Today’s photos come from Maxine’s garden in Rotterdam, New York.

It’s so sad to watch the garden go dormant. Yet I love the fall colors.

There was still a lot of green in the garden when Maxine took these photos, but one of the standbys of the fall garden, the Autumn Joy sedum

Today’s photos come from Maxine’s garden in Rotterdam, New York.

It’s so sad to watch the garden go dormant. Yet I love the fall colors.

There was still a lot of green in the garden when Maxine took these photos, but one of the standbys of the fall garden, the Autumn Joy sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Herbstfreude’, Zones 3–9) is in full bloom, much to the delight of gardeners and pollinators alike.

Here the sedum is flanked by two other garden stalwarts: black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida, Zones 3–9) in the back and ajuga (Ajuga reptans, Zones 3–10) in the front.

The garden is beginning to take on rosey, golden hues as the season slips into fall.

A clump of variegated sedge (Carex oshimensis, Zones 5–9) takes center stage, its colorful foliage looking good all season.

This fall-blooming clematis is either the native Clematis virginiana (Zones 3–8) or the similar-looking Asian Clematis ternatifolia (Zones 5–9). Clematis ternatifolia can be invasive in some parts of the United States, so Clematis virginiana is a better choice for most gardens in this country.

A white fall-blooming anemone (Anemone hupehensis, Zones 4–8) brings fresh flowers to the colors of fall. These anemones can spread rapidly when happy, so they are best suited to larger gardens.

The cheery white blooms of the Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum, Zones 5–9) come in the fall, over the shrubby, almost succulent foliage.

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

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Having grown up in New England, and living there now, I consider myself pretty spoiled in fall. After all, tourists literally flock to my section of North America every autumn to take in the sight of the native forests turning brilliant colors. We even have a term for these folks: leaf peepers. As I write this, I’m looking out my window at a sassafras (Sassafras albidum, Zones 4–9) that looks like someone lit it on fire. The orange, yellow, and red foliage glows so brightly that at certain times

Having grown up in New England, and living there now, I consider myself pretty spoiled in fall. After all, tourists literally flock to my section of North America every autumn to take in the sight of the native forests turning brilliant colors. We even have a term for these folks: leaf peepers. As I write this, I’m looking out my window at a sassafras (Sassafras albidum, Zones 4–9) that looks like someone lit it on fire. The orange, yellow, and red foliage glows so brightly that at certain times of day, the walls of my office turn a similar color simply from the intensity. Trees with the best fall color are not limited to New England, however.

There are large and small woodies that will shift to a brilliant shade of citrus or deep ruby for nearly every corner of the country. Even if your nighttime temperatures don’t fall that low, a bit of a chill is all that is needed in many cases to spark a notable color change with certain deciduous trees. The following is a balanced mix of trees with excellent fall color. You’ll find natives and nonnatives, large and small habits, and an array of hardiness levels. So whether you live in South Carolina or Southern California—or anywhere in between—chances are there is an amazing tree you can grow for autumnal foliar beauty. And planting one of these options will save you the cost of traveling to New England this season.

1. Red maple

Name: Acer rubrum Zones: 3–9 Size: 40 to 65 feet tall and 30 to 45 feet wide Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist to wet, well-drained soil Native range: Eastern and central North America

When you think of the East Coast in fall, you think of two trees for fall color: sugar maple (Acer saccharum, Zones 3–9) and red maple. The latter is more impressive in my mind; it slowly shifts its foliage from a glossy green to a deep, blood red. In fact, you’ll sometimes notice a mottled effect on the leaves before they shift completely to dark red and then steadily brighten to a fire engine hue before dropping in late fall. This tree prefers wet soil conditions (its other common name is “swamp maple”), although it will tolerate drier conditions once established. This is a medium-size, deciduous tree that is native to eastern North America from Quebec to Minnesota and south to Florida and eastern Texas. The clusters of lovely, bright red, Sputnik-like flowers that appear along the branches in late winter are generally one of the first signs that spring is on the doorstep.

