Sedum is a drought-tolerant, succulent perennial that starts blooming in late summer and then changes to shades of pink, burgundy, or rust, depending on the variety. Sedum comes in a wide variety of heights and forms. It is a drought-tolerant succulent with thick leaves that vary in shades. Sedum likes full sun for the best show of color.

Don’t’ forget Knockout Roses in the fall garden. True to its name, they knock themselves out with beautiful blooms from late spring until frost if well-maintained throughout the summer growing season. These roses prefer sun to part shade and no spraying is required. They can be purchased in a wide variety of colors and heights.

There are many different varieties of Hydrangeas, and all of them showcase well in the autumn garden, as their flowers dry wonderfully on the shrubs. This shrub also provides food and shelter for the birds in the winter months. Some of the newer varieties of Hydrangea paniculata show off in the fall when their blooms become a beautiful pink or rose hue. Another hydrangea to consider is Oakleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia, whose leaves turn purple, orange-bronze, or red. The peeling, exfoliating branches also provide winter color and texture.

Rudbeckia, also known as Black-Eyed Susan, is native to the United States. It is at its prime in late summer, but don’t discard the seed pods. They are attractive in an autumn landscape and the birds will enjoy the seeds in the winter.

An annual that is at its peak in the fall is Lantana. It will remain vibrant until the first frost. There are various shades of orange/red/yellow/pink when making a selection for the garden. Also, consider planting pansies in the fall. Most will survive through the winter and provide spring beauty as well.

Other sources of color in an autumn landscape are trees and shrubs with beautiful fall foliage. Maples are spectacular, especially red maples, sugar maples, and Japanese maples. Also providing beautiful hues are Oaks, Ginkgos, and American Sweetgum.

Gardens need shrubs for texture and structure. A personal favorite fall beauty is Blue Mist Shrub, Caryopteris. This shrub is laced with beautiful, delicate true-blue flowers with gray-green foliage. Pollinators love this shrub.

Montauk Daisy, Nipponanthemum nipponicum, is an herbaceous perennial that bears white daisies from midsummer to frost. The flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Their foliage is thick, dark green and succulent. They prefer well-drained soil and a sunny location.

There are many different varieties of asters, Asteraceae, all of which bloom in the autumn months. The bright, colorful flowers resemble daisies and are shades of white, purple, pink, or red. For utmost beauty, pinch the buds back until the end of July to make sure they bloom superbly in the fall. Asters are a rich source of nectar and are bee magnets. Sheffield Daisies (a member of the chrysanthemum family) are quite hardy. Their flowers are showy pink and blend well with other fall plantings.

Heuchera, commonly called coral bells or alumroot, have hues of purple, butterscotch, pink, burgundy, and frosty silvers. They are easy to grow and blend harmoniously with other autumn tones in the garden.

With summer on the wane and autumn in the air, now is not the time to end the growing season. Indulge in a late summer surge of gardening creativity and experience an explosion of color in late summer and throughout the autumn growing season.

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." Albert Camus

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