Fall is here but your flowering colors are far from finished. Of course, many summer flowers continue to bloom into the autumn months, at least until the first hard frost. Here are a few specific fall favorites:
Chrysanthemums
No plant is more associated with autumn than chrysanthemums, better known as mums. Thousands of garden centers offer varying sizes and styles, from button mums to single or daisy mums. These perennials come in all colors, except blue.
They are easy to care for and can be transplanted while budding or in full bloom. Repotting Chrysanthemums will give the roots the nourishment they need to continue to push out new buds. Purchase mums with closed buds to maximize their bloom time. Dead-heading the flowers regularly will allow for continual blooms. Begin pinching back the stems when the plant is five inches tall to keep plants bushy. Mums need full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Feed them weekly during the growing season.
Potted mums can be separated into two categories, florist and hardy. Mums sold as potted plants or gift plants in the spring are generally florist mums. Hardy mums, also known as garden mums, are largely seen in the fall and they come in a variety of colors and bloom forms. Hardy mums will survive the winter if they are planted in a plant bed and cut to the ground once blooming has stopped in the fall. They also will deliver the most beautiful colors the second year if transplanted into the ground during the first year.
Chrysanthemums come in different flower shapes (decorative, pompom, single/daisy) and types (anemone, semi-double, single quilled), so be adventurous and choose a mixture of Chrysanthemums for your gorgeous fall display!
Japanese Anemone
Anemones are herbaceous perennials belonging to the buttercup family. The popularity of these graceful flowers, which grow two to three feet tall, is still increasing. Their long-lasting blooms come in pink, lavender, mauve, and white with silken-looking petals perfect for cutting. The Japanese Anemone originated in China and are poisonous if digested.
Japanese Anemones prefer partial shade, but they can tolerate full afternoon sun. They need plenty of water with well-drained soil and good winter mulch. Japanese anemones spread via underground runners which are easier spread in loose, sandy soils. Once established, the more sun the Japanese Anemones get, the faster they will spread. Be careful planting them in small gardens with other plant material as they are invasive and may outcompete any surrounding plants. There are far less invasive varieties of the Japanese Anemone which include Hadspen Abundance, September Charm, and Wild Swan.
These beautiful, colorful plants are well suited for garden containers on your porch, planted as a border, in large plant beds or even natural areas. Japanese Anemones bring life to late summer landscapes and will continue blooming through the end of fall. Plant them in spring, spaced 8-12 inches apart, for strong fall blooms. They may appear delicate but this plant, once established, can survive with little maintenance. Japanese anemones are resistant to most insects and diseases and most importantly for our area, they are salt tolerant.
Asters
The dark lavender and purple tones of these flowers, also known as Michaelmas daisies, bring a nice balance to the warm tones of mums. This flower is a composite flower which is a flower that is made up of multiple smaller flowers. Asters are perennials and will return every year once the plant is established. There are many varieties available which include Blue Wood Aster, Smooth American Aster, Alpine Aster, and the Aromatic Aster just to name a few. These plants are mostly tolerant and adaptable, preferring full sun but will grow in partial shade which allows for a slower bloom time.
Asters bloom from late summer into fall growing in a well-draining soil. The plants range from one to six feet tall and can be staked to support the long stems or pinched back to keep them compact. This plant has a shallow, fibrous root system and is susceptible to root rot if allowed to sit in wet soil. The blooms have a center that is filled with many small fertile flowers making them very attractive to pollinators, particularly drawing monarch butterflies, helping to improve a gardens ecosystem.
There are varieties of asters that are susceptible to a powdery mildew that attacks the leaves of the plant. The good news is that this mildew will not spread to other plants. If you would rather avoid the chances of mildew on the leaves of your aster plants, you can always choose those asters that are resistant to mildew. A few of the mildew resistant asters include Little Carlow, Frikart’s Aster, the Italian Aster, and the Billowing Pink Aster.
Try your hand at these fall flowering colors today or make some fall discoveries of your own. The colors are there, just waiting to bloom.
By: Misty Johns, Coastal Greenery, Inc.
