Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

Oct 28, 2015 | Blog

Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

How is your garden looking this time of year? Now that the colder days are here, some of the beautiful flowers that were blooming in the summer and making your garden beautiful are no longer in bloom. Here are some native shrubs, grasses, and perennials that will make your garden beautiful and colorful for fall!

Shrubs

Winterberry, Red Sprite ‘Dwarf’ Variety:

This shrub is great for areas in your yard that gets a lot of water (tolerates swamp-like conditions) and is good for full sun and partial shade conditions. The berries will begin to show in late summer and early fall, and stick around through winter.

red sprite dwarf, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

 

Winterberry,  ‘Sparkleberry’ Variety:

This variety is very similar to the Red Sprite variety, but it typically grows taller. The leaves turn from green to a yellow-bronze in the fall, creating beautiful foliage. Both varieties provide great food for birds.

sparkleberry, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

Beautyberry:

Beautyberry has beautiful purple berries, and prefers sun but will tolerate light shade. Beautyberry is also easy to maintain. Deer will prune this one for you! They will munch, but typically not enough to harm the plant.

beautyberry, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

Oakleaf Hydrangea:

These shrubs prefer to be grown in well-drained soil and in full sun to partial shade. The conical, cluster of flowers turn from white to pink as the plant ages. The foliage turns from green to bronze, maroon or purple in the fall.

In bloom:

oakleaf hydrangea, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

Fall foliage:

oakleaf hydrangea foliage, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

Sweetspire ‘Henry’s Garnet’ Variety:

This variety tolerates a variety of soil types and can be grown in shade. The flowers are white in the spring and summer, with the leaves turning red, yellow, and orange in the fall and persisting through winter. This plant is usually deer resistant.

In bloom:

Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

Fall foliage

henry's garnet, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

 

 

Sweetspire ‘Little Henry’ Variety:

This is also similar to the other Sweetspire variety, however, the leaves turn a bright red in the fall and usually smaller in size. This plant is usually deer resistant.

little henry sweetspire, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

 

Dwarf Fothergilla, or Fothergilla ‘Mount Airy’:

This is a flowering shrub that requires little maintenance if planted in well drained soils, and in sun or partly shady areas of your landscape. This plant is usually deer resistant.

In bloom:

 Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

Fall foliage:

Fall Beauties, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

Courtesy of http://www.monrovia.com

 

Grasses

Little Bluestem Grass:

The blooms start out as a purple-bronze flower in late summer and then turn white, lasting through winter. It is easy to maintain and tolerates a variety of soil types, including clay. The leaves turn from a blue in the summer to a purple and burgundy over the winter.

little bluestem grass

 

Perennials

Goldenrod ‘Fireworks’ Variety:

This variety blooms throughout fall. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. This plant is usually deer resistant.

goldenrod fireworks, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

 

Aster ‘New England’ Variety

New England Asters are great for attracting butterflies to your garden. It is easy to grow and maintain, and it prefers full sun. This plant is usually deer resistant.

new england aster, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

 

Asters ‘New York’ Variety:

Similar to the New England variety, but with light purple and blue blossoms. This plant is usually deer resistant.

new york aster, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

 

Amsonia hubrichtii, or Blue Star:

Blue star has great yellow-bronze foliage in fall. It can be grown in full sun to part shade and is easy to maintain. This plant is usually deer resistant.

amsonia foliage, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

 

 

Autumn Fern ‘Brilliance’ Variety:

This fern is a non-flowering plant that is red in color in the spring with new growth, turning green over the summer, and returning to a red in the fall and through the frost of winter.

autumn fern brilliance foliage, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

 

Coneflower:

Coneflowers also require little maintenance. It is a cold-hardy plant and drought resistant. The blossoms are a vibrant pinkish-purple in color. This plant is usually deer resistant.

Fall Beauties, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

 

Black-eyed Susan:

Black-eyed Susan’s are Maryland’s state flower, making it a perfect addition to your garden. They bloom through early-mid fall, and should be planted in full sun. I’ve seen them bloom well in shade too! Proper pruning can prolong the blooming of these gorgeous flowers. This plant is usually deer resistant.

Fall Beauties, Native Fall Beauties for Howard County Gardens

 

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