HERE WE ARE, but a couple of days from the start of autumn! But I want to continue to tip the aesthetic gauge in favor of your yard for a fabulous fall.
Without question, I believe that fall foliage color is the most underutilized (although stunningly brilliant) and unplanned element in the garden. And not just here on the North Olympic Peninsula, but throughout the country.
I further believe that, for the most part, the lack of design and plan has to do with precisely the time of year. Folks around the country return from their last fling of summer and thoughts turn to closing up the cottage, pulling out the boat and putting away the camping gear.
Then, too, Jack Frost is all too eager to make an early visit to most states — certainly the majority of people’s flowering plants look very poor as September wears on.
The return of kids to school, the psyche of summer being over, the darkening days with cool nights and heavy dews, all coupled with the collapse of one’s flowers, causing most of us to clean up and begin to dream of next summer.
But wait! First, never forget that, on the Peninsula, we have weather like nowhere else, beautifully mild and conducive to many plants. And because of this mild, forgiving, nurturing climate, autumn (and dare I say winter) is a great time to show one’s floral colors.
A trip this time of year to your favorite nursery is just what the plant doctor ordered as an ideal boost to your mental and creative well-being. That said, let’s peruse through a dozen breathtaking fall foliage plants.
• Witch hazel (hamamelis): This medium size to somewhat large shrub is perfect for starting of one’s flowering garden each year. This shrub sports spider-like blooms on a zigzag pattern as early as February and well into March. The flowers are scented, and are borne close to the stems before the leaves develop, which gives this plant a very exotic look. Valued for its brilliant fall leaf color that ranges in spectrum from yellow, orange, amber, red, copper, scarlet and burgundy — this is a must-have item.
• Birch (betula): The contrasting white paper bark juxtaposed against the black markings of the trunk makes this tree a year-round interest item. It’s fluttering leaves give motion, and flickering shade and sun blotches to the visual scene. But The birches light pure gold and bright yellow fall display puts it on this list.
• Edible cherry (prunus): On the Peninsula, this tree is a real winner, for not only does it have a spectacular spring showing of awesome bloom, which covers the tree in pastel hues, but these enticing blossoms then mature into delectable fruit. Then, the long, glossy, dark green leaves turn slowly into a dazzling display of fire ember colors, which glow brightly throughout the neighborhood.
• Ornamental pear (pyrus): The decorative pears again have the advantage of an early spring bloom whose flowers give way to a shiny heart-shaped foliage that later becomes an awesome display of fall color. It is this fall color, along with its ability to adopt well to conditions, which makes this plant a highly sought after “street tree.”
• Flowering crabapple (malus): The flowering crabapple is the quintessential spring blooming tree, covering itself in bloom. But many varieties not only have a purple or reddish summer leaf color, but coat themselves in a bright fall show, along with colorful fruit that feeds wildlife in the late fall and early winter.
• Tree peony (paeonia): Yes, tree peonies have great fall leaf color, and that huge early summer flower is unbeatable along with this pubescent, paper bark display in winter, and that alien eyelash appearance of new leaves and early spring.
• Sumac (rhus): Few shrubs can beat sumac for its intense red, yellow, orange, gold leaf color, but it’s velvet covered stems, spring flowers and wonderful staghorn terminal tip make this compound leaf plant a unique introduction into your garden.
• Barberry (berberis): The thorny spikes give the shrub a great winter texture and a perfect addition to a rock garden. Red- leafed varieties, specially “crimson pygmy,” offer very rich red summer leaves that turn fire engine red so bright they burn your retinas in the fall.
• Smoke tree: Many varieties sport red or burgundy foliage with lovely smoke adrift in the leaves (flowers) for late summer. Then this bush goes brilliant in the fall as it’s leaves blaze into yellow, orange or bright red display.
• Japanese maples (acer): These plants have it all — great structural shape, interestingly patterns, colorful summer foliage and intense fall foliage. Available in a variety of sizes and colors and shapes, add a Japanese maple to your yard each and every year.
• Viburnum: This large group of plants is known for their flowers, colored berries, bird feeding capability and often fragrant selected varieties, which sport magnificent fall color. Noted varieties for fall would be “mohawk,” v. dentatun and v. opulas.
• Cryptomeria: This is a very graceful conifer that is soft and rubbery in feel. Its real prize is its ever-changing appearance. If you buy “elegans,” the foliage turns throughout the year from lime-yellow-green in spring to a rich coppery red or purple by the end of fall and all of winter. Please try this unusual plant.
But mostly … stay well all!
________
Andrew May is a freelance writer and ornamental horticulturist who dreams of having Clallam and Jefferson counties nationally recognized as “Flower Peninsula USA.” Send him questions c/o Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362, or email news@peninsuladailynews.com (subject line: Andrew May).
