These plants will give your garden style, texture, and color into late autumn and winter
As temperature drop , works in the Mid - Atlantic are exhibit some prominent characteristics . From fall foliage to richly emblazon fruit , the feature of speech of aboriginal plants during this clip of year are not only beautiful , but they also bring home the bacon food for thought and home ground for the beast and insects in our region . I recently interview a Philadelphia - based room decorator , Maggie Flanagan of Maglia Designs , about creating a fall garden with native plants . This is what she had to say .
What are your go-to native plants for fall interest?
Maggie : Hubricht ’s bluestar(Amsonia hubrichtii , geographical zone 5–8 ) is a fall favourite . Throughout the seasons it has many wonderful color . Hubricht ’s bluestar also allows me to mix textures in the garden . This repeated pull back you in because of its beautiful feathery grain ; I always find myself get through out and petting its diffused leafage as I walk by .
‘ Chocoholic ’ bugbane(Actaea‘Chocoholic ’ , Zones 4–8 ) is one of my pet fall aboriginal plants because I am a chocoholic and a plant life addict . The majestic foliage alternate out among other surrounding greens . I like planting‘Citronelle ’ heuchera(Heuchera‘Citronelle ’ , Zones 4–8 ) next to it because the chartreuse of the heuchera contrasts with the dark purple - bronze leaves of the ‘ Chocoholic ’ white hellebore . Although not native , vary Solomon ’s seal(Polygonatum odoratumvar.pluriflorum‘Variegatum ’ , Zones 3–8 ) also make for a pretty combination when planted together with ‘ Chocoholic ’ . I also really like to include a vertical component in my design with ‘ Chocoholic ’ bugbane ; it ’s the gross early evenfall perennial .
How do you incorporate native plants into the garden for fall interest?
Maggie : When I design , I make certain to debate sequence planting by admit class - round seasonal interest to relish in all four seasons . In the fall , Charles Edward Berry on aboriginal shrubs and Tree start to ripen , which can be a nice focal point . Some good aboriginal selections arewinterberry(Ilex verticillataand cvs . , Zones 5–8 ) which can have red , orangish , and yellow berries , viburnums(Viburnumspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , and‘Winter King ’ green hawthorn(Crataegus viridus‘Winter King ’ , Zones 4–7 ) . If you are planting winterberry next to the facade of a white business firm , red possum haw would look better — with the colour popping more — than chicken winterberry , which may intermingle in with the home people of colour .
Chicago Luster ® arrowwood viburnum(Viburnum dentatum‘Synnestvedt ’ , Zones 3–9 ) has dark , metal blue fruit that ripen in autumn from September to October . The bush also has showy , dark green leaf that become a magnificent yellowed and bright orange color . Based on these seasonal nightfall characteristics , I would select this cultivar for a hedge or a multitude planting in a design .
as well , there are survival for fall gloss — likeshadbush(Amelanchier canadensis , Zones 3–7)—that I pick not of necessity for the fruit excerption , but for the big show the foliage gives in the spill . If it ’s a modest garden and you ca n’t incorporate everything , select plants that have honorable drop foliage . Some of my favorites areoakleaf hydrangea(Hydrangea quercifolia , Zones 4–8),Virginia sweetspire(Itea virginica , Zones 5–9 ) , andsummersweet(Clethra alnifolia , Zones 3–9 ) , all of which have antic fall leaf . Another popular pick iswitch hazel(Hamamelis virginiana , Zones 3–8 ) , which provides a pleasing architectural element as an understory shrub or along the edge of the woods .

What elements of design do you consider for late fall after many plants are finished for the season?
Maggie : The fall - turning - to - wintertime bleakness can be beautiful if you incorporate structure from hearty perennial like aboriginal grasses . weed have a range of colors , from sorry blues to red ink to orange , and their seeded player headland can be in the range of mountains of golden to pink . Grasses wait especially beautiful when they screw up softly in the current of air or when there are droplets from rainfall or morning dew .
For other design tips for crepuscule , check out these articles :
— Michele Christiano is a gardening helper at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square , Pennsylvania .

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The changing colors of this oakleaf hydrangea foliage complement the purple berries on the beautyberry (Callicarpacv., Zones 5–9) next to it.Photo: Maggie Flanagan

The foliage of Hubricht’s bluestar has a variety of colors in the fall, ranging from orange to yellow to chartreuse.Photo: Michelle Gervais



Bright red winterberry berries stand out on bleak gray days or when the shrub is next to a white house or fence.Photo: Maggie Flanagan

Chicago Luster®arrowwood viburnum has clusters of dark blue berries in the fall.Photo: Michelle Gervais

Witch hazel’s flowers add textural elements as well as pops of color after autumn foliage has fallen.Photo: Jason Jorgensen

Native grasses like prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis, Zones 3–9) retain foliage with strong color and texture throughout late fall and winter.Photo: Steve Aitken

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