Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangea gets its name from its lobed leaves, which resemble those of the oak tree. Also like the oak tree, its leaves turn brilliant shades of red and orange as winter approaches. Some blooms may remain as the leaves change, providing great interest in both color and texture. Available at HomeDepot.com; $39.98 for one 3-gallon plant.
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Ornamental Pepper
You can eat the fruits of ornamental pepper plants even though they’re not as flavorful as varieties grown for cooking, but leave them alone and they’ll throw a party in your landscape come fall. The colorful little fruits come in shades of red, orange, purple, yellow, and white, with some varieties boasting multiple colors on the same plant! Available on Etsy; $1.50 for 50 seeds.
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Anise Hyssop
Pollinators love anise hyssop for its tall spikes of purple flowers that continue blooming well into fall. Native to the American Midwest, these low-maintenance perennials will thrive in just about any soil condition. Available on Etsy; $2.50 for 150 seeds.
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Coral Bells
Shade-loving coral bells send up delicate stalks of flowers in spring and summer, but their colorful foliage lasts through fall and beyond. Available at burpee.com; $12.99 for one plant.
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Strawflowers
The papery blooms on strawflowers make them a favorite with crafters who want to add a playful touch to potpourris or wreaths, and gardeners will find them easy to grow in sunny beds. When cared for properly, these short-lived perennials will return for three or four years. Available on burpee.com; $5 for 750 seeds.
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Leadplant
Used as a low ground cover, leadplant blossoms during the fall with beautiful blue color that turns vivid red later in the season. Add it to a container or bed for a jolt of color. Available on Etsy; $1.50 for 50 seeds.
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Snapdragon
These dramatic flowers are available in oranges, pinks, purples, yellows, and more. Snapdragons are loved for their cold-hardiness, and can continue to bloom throughout the fall. Available at burpee.com; $5 for 100 seeds.
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American Beautyberry
Clusters of glossy purple berries make American beautyberry an autumn showstopper. In spring months, the shrub attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies with its flowers, and in fall its fruit adds color to the yard. The berries adorn the plant's draping branches well after the leaves have fallen and will attract small wildlife to your garden as the weather chills. Requiring very little care, this low-maintenance shrub is the perfect choice for lazy gardeners. Available on Etsy; $9.99 for one 1-quart plant.
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Mexican Feathergrass
The reddish feathery stalks of Mexican Feather Grass turn an amber color in the fall, making them an excellent choice for low-maintenance, yet high-impact, gardens. Available on HomeDepot.com; $14 for one plant.
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Japanese Maple
Japanese maple is a breathtaking accent tree popular for its feathery leaves and graceful, weeping silhouette. In fall, its leaves turn crimson, orange, or gold, with some varieties successively displaying all three colors. Available on Amazon; $24.99 for one 1-quart plant.
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American Witch Hazel
American witch hazel is a deciduous shrub whose showy and fragrant flowers bloom in fall. Its yellow, feathery blooms linger until December, when all the beautiful autumn leaves have fallen, making it a welcome sight at a time when most other landscape plantings have lost their color. Available on Amazon; $26.99 for one 2-gallon plant.
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Ornamental Kale and Cabbages
Ornamental kale and cabbages are cultivated for looks, not taste. Their low habit and brilliant colors (think purple, pink, and cream) make them an optimal choice for cool-weather edging and ground cover. Though their flavor will not appeal to humans, they make a tasty treat for animals, so be careful where you plant them, especially if your neighborhood is home to deer. Available on Burpee.com; $12.95 for four plants.
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'Winterthur' Viburnum
Some showy fall shrubs grace the garden with vibrant leaf color, and some with sensational berries. 'Winterthur' viburnum has both. Crimson leaves and deep blue berries give your landscape a double dose of autumn beauty and will keep your yard looking lovely even as other plants die back as the weather cools. Available at HomeDepot.com; $34.99 for one plant.
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Firethorn
Pyracantha, commonly known as firethorn, is an evergreen shrub that provides all-season interest in the yard. The small white flowers that appear in summer give way to orange or red berries that remain through winter, providing food for birds as well as a beautiful view from your window. Available on Etsy; $15 for one 15-centimeter-tall plant.
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Pansy
Hardier than they look, these graceful flowers can withstand the variable temperatures of fall in many zones. Available in whites, purples, yellows, and more, there's a color for every garden's palette. Available at burpee.com; $4.99 for 35 seeds.
