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8 Waterlily autumn crocus
COLCHICUM ‘WATERLILY,’ ZONES 4 TO 7
Add a colorful surprise to the front of your garden
with the large leafless blooms of Waterlily autumn
crocus. Plant the bulbs in late summer and then
enjoy the flowers right away in fall. Next spring, 6- to
14-inch-tall leaves appear for about 8 weeks and then
fade away for summer. Each fall, the flowers reappear,
sans leaves.
Why we love it: Autumn crocus looks great among
spring-flowering groundcovers.7 Hot Lava helenium
HELENIUM ‘HOT LAVA,’ ZONES 3 TO 8
Hot Lava’s non-drooping, outstretched petals provide
an ever-changing display of color. The daisy-like
flowers open yellow, develop orange and red streaks,
and finally mature to red.
Why we love it: Dress up your indoor decor by
adding these colorful blossoms to your fall bouquets.(^8) 5: PERENNIALRESOURCE.COM; 6: COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS - PROENWINNERS.COM; 7: FLOWERS AND GARDENS BY JAN SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY/ALA
MY STOCK PHOTO; 8: WHITEFLOWER FARM
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6 Russian sage
PEROVSKIA ATRIPLICIFOLIA,
ZONES 4 TO 9
Blue flowers shine from
summer through fall on
this stunning heat- and
drought-tolerant plant.
Grow in full sun and
well-draining soil for best
results. Prune plants back
to 4 inches in late winter
or early spring for more
compact growth. Or grow
a compact variety such as
Blue Spires, Lacey Blue or
Denim ’n Lace.
Why we love it: The
fragrant foliage adds a bit
of aromatherapy to your
spring garden cleanup.
5 Joe Pye weed
EUTROCHIUM PURPUREUM,
ZONES 4 TO 9
Give this big boy some
room! It reaches 7 feet
tall in full sun to partial
shade and moist soil.
You and the butterflies
will fall in love with the
large, fragrant mauve-
pink flower clusters. Plus,
the seed heads persist
and add texture to your
winter garden.
Why we love it: For
tight spaces, try Little Joe
(3 to 4 feet tall) and Baby
Joe (32 inches tall). Both
of these small options are
ideal for rain gardens.
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7
Waterlily crocus
growing among
Angelina sedum
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MORE ABOUT HELENIUM Despite being known as sneezeweed, helenium doesn’t
cause hay fever or the sniffles. Long ago, the leaves were used to make snuff, and
Native Americans believed the plant cured fevers and head colds.