It might be time to give the traditional workhouse of fall flowers a rest this fall, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.
"Fall is a time when gardeners want to refresh a few of their container gardens or flower borders, replacing the tired annuals for some new color," said Greg Stack. "Traditionally, gardeners have looked to the workhorse of fall flowers, the chrysanthemum. But maybe you're getting bored with mums or you're a gardener who wants to think outside the 'mum' box and add dependable fall color but do it with other plants."
There are a lot of new things that are starting to appear in garden centers that make great color additions to the fall garden, he noted.
"The problem is, they have names that are very unfamiliar. Unfamiliarity breeds uncertainty and uncertainty leads you back to mums," Stack said. "There are some great mum alternatives for those who want to venture down a different road. These alternatives can add color and at the same time last well into fall--even tolerating light frost for extended color."
Stack said that first on this list of alternatives are the ornamental cabbage and kale. These relatives of the more familiar edible varieties offer a plant that provides long-lasting color through foliage. The leaves toward the center can take on shades of pink, red, or white. Plants grow about 10-to-12 inches tall and often as wide. When planted in groups, they can make a very striking color statement.
"What is even better, they laugh at the cold only getting better as it gets colder," he related. "The color can last into December when winters are mild."
Osteospermum is another daisy-like flower in colors of orange, white, and yellow often found with a very contrasting center or "eye." These plants grow 10-to-14 inches in nice mounds. They can often do very well even when temperatures drop into the mid-20s.
"Nemesia is not a household name in flowers but it is an excellent fall flower," said Stack. "This annual often does better in the fall than the summer when temperatures are not to its liking. Nemesia does very well even when temperatures drop into the 20s.
"This compact plant grows to about 14 inches and has flowers that look like tine cluster of violets or open face snapdragons. They make an excellent companion for use with fall pansies or mums."
Pansies, he added, are excellent for taking color well into the fall and doing very well as a flower that can take the cold.
"Pansies have long been the 'fall and winter' flower for southern gardeners," he said. "In the Midwest, they can add color to flower beds and containers. Newer varieties also have the ability to over winter and give early spring color."
Another great autumn performer is diascia. It forms mound-shaped plants eight to 10 inches tall and literally covered with tiny flowers in shades of pink, orange, lavender, white, and salmon. These plants perform best when the weather is cool and can, if they get a good snow cover, come back to repeat in the spring.
"Bracteantha is another show-stopper," Stack said. "This plant produces flowers that feel like straw, hence the common name strawflower. Outstanding for their brilliant clear colors in white, yellow, and orange, bracteantha will definitely add color and interest.
"The plant grows to about 12 inches and produces flowers well into the fall. It has a nice, neat habit and is great for cutting and drying."
Stack admitted that the flowers he described are not familiar names.
"But if you see any of these names at your garden center, don't run the other way," he said. "Take a few home. They are sure to please and be just different enough that you might start a new garden trend in your neighborhood."