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Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums are a staple of fall decorating schemes, and can be purchased anywhere plants are sold starting in late August. Many people treat mums as annuals, displaying them in container gardens to add color to a fall porch. They can, however, also be grown as perennials when planted directly in a flower bed. Remove perennial varieties from their pots and plant them before the ground freezes, and you'll have a good chance they’ll return next year. Available on Burpee.com; $4.99 for 100 seeds.
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Helenium
A member of the sunflower family, helenium is an herbaceous perennial that lights up with dense clusters of orangey-red flowers in fall. The long-lasting blooms add color to the garden, or to centerpieces as cut flowers. Low maintenance and deer-resistant, these autumn companions will add cheer to your garden year after year. Available at Burpee.com; $16.99 for three plants.
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'Autumn Joy' Sedum
One of the many varieties of stonecrop, 'Autumn Joy' sedum offers a bounty of dark pink blooms from August through November. Those flowers turn copper as the weather gets colder and, when cut, make a nice addition to autumn arrangements. Available on Etsy; $19 for five plants.
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Toad Lily
In late summer, when most perennials are finished flowering, toad lily is just getting ready to show off its orchid-like, spotted blooms. These easy-care plants not only bring joy to the garden starting in mid-September, but also make exotic-looking flower arrangements when cut and brought indoors. Available on Etsy; $2.99 for 15 seeds.
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Aster
With daisy-like flowers that bloom in late summer and fall, the aster brings a shock of color to your garden as other bloomers fade. With a palette that encompasses pinks, purples, reds, and white, these cheery perennials inject a jolt of joy when you need it most. As a bonus, they’ll attract butterflies to your yard. Available on Burpee.com; $10.99 for one plant.
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Sweet Autumn Clematis
The sweet autumn clematis vine blooms in late summer to fall with masses of billowy, fragrant white flowers against dark green, leathery leaves. It will quickly grow to cover a trellis or fence, making it a beautiful accent in an autumn yard. Available on Etsy; $33.97 for five plants.
Virginia Sweetspire
Virginia sweetspire, known formally as Itea virginica, overflows with long white blossoms in springtime, but the real show begins in fall, when its leaves turn a deep burgundy that lasts well into the season. The shrub makes an excellent foundation planting or border, and is drought-tolerant once established. Available at ProvenWinners.com; $18.99 for one plant.
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Burning Bush
Plant a burning bush and you will be treated to a profusion of crimson foliage in fall. A member of the euonymus family, this easy-to-grow shrub tolerates most soil types and flourishes in both full and partial sun. Available at HomeDepot.com; $18 for one bare-root plant.
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Chinese Lantern
The Chinese lantern plant produces delicate white flowers, but that’s not what makes it spectacular in autumn. As the flowers grow, they develop a papery seedpod that turns bright orange. The pop of color looks cheery in the garden, but can also be dried and brought indoors for festive arrangements. Available on Amazon; $2 for 100 seeds.
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Lamb's Ear
The soft silvery-green leaves of lamb's ear persist even as other landscaping plants die back at the end of summer. Lamb's ear does best in full sun and can be divided into new plants every few years in spring. Available on Etsy; $5.95 for one plant.
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Arkansas Blue Star
Amsonia hubrichtii, also known as Arkansas blue star, is cultivated for its feathery green foliage and soft blue, star-shaped flowers that bloom in spring. This perennial puts on a second show in fall, when its needle-like leaves turn a brilliant gold. The leaves remain through a portion of the winter months, adding all-season interest to your yard. Available at ParkSeed.com; $12.95 for one plant.
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Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susans explode with blooms in summer, but gardeners who deadhead their plants will be rewarded with a second batch of flowers in fall. Available on burpee.com; $5.99 for 100 seeds.
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River Birch
The river birch tree lights up the yard in fall when its green leaves turn bright gold. These trees make a dazzling contrast against its characteristic white, texture-rich bark. Available on PlantingTree.com; $110.
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Fire and Ice Hydrangea
The Fire and Ice variety of Hydrangea paniculata blooms from spring through fall, changing color as the seasons progress. White blossoms in spring give way to pink flowers in summer, followed by vibrant red blooms in fall. This specimen will delight in three out of four seasons, and it tolerates winter well. Available at HomeDepot.com; $33.57 for one plant.
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Red Twig Dogwood
Red twig dogwood provides year-round interest, particularly in fall when plump white berries appear on the shrub's burgundy branches. It is a stunner, whether planted as a hedge or an accent. Available on Amazon; $29.99 for one 2-gallon plant.
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Fall Florals
Vibrant flowers aren't just for the spring. Here are some great options for your yard this fall.
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