2. ‘Horstmann’s Recurved’ European larch

Name: Larix decidua ‘Horstmann’s Recurved’ Zones: 2–7 Size: 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil Native range: Central and Southern Europe

You’ll never regret planting any type of larch. This is one of a rare few conifers that are deciduous, shedding all their needles yearly. The needles emerge a bright green in spring and are amazingly soft. As the tree ages, it develops weeping branches that look much like the sleeves of a Stevie Nicks dress in the 1970s. ‘Horstmann’s Recurved’ adds to that character, with each branch twisting irregularly in every direction. With the onset of the first chilly nights in autumn, the soft green needles will turn a brilliant yellow and then gracefully mellow to a buttery gold. In the warmer end of its zonal hardiness, the golden needles may hang on into winter. Regardless, once they drop, you’re left with an incredible living garden sculpture to carry you through the winter.

3. Flame Thrower^® Eastern redbud

Name: Cercis canadensis ‘NC2016-2’ Zones: 5–9 Size: 15 to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil Native range: Eastern and central North America

Who doesn’t love a redbud? This is by far one of the best native trees out there for myriad reasons. The silvery bark is divine, the magenta-to-soft-lavender flowers (which appear before the foliage) are spectacular, and the heart-shaped kelly green leaves are darling. The straight species, which is native to at least half the country, is great all on its own. But if you want to up your redbud game, you should try Flame Thrower^®. Relatively new to nurseries, this nativar has foliage that emerges burgundy, fades to yellow, and eventually matures to green. And the branches display all the colors at once! Just when you think the show can’t get any better, in fall the foliage turns lemon yellow overnight and holds for several weeks. Planting one of these small trees in a front yard would be like planting a ray of sunshine.

4. Japanese stewartia

Name: Stewartia pseudocamellia Zones: 5–8 Size: 20 to 40 feet tall and 15 to 30 feet wide Conditions: Full sun; moist, well-drained soil Native range: Japan

Rare is the tree that is truly a four-season wonder. One exception is Japanese stewartia. As the tree matures the bark begins to peel, revealing strips of silver, tan, and near white along the trunk and larger branches. In spring, medium green, oval leaves appear and have a bit of fuzz on them, which helps keep hungry deer away. Then in summer you’ll wonder if you forgot that you planted a camellia (Camellia spp. and cvs., Zones 7–10) because Japanese stewartia bursts into flower with delicate white, cupped blooms with golden centers. If this tree stopped performing at this point, you’d still want it, right? But wait, there’s more! In fall the stewartia turns into a version of Joseph’s Technicolor dream coat, with foliage that shifts from orange-yellow, to bright pink-red, to a rich copper mahogany. This is largely a pest- and disease-free woody plant, and it needs only well-drained soil to be happy.

5. Franklin tree

Name: Franklinia alatamaha Zones: 5–8 Size: 10 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 15 feet wide Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil Native range: Southeastern United States

If you’re looking for stunning foliage and flowers in fall, look no further than Franklin tree. John Bartram, a botanist appointed by King George III in 1765 to explore North America, first discovered Franklinia growing along the Altamaha River in southeastern Georgia. Bartram collected seed and successfully began growing Franklin tree (named after Benjamin Franklin) back at his home base of Philadelphia. Unfortunately, this tree has been extinct in the wild since 1803, but plants continue to be cultivated by nurseries around the country. The lance-shaped leaves are around 6 inches long and are a glossy green for most of the spring and summer. Then in late summer to early fall, large cup-shaped flowers with an eye-catching golden center appear. This happens to coincide with the foliage shifting to bright orange and red. Oh, and did I mention that the flowers are fragrant? This late-season show is unlike any other in the world of woodies. Franklin tree does need consistent moisture to do well, so those with dry, lean soil need to look elsewhere for a suitable option to plant.

6. Coral bark maple

Name: Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ Zones: 5–9 Size: 20 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-drained soil Native range: Japan

Another four-season wonder, coral bark maple seldom has an ugly phase. In winter the bright pink-red stems glow against the bleak gray sky, offering a hit of color similar to that of a redtwig dogwood (Cornus servicea and cvs., Zones 3–8). Then in spring, vibrant golden leaves outlined in red appear. Although they gradually fade a bit to become more green than yellow, they still fall into the chartreuse category. The lacy texture of the canopy is a beautiful contrast to most trees. In fall, the color progression of the leaves goes backward, with the foliage changing back to an acid yellow, still edged in red. Be sure to give this small tree some shade in the late afternoon or else its delicate foliage will burn and ruin the late-season color show.

