapid growing pyramidal deciduous broadleaf tree grows to a height of 50 to 60 feet and is dazzling red in the fall. 
• Dream Catcher Cherry (Prunus 'Dream Catcher') -- a beautiful, medium to fast growing upright deciduous tree offers year-round ornamental features, including a striking pink array of flowers in the spring, deep green leaves in summer, and a yellow-orange display in the fall.
• Clump River Birch (Betulaceae) -- a large, fast growing pyramidal deciduous shade tree with color ranging between chartreuse and golden-yellow depending upon the year.

We have many trees, bushes, grasses and flowering perennials, perfect for fall color, including:

• Common Hackberry -- a medium growing deciduous broadleaf tree which grows 40 to 60 feet high with a 30 - 50 foot spread. Hardy to -50 degrees. This plant loves sun and has bright yellow leaves in the fall.
• Rhus Typhina 'Tiger Eyes' -- a beautiful form of Staghorn Sumac. The new growth is a chartreuse green which quickly turns to bright yellow, then shades of orange and bright red in autumn. Stunning when planted in mass.
• Purple Smoke Bush -- this small to medium, very ethereal looking tree can be trained as a small tree or multi-branched bush. The claret-purple foliage is eye-catching from spring through fall, and can change from purple to red, to orange-yellow, depending on the variety, soil and weather.
• Little Blue Stem Grass -- this clumping ornamental grass is very drought tolerant, and is beautiful when planted in mass along driveways or as an accent plant. Color moves from blue-green to silvery-gold in the fall.
• Plum Grass (Hardy Pampas) -- this very striking ornamental grass grows between 8 and 12 feet high with long silvery-white plumes reaching high above the blades. Very drought tolerant, with beautiful fall colors ranging from deep orange to golden-yellow.
• European Cranberry Bush -- this medium growing upright deciduous broadleaf bush grows between 10 to 15 high and is hardy to -25 degrees. In the summer the plant produces white cluster flowers, then large bright red fruit. In the fall the leaves turn a deep red-maple color.
• Sensation Box Elder -- this improved elder has better branching and slower, controlled growth with brilliant red fall color.  This is a tough tree, very good for harsh environs.
• Royal Crab Apple -- this medium growing deciduous broadleaf tree grows to between 10 and 15 feet high and is hardy to -15 degrees.  It produces single crimson flowers with dark red 3/4 inch fruit. In the fall the leaves turn a deep red.
• Skyline® Honeylocust -- this rapidly growing deciduous broadleaf tree grows to between 40 and 50 feet high with a 15 to 20 foot spread. Hardy to -15 degrees, this beautiful tree loves sun and turns a golden-yellow in the fall.

There are three flowering plants that do very well in fall weather:

• Asters
• Chrysanthemums
• Pansies

We stock heavily in September, but these plants move quickly. Come in soon to see this season's selection.

For many reasons, autumn is a great time for planting, but it is especially good for planning autumn colors into your garden or landscape because at this time of year the plants especially appropriate for a fall color scheme will be showing off their colors at our nursery. Come in to our shop and see the color display for yourself.

• Find out more about autumn planting techniques

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Celebrate the seasons with plants and their produce that make the holiday what it is.

• Halloween
• Thanksgiving