Autumn is a season that can be beautiful. If the conditions are right, many trees and shrubs are dressed in their best clothes, which makes the orange, reddish and yellowish colors contrast with the green of the evergreen plants.
Achieving this effect can be a bit complicated if the area is rather temperate-warm, although you should not worry too much because it is not impossible 😉. Take a look at our 13 suggested outdoor fall plants, and enjoy.
Japanese maple
It grows between 2 and 15 meters in height depending on the variety and / or cultivar. Its leaves are deciduous, turning red, yellow, or even variegated in the fall before falling.. To be well required protection against the sun, acidic soils and frequent watering with water without lime. It withstands the cold down to -18ºC well, but it cannot live in tropical or excessively hot climates.
Winter bignonia
Despite its name, this beautiful evergreen climber begins flowering in mid / late fall continues through spring. Its flowers are orange, and it reaches a height of up to 6 meters as long as it has support to climb on. It will grow healthy if it is placed in the sun or in semi-shade and watered with lime-free water two or three times a week. But it does not resist cold or frost unless they are weak and punctual.
Ornamental cabbage
Did you think that cabbages were just plants for consumption? Now you can also have ornamental cabbages, which they stand out for the color of their leaves. You have to keep them in full sun, in a pot or on the ground, and water them from time to time. It is important to protect them if the temperature drops below -8ºC.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum is the typical fall plant that we find for sale in nurseries. There is a great variety of them, with single or double flowers, and colors that vary greatly.. They can reach 1,5 meters, but the normal thing is that they do not exceed 30 centimeters. In addition, whether they are in the sun or in semi-shade they will grow wonderfully. Of course, it is highly recommended that the substrate and irrigation water be a little acidic.
Dalia
Dahlias are plants that stand out for their flowers: these can be red, yellow, pink, orange ...; double or single; with wide petals or in the shape of a thick needle ... Do you know the best? That they are produced throughout the year as long as they are in the sun and are watered about twice a week. As for the cold, they resist frosts down to -4ºC.
echeveria
Echeveria are non-cactaceous or succulent plants, whose size and color will depend on the variety: some have pink leaves, others greenish, others bicolor, others variegated ... But all of them bloom towards the end of the summer and into the fall. Water them little, letting the soil dry between waterings, and put them in a sunny place. They resist weak frosts down to -3ºC.
Forsythia
Forsythia is a deciduous shrub about 3-4 meters tall whose leaves turn yellow or reddish in autumn, making the place where it is planted look spectacular. It needs sun or semi-shade, and that it be watered with lime-free water frequently. The cold is not a problem for her: it supports up to -12ºC.
Dwarf purple beech
When we think of beech trees we usually imagine trees about 30 meters high, but it is becoming easier to find small varieties. One of the most interesting is this, the Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea nana', deciduous shrub with burgundy red leaves that becomes more showy in fall. And it's only 2 meters long! Place it in semi-shade, and water it with lime-free water. It resists frost without problems, down to -20ºC.
China pink hibiscus
It is a popular evergreen shrub that is frequently cultivated in gardens and terraces, as its height does not exceed 4 meters and, in addition, produces large and very showy flowers of various colors: red, yellow, orange. It prefers to be a little sheltered from the wind, the sun or in semi-shade, and you have to water it from time to time. It is capable of resisting weak frosts down to -3ºC.
Hydrangea
The hydrangea is a wonderful 1 to 3 meter tall shrub that produces flowers throughout the year, including fall. It is so easy to care that it only needs some shade, moderate watering and a temperature that stays above -4ºC.
Daisy of the meadows
This little plant, which is barely 20 centimeters tall, is biennial, although it is considered an annual since it is kept in very good condition only the first year. In any case, to be able to contemplate its curious and beautiful flowers in autumn you just have to put it in the sun or in semi-shade and water it about two or three times a week.
parajubaea
A palm tree on a fall plant list? Of course yes! In fact, there is a wide variety of palm tree species that love autumn temperatures and rains, much more than summer. Some of them are the Parajubaea, plants with a single not very thick trunk (they can measure about 40-50cm thick) and with a maximum height of 20 meters. The leaves are pinnate, green in color and exquisitely elegant.
Put them in the sun, go watering them from time to time and do not worry about the cold because they are able to resist up to -7ºC.
Tecomaria
Also known as Cape bignonia or Cape honeysuckle, it is a fantastic evergreen shrub (or deciduous if frost occurs) up to 8 meters high. Its flowers are orange-reddish, and they sprout from fall to spring. For this, it only requires a sunny exposure and moderate watering. Holds up to -8ºC.
What do you think of our selection of outdoor autumn plants? Do you know any other?
Very good selection, I will have it present in my garden! Thanks
My mother had an E. leucocephala and after 10 years it dried up, mother is 99 years old and is asking about her little tree that at this time its white leaves appear. Where can I buy a tree? It is beautiful
Hello, Luz.
You can get seeds on ebay for example. They germinate very well and are fast. Already the first year they can bloom 🙂
By the way, is your mother 99 years old? Impressive.
Greetings to both of you 🙂
Brilliant. Surely you will have a spectacular garden 🙂
Good afternoon, the beech trees can be layered or it is better to cut. Thanks
Hello Jose.
From what I know beech cuttings have a hard time rooting, so layering is best.
Greetings.
Your page is very good, clear and concise, thank you
We're glad you like it, Elisabeth 🙂
Precious information that transmits the love for plants. In such a complicated world, these dialogues bring joy not only to eyes but to life. Thanks. Alicia from Suipacha (Argentina)
We are glad you liked it, Alicia 🙂