JEWEL-TONED FLOWERS & FOLIAGE FOR FALL 2020
When summer starts to fade, the color range in our yards can get pretty bland, pretty fast. But, jewel-tones are a hallmark of autumn, and you can add them to your yard by planting gorgeous fall flowers and foliage.
There are many options available for trees, shrubs, and flowers with beautiful fall colors in Indianapolis, but here are 7 of our favorites.
Oakleaf Hydrangea is a shrub that has beautiful four-season interest, and it’s one of the few hydrangeas that are native to North America. Oakleaf hydrangeas are hardy and resilient and can tolerate much colder and drier conditions than other types. They feature large cones of the classic white hydrangea flowers, but their fall foliage is the real stunner. In full sun locations, the leaves of Oakleaf hydrangea will turn brilliant shades of burgundy, orange, yellow, and red.
Chokecherry trees feature beautiful fall foliage, though it starts to turn a little earlier than other trees. They are available in an ultra-dark purple or with brighter red leaves. Chokecherry trees are hardy, easy to care for, and produce edible fruits. Some people love the flavor, though they can be quite tart. The berries make for excellent syrup or jellies.
Viburnum is easy to grow, and there are many different varieties available. The flowers are beautiful, but in the fall, it's the leaves that really stand out. You can see leaves in many different jewel-toned colors on the same shrub. Many varieties also feature richly colored berries in autumn.
Burning Bush is a popular shrub because of its beautiful bright red leaves in the fall and its vibrant red berries that hang on into the winter. There are several different varieties that range from super-compact around 3 feet tall, to quite large, reaching up to 20 feet tall. It is a very resilient and adaptable plant, though it is considered to be invasive in the southern states and parts of New England. Burning bush will do best and produce the most brilliant colored leaves if it gets full sun.
Purpleleaf Sand Cherry features pretty pinkish-white flowers in the spring season that have a delicate fragrance. Its berries are tasty for humans, and a great source of food for birds during the winter season, also providing a safe shelter for them. Because it stays relatively small (7-10 feet in height), the purpleleaf sand cherry can be planted near utility lines.
Ornamental Kale and Ornamental Cabbage are gorgeous additions to the fall garden whether in beds or containers. They feature beautiful leaves in shades of pink, purple, white, red, and blueish-green. While they’re both technically kales, the names differentiate the leaf style. Ornamental kale has curly, frilly, or ruffled leaves. Ornamental cabbages have broad, flat leaves that usually have a contrasting color along the edges. These are a great choice for fall color because they’re tough and beautiful. They can take a surprising amount of frost, and their color starts to get much richer once temperatures drop below 50°F. Ornamental cabbages and kales can survive temperatures as low as 5°F, so they’ll definitely last throughout the fall and even into the winter.
Don’t let your yard get bleak and monochrome in the fall. Add some of these beautiful jewel-toned plants to enjoy some rich color for a little while longer.