It's mid-November and fall color is peaking. In my own garden the stars of the day are the coralbark maple, Acer palmatum 'Sangu Kaku' and Arkansas bluestar, Amsonia hubrichtii, both golden beacons that sparkle even on rainy days. There are many plants that put on a show in fall and winter, and in Georgia fall is a good time to add plants to your garden.
While I have my favorites I decided to take a poll and hear from some fellow plant lovers at local nurseries about their favorites. I asked them to recommend trees, shrubs and perennials, not necessarily in that order. Here’s what they had to say:
Justin Branton, Habersham Gardens
Chionanthus retusus, Chinese fringe tree: Although this tree is known for its spring blooms, it also displays handsome bark which he appreciates in winter.
Sedum sieboldii 'October Daphne': Demonstrates gray green foliage and deep pink flowers.
Vaccinium darrowii: Also known as evergreen blueberry, with tiny evergreen leaves, it grows 1 to 4' tall and makes a great plant for edging or containers.
Rosemary Bathurst, Ashe-Simpson
Amsonia hubrichtii: A hardy perennial with great fall color and form. The airy shapes bend to the wind. She trims hers back by 1/3 to ½ after it flowers in spring to keep it small.
Aster frikartii 'Monch': One of the latest blooming of her selections, the clear blue flowers work so well with Amsonia as well as the fall garden daisies like the Ryan series.
Crocus sativus: This charming bulb with light lilac purple blooms is unexpected at this time of year. Site it in a location that is easy to access so you can harvest the saffron threads.
Eupatorium coelestinum: Rosemary admits that this plant can grow even where you don't want it but the lilac blooms make up for this bad habit. In fact it seems to thrive on neglect and shows up in gardens long after they have been abandoned.
Ginkgo biloba: Brilliant yellow leaves and the fact that they drop all at once. She says that in one town in Wisconsin they have a betting pool that you enter by picking the date and time that the tree in the town square will drop its leaves. The tree can be precise to the hour!
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee': Showcases very dark burgundy fall leaf color and bark interest in winter. She also likes its size, smaller than the species growing to about 4' tall.
Melodie McDanal and David McMullin, GardenHood
Itea virginica 'Merlot': A compact selection of the native Virginia sweetspire with red and burgundy fall foliage.
Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone': An upright conifer with golden new growth, turns bluish-green in winter. Grow it in full sun for best color. Tolerates drought.
Lespedeza liukiuensis 'Little Volcano': Also known as Little Volcano, bush clover is covered with masses of red purple flowers that last until late October. It grows 4 to 6' tall and is beautiful as it moves with the breeze.
Oxydendrum arboreum: Called sourwood, this native tree is one of the first to exhibit brilliant red fall foliage that persists late into the season.
Viburnum tinus 'Spring Bouquet': An evergreen viburnum with dark green foliage, deep red stems and flowers in very early spring. It grows 5 to 6' tall, perfect for small hedges or screening.
Dianna Allstadt, Scottsdale Farms
Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Ice': This conifer has fragrant branches she loves to use in arrangements and for wreaths and garlands. A great color in the winter garden.
Lonicera nitida 'Baggesen's Gold': Great for containers. The foliage takes on purple tints in winter.
Pyracantha 'Victory': The brilliant red berries persist into winter.
Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii Amethyst: This coralberry has vivid purple hot pink berries that stay on after the shrub drops its foliage.
Sources: Call ahead for hours of operation
Ashe-Simpson Garden Center
4961 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-458-3224
GardenHood
353 Boulevard SE, Atlanta, GA 30312, 404-880-9848
Habersham Gardens
2067 Manchester St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30324, 404-873-2484
Scottsdale Farms
15639 Birmingham Hwy (Hwy 372), Alpharetta, GA 30004, 770-777-5875
Erica Glasener is a horticulturist and host of "A Gardener's Diary" which airs at 6:30 a.m. Fridays on HGTV. For questions visit Erica Glasener's Web site.
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