In my part of the gardening universe, the Maple trees get all the pub when it comes to Fall color (rightfully so in many cases). But there are numerous perennials that are the offensive lineman to the Maple tree quarterback when it comes to sweet autumnal hues.
Quick aside - I've been trying to come up with a Football/Gardening analogy for a while now and I think I finally found one. Did that prior paragraph make an ounce of sense? I hope so, because it is money and maybe the best I've ever written. Aside over.
While they may not be as in your face as their tree or even shrub brethren, "dying perennials" can still pack a punch this time of year, especially if planted in mass. Here are some that are putting on their Fall show in my garden right now.
The chocolate foliage of Geranium 'Espresso' looks even better with doses of red thrown in:
Speaking of geraniums, even the previously maligned Geranium 'Brookside' ain't looking so bad:
The Sedum 'Matrona' has an interesting mix of orange and gold hues that looks pretty solid to me:
While not as striking as 'Matrona', this Sedum has a nice dose of yellow foliage that looks great in conjunction with the mix of colors on the spent blooms:
From a distance (can I get a Bette Midler shout out?), Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) 'Gateway' takes on a new look as the golden foliage takes over for the long standing blooms that dominated all Summer:
Maybe it is a stretch, but I dig the Astilbe foliage even if the color is fleeting:
Just the slightest bit of yellowing on the blades of the Siberian irises floats my boat:
Penstemon 'Husker's Red' has interesting orangey foliage:
I know I've talked about the next plant incessantly over the past few weeks, but can you beat the fall foliage color of Amsonia?
The next three photos are all from the same plant. Check out the difference in color:
Frickin awesome, huh?
Even Amsonia 'Blue Ice' has great color right now:
And finally, the beauty of a dying Lady's Mantle as it ... OK, fine, it's kind of ugly:
But is it really? The cycle of a perennial is always fascinating, even as it dies back in Fall. A time to kick back and accept the impending weather, knowing it will all start over again in a few short months.
John