Michael Womack
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Saturday, September 25, 1999

Add colors to the garden for autumn

Bougainvillea blossoms should last until Christmas

 

Every gardener loves to have color in the garden. Each season gives us a new selection of plants that brightens our gardens with their colorful foliage and blossoms. fall is no exception. There are a multitude of plants that can add fall color.
   Vines can provide color on fences, trellises, posts and arbors. Coral vine is in full bloom with stunning pink blossoms hanging in clusters. Those who prefer yellow flowers can find spectacular golden displays on Carolina Jessamine and Virginia creeper.
   Candlestick plant provides golden candelabra-like flower spikes at the top of plants that have been growing up to 6-8 feet during the summer. These flower spikes are actually composed of bracts, specialized leaves which provide long-term color. Another bract-bearing plant, bougainvillea, is putting on another set of blossoms that should provide color through Christmas or the first freeze.
   Another large shrub that is currently in full bloom is Turk's Cap. It's red flowers never fully open like its cousin, the showy Chinese hibiscus, but it will provide months of color. As an added benefit, these flowers will attract humming birds during their fall migration.
   Plumbago is an attractive mounding shrub with clusters of blue or white flowers. This perennial shrub thrives in partial sun and shade.
   Purple cone flower is a sun-loving Texas native perennial that provides autumn color (make sure it has good drainage). Another suggestion for perennial fall color is cigar plant, a relative of Mexican heather with tubular red flowers. This plant is another great hummingbird attractant.
   Garden mums are perennials that bloom in the fall as the days get shorter. Mums are "photo periodic" that is they set flower buds in response to day length. They are often called "short day" plants; however, a more accurate term would be "long night" plants since they require long periods of uninterrupted darkness to flower.
   Mums are perennials that will bloom consistently year after year if they receive the long uninterrupted periods of darkness. Mums come in white, purple, yellow and gold. They are often used as annuals for short-term color in the garden.
   Some true annuals that reappear in the fall include alyssum, pansies, petunias, lobelia, snapdragons, ageratum and dianthus. Marigolds are actually one annual that we tend to see more in the spring, but will actually perform better in fall gardens.
   One other suggestion for fall color is purple fountain grass. This showy, clumping ornamental grass has beautiful maroon foliage and fuzzy flower stalks that add color and texture to the garden throughout the fall. It also is a great addition to fresh and dried flower arrangements.
  
  

1999 Caller-Times Publishing Company, a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.