7. Early Glow™ Ohio buckeye

Name: Aesculus glabra ‘J. N. Select’ Zones: 3–7 Size: 40 feet tall and 25 feet wide Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil Native range: Eastern United States and Canada

A fairly new edition to the best fall trees lineup is Early Glow™ Ohio buckeye. This tree sports yellow-green flower clusters that are quite lovely and, according to Fine Gardening regional reporter Mark Dwyer, attract scores of hummingbirds. The dark green summer foliage resists sun-scorch, which can be a big cosmetic issue for the straight species. Because the foliage stays in good form throughout July and August, come September the leaves reliably turn a brilliant red (instead of just turning completely brown and shriveling up). As with all native buckeyes, it’s best to avoid dry sites.

8. Katsura tree

Name: Cercidiphyllum japonicum Zones: 4–8 Size: 40 to 60 feet tall and wide Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil Native range: China and Japan

You’ll swear the carnival is parked in your driveway if you plant this tree. When its teardrop-shaped green leaves shift to bright yellow in fall, they emit a fragrance that smells like maple sugar or cotton candy. This is a deciduous tree that can be grown as a single- or multi-trunked specimen. The canopy is rounded, giving the tree a lollipop look and hinting at the olfactory delight that waits in autumn. The foliage emerges red in spring before gradually maturing to bright green. Its bark develops a muscular, reddish look with age, which adds some interest in winter. Although pretty easy to care for, young katsuras resent dry soil, so be sure to keep newly planted trees evenly moist for the first few years.

For more on spectacular fall trees, click here.

—Danielle Sherry is the executive editor.

Photos, except where noted: Danielle Sherry

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for people worldwide, but one silver lining about the experience is the resurgence of interest in gardening. After people in lockdown exhausted their reading and television options, an explosion of new and experienced gardeners began enthusiastically growing their own vegetables and herbs. Quite a few then dove into growing their own fruits, even when many options were too big for their patios or small yards. Houseplants also saw a surge in popularity for gardeners

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for people worldwide, but one silver lining about the experience is the resurgence of interest in gardening. After people in lockdown exhausted their reading and television options, an explosion of new and experienced gardeners began enthusiastically growing their own vegetables and herbs. Quite a few then dove into growing their own fruits, even when many options were too big for their patios or small yards. Houseplants also saw a surge in popularity for gardeners of all experience levels. This combination of trends helped to produce and popularize some new and exciting plants—including a dwarf fig called Fignomenal®.

Being of a somewhat shorter stature, I particularly love plants that are diminutive versions of bigger siblings. This fig does not disappoint, and I fell into immediate plant lust after confirming that it does everything its bigger relatives do. I always knew the best things came in small packages. This reliable compact fig grows no larger than 3 feet tall and wide, making it ideally suited for life in a container within an urban garden, on a patio, or even in a sunroom.

Fignomenal® produces interesting broad, palmate, and lobed leaves. In spring it develops not-so-ornamental greenish flowers and small hollow receptacles near the branch tips. In late summer or fall, you are in for a great surprise when fruit grows from each receptacle. It does this on new wood and parthenocarpically— which means you don’t need two to tango, as the fruit develops without cross-pollination. However, having two increases fruit production.

The fruit ripens to a deep brown outer skin and a rich pink center. I think the taste is simply delectable, juicy, and luscious. I like to eat my figs straight from the tree, but they are also great when used in jam or jelly, sliced for salads, or in a combo with cheese. They’re a nutritious and delicious bounty no matter how you serve them.

For the best performance, give Fignomenal® four to eight hours of full sun per day. If planting it directly in the ground, make sure it is in well-drained, good garden loam. Make your planting hole twice as wide and as deep as the root ball. For containers, select a pot that is twice the width of your plant. Make sure it has adequate drainage holes and a good organic mix, and place it inside or outside in a sunny location. It prefers average moisture but appreciates more water during periods of hotter weather when in containers or in the ground outside. Keep it out of extreme cold, and bring it inside before the temperature drops to 35°F.

Other than that, this fig requires very little maintenance. Pruning should be done after harvesting the fruit. To keep your tree small and well-shaped, prune to your desired size for up to three years when it is fully established. After that, no more pruning is needed unless there is a dead or diseased branch.

The low mounding habit of Fignomenal® is perfect for growing inside, where it will give you a tropical feeling in your home year-round. Depending on your hardiness zone, it can be enjoyed equally