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FALL GARDEN DESIGNS BY PAINTERS

  • Writer: Painters Greenhouse
    Painters Greenhouse
  • Sep 20, 2023
  • 5 min read

Updated: Feb 4


We've had a lot of queries this fall as to when is the ideal time to plant varied items as well as which plants go best together. Note that anything we have out for sale now is appropriate to plant at this time of year - we are careful to grow and sell with the season in mind to ensure planting success. Managers Sara and Betsy put together some of their favorite perennials and shrubs for fall color and texture as a guide for those of you looking for inspiration!



1. Sunny Pollinator Garden Design by Betsy


Lush garden with purple, yellow, and red flowers, surrounded by greenery. Tall grasses and metal trellis visible. Calm, serene atmosphere.
All of the above items in the design are detailed below (note that these are still potted, so you are not seeing them at their mature size and spacing).


TREES/SHRUBS:


'Ruby Falls' Redbud

Beautifully weeping and has great purple tones that make it unique this time of year. Its lavender-pink blooms in the early spring are show stopping too.

Dense redbud with heart-shaped, purple-green leaves in a garden setting. Sidewalk visible in the background. Calming, lush atmosphere.
Photo courtesy GardenersPath.com 



Eastern Ninebark

The 'Red Baron' Ninebark would have looked lovely with the Ruby Falls, but I chose the straight species because ours are already densely branched. The cardinals and song sparrows were all over mine this year, using the good cover as a lookout spot before returning to their nests.

Clusters of white ninebark flowers with green leaves in a lush garden. Bright sunlight casts shadows, creating a serene and natural atmosphere.
Photo courtesy Carolina Nature


'Lewis' Mock Orange - (Currently out of stock but in photo due to prior planting)

Lush mock orange bush with white flowers surrounds a tall black lamppost, set against dark green trees. Natural, serene garden scene.
Photo courtesy Oregon State University



PERENNIALS:

Willowleaf Sunflower 'Autumn Gold'

Love this one so much! Loaded with blooms and buds, and Fall is its time! It's perfect paired with the Agastache.

Bright yellow willowleaf sunflowers densely fill the image, creating a cheerful and vibrant scene with green foliage peeking through.
Photo courtesy Monrovia.com


'Blue Fortune' Agastache

We planted a large patch of it last fall, and it's been blooming like this ever since the spring! Not a native, but a huge draw for all kinds of pollinators. The honey bees were the most active this morning, but I've had plenty of swallowtails, skippers, bumblebees and even hummingbird moths on mine at home.

'Blue Fortune' Agastache in bloom with green leaves, set against a lush garden backdrop. Pink and white flowers visible in the background.
Photo courtesy Walters Gardens.


Autumn Sage 'Arctic Blaze Purple'

This one is a tender perennial - meaning if we have a harsh winter, it might not come back.

I had a 50% survival rate with mine last year. This is a great one for color and texture that's loved by hummingbirds.

Greenhouse with vibrant purple and green plants; people in hats tend to the foliage. Bright, sunny day with fluffy clouds above.

Northern Sea Oats Grass

What's not to love about this one! Beautiful nodding seed heads, and it can get some nice fall color on it too. Outstanding for erosion control if that's a concern. It does reseed relatively vigorously, so don't plant if you don't want it to spread and/or aren't wanting to weed out the seedlings.

Close-up of Northern Sea Oats with feathery leaves under a sunny sky. Blurred background shows clouds and a cloth on a line, creating a calm feel.

Fountain Grass 'Cayenne'

I love the texture on this one and how the purple undertones play against the Agastache. This one isn't self fertile so it shouldn't take more space than you give it.

Close-up of tall Fountain Grass 'Cayenne' with fluffy seed heads near a sign. Road and yellow line in the background. Bright, sunny setting.
Photo courtesy Emerald Coast Growers


Appalachian Mountain Mint

Mountain Mint is probably one of my favorite things, and the pollinator activity in my garden is off the charts thanks to this stuff. I picked the Appalachian variety for the front of this particular grouping because it is a little lower to the ground and doesn't spread as quickly as the other varieties. It also has a gorgeous bloom and smells amazing.

Appalachian Mountain Mint with clusters of white, spiky flowers fill the foreground. A lush green background suggests a garden setting.
Photo courtesy American Beauties Natives


Coreopsis 'Golden Stardust' & 'Uptick Red'

These are both perfect for sun and dry soil. They're some of my favorites for fall flowers even though they bloom all summer too. They work really well in beds with other tall yellows like the sunflowers and goldenrods to play off of purples and greens.

Bee on vibrant yellow-red coreopsis flower in garden. Blurred background of similar flowers. Lush greenery enhances the lively, natural scene.




2. Perennials for Shade/Part-Shade Gardens or Containers by Sara

These plants were chosen to add bright colors to a shady garden and can even be used in a combo pot for fall season!


Potted plants with vibrant foliage sit on mulch in a forest setting. Green, yellow, and dark purple leaves create a lush, tranquil atmosphere.
All of the above items in the design are detailed below (note that these are still potted, so you are not seeing them at their mature size and spacing).



'Brigadoon' St. Johns Wort

Bright chartreuse green, yellow, orange foliage brightens a shady spot, sprawling habit is perfect along borders or overhanging the edges of combo pots.

Yellow and red leaves of St. John's Wort 'Brigadoon' plants bask in sunlight. Tall, thin green grass forms the background, creating a vibrant and lush scene.


'Obsidian' Heuchera

Heuchera comes in many different leaf colors for a diverse amount of options; this deep purple allows bright accent colors to pop, while the clumping habit fills in gaps. It will act as the "filler" in a combo planter.

Dark purple heuchera 'Obsidian' leaves with raindrops fill the image. The textured foliage has subtle hints of green, creating a calm, earthy atmosphere.


'Samurai' Toad Lily

A favorite shade-loving, fall blooming perennial due to the uniquely shaped, jewel toned blooms.

Purple speckled toad lily 'Samurai' flower blooms among lush green leaves. Buds and additional flowers surround, creating a vibrant, natural setting.


'All Gold' Japanese Forest Grass

A shade-loving, clumping grass with chartreuse colors that really pops!

Lush garden with vibrant green japanese forest grass in the center and variegated plants, including ferns and hostas, set against a stone path, creating a tranquil mood.
Photo courtesy AWaytoGarden.com



Autumn Fern

Copper colored fronds add both color and texture. The upright habit could act as a "thriller" in a fall combination planter.

Close-up of lush green autumn ferns with some displaying warm orange-brown hues. Leaves are layered, creating a dense, natural pattern.


'Dodd's Variegated' Doghobble

Mounding evergreen with arching stems and variegated leaves, especially noticeable on new growth with hints of coral, white and light green. White blooms in early spring hang from the stems like chains.

'Dodd's Variegated' Doghobble with green and yellow leaves grows beside a stone wall on a mulched ground. Dim lighting creates a calm, natural mood.
Photo courtesy Leslieland.com 



'Valley Valentine' Pieris/Japanese Andromeda

An upright, evergreen shrub for the back of a garden reaching up to 5-7' at maturity, similar blooms to Doghobble, but pink/red in color.

'Valley Valentine' Pieris/Japanese Andromeda bushes with dense clusters of pink flowers and green leaves, set against a brick wall. The scene is lush and vibrant.
Photo courtesy Oregon State University



3. Sun-loving Native Shrubs by Sara

Many customers are taking advantage of this time of year to plant trees and shrubs in their gardens. Shrubs are the foundation and "bones" of the garden, so if you're planning a new bed, it's important to focus on shrubs first and fill in your design with perennials after. We often hear from customers: "I have a blank slate in a mostly sunny location, and I'd like to fill it with high-impact native shrubs that are low maintenance." Here is a list of some favorites available this fall season with notes on their adaptability to different growing conditions.


Potted plants and shrubs on forest floor with fallen leaves. Background has green foliage and trees. Mood is serene and natural.
All of the above items in the design are detailed below (note that these are still potted, so you are not seeing them at their mature size and spacing).


American Witchhazel

This large shrub/small tree is worth the space it can take up! Yellow fall foliage and yellow blooms in October/December provide a beautiful display and fragrance. Full sun/part shade. Can also act as a specimen in a winter garden or along a woodland edge.

Close-up of witch hazel branches with spiky yellow flowers and red centers. The background is blurred with hints of greenery.
Photo courtesy PlantitWild.net 



'Red Baron' Ninebark

Burgundy leaves add interest, white blooms in May-July attract bees and butterflies, nutlets (fruit) provide food for birds. An easy to manage shrub in any landscape, can be cut back in winter to keep a tidy appearance from year to year or let it grow into a dense shrub to allow habitat for birds. Full sun, but can appreciate part shade in the hotter southeast.

White flowers with yellow centers on dark, purple foliage of 'Red Baron' Ninebark. Dense cluster of leaves and blooms creating a vibrant contrast in a garden setting.


'Winter Red' Winterberry

Provides a bounty of red berries for birds, stunning in winter after this deciduous holly loses its leaves. Full sun/part-shade, works great in low lying or wet areas. Will need a male Winterberry partner ('Southern Gentleman') in order to produce berries.

Abundant red winterberry berries on lush green foliage, creating a vibrant contrast. The setting is natural and serene, with no visible text.
Photo courtesy PlantJoy.com



'Troja Black' Georgia Bush Honeysuckle

New growth emerges dark burgundy for a contrast of foliage colors. Yellow blooms are similar in appearance to honeysuckle, while also fragrant, nectar rich and enjoyed by bees and butterflies during the long bloom period in summer. Songbirds enjoy fruit in fall! Full sun/part shade, drought tolerant.

'Troja Black' Georgia Bush Honeysuckle. Green and purple leaves with small yellow buds in a lush garden setting, showcasing a mix of vibrant and earthy tones.
Photo courtesy pflanzmich.de 



'Sunburst' St. Johns Wort

Dense mounding shrub with blue-green foliage. "Puffy" yellow summertime blooms attract bees and butterflies. Full sun, drought tolerant.

Bright yellow St. John's Wort flowers with delicate stamens, set against lush green foliage. Dewdrops on leaves add freshness to the natural scene.


'Lady in Black' Calico Aster

'Calico' due to the variation of colors as blooms mature. This perennial is always "buzzing" with native bees this time of year!

Pink and white 'Lady in Black' Calico Asters densely bloom against lush green foliage, creating a vibrant and natural backdrop filled with summer vitality.


Little Bluestem Grass

Larval host plant to various butterflies and moths, excellent food for birds in fall and winter, plus stripes of blue, purples, reds in the fall make this plant highly ornamental, too!

Vibrant red and green Little Bluestem ornamental grass with thin, delicate stalks fills the foreground. Lush greenery in the blurred background.
Photo courtesy Hoffman Nursery



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