Beautiful beautyberries

Yesterday I promised to list a few terrific trees and shrubs for fall color, and a promise is a promise.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

Purple beautyberry

(Callicarpa dichotoma) – When this deciduous shrub loses its yellow leaves in the fall, it reveals clusters of gorgeous lilac and violet berries.   Birds love the fall fruits.  For best effect, plant it in masses, or try it in the understory of wooded areas that get filtered sun.  Tip: save the berried stems for accents in your autumn arrangements.

Orange and red sugar maple leaves

Sugar maples

(Acer saccharum) – I lovelovelove these trees, even though they can get stressed by the extreme heat and air pollution often found in urban environments.  Still, if you’ve got space for a specimen tree, and you crave a shady landscape, its rich red, yellow, and orange foliage can’t be beat.

Where can you see more glorious trees to add to your garden, and learn about their growing habits?  The upcoming Southeastern Flower Show, of course!

Lynn

Have you looked outside your window lately?  (Of course you have–what kind of a question is that?  It’s fall, and enthusiastic leaf-peepers are out every weekend, winding up and down the roads in the north Georgia mountains, and along every other scenic route.) 

Autumn is spectacular this year, and the light has a lot to do with it.  When the sun gleams through a canopy of foliage, ordinary yellows turn to burnished gold.  Scarlet leaves practically glow.  Right now, the sugar maples in my yard are a riot of ruby, emerald, and orange.

November is an excellent time for Atlantans to plant trees and shrubs for glorious color.  The cooler temperatures encourage them to establish strong root systems, which serve them well during the next warm growing season.

When you’re out leaf-peeping this fall, jot down some notes about where the light hits your garden.  Then, when you plant for next year, you can make the best use of nature’s spotlight—the sun. 

Tomorrow I’ll share some of my favorite fall trees and bushes with you.  What plants are “glowing” in your garden right now?

Lynn