If you're looking for something different from chrysanthemums, ornamental cabbages, and pansies for fall color, you may be interested in the new "Fall Magic" plants. These are common perennials such as salvia, carex, and ajuga that separately may not be outstanding but, when mixed together or with other fall-blooming plants, can be striking.
Three unusual plants in the Fall Magic line are wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea'), everlasting (Helichrysum thianschanicum 'Icicles'), and yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon 'Herman's Pride').
Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea' has an upright, 12-inch-tall growth habit with rosette-patterned leaves that turn to reddish purple in cold temperatures. Helichrysum thianschanicum 'Icicles' has silvery and velvety fingerlike leaves and a compact growth habit. The trailing leaves of Lamiastrum galeobdolon 'Herman's Pride' are shiny and silver, with green veins. These perennials add distinctive textures, colors, and appeal to containers or window boxes.
All plants in the Fall Magic line are hardy perennials with attractive foliage to 20? F. In addition, you can also enjoy the flowers from these beautiful plants next year if you remove them from their containers, heel-in the clumps in a mulch pile over the winter, and replant them in spring. Look for Fall Magic in garden centers in September.
Charlie Nardozzi is an award winning, nationally recognized garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert gardening information to home gardeners through radio, television, talks, tours, on-line, and the printed page. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun and accessible to everyone. He's the author of 6 books, has three radio shows in New England and a TV show. He leads Garden Tours around the world and consults with organizations and companies about gardening programs. See more about him at Gardening With Charlie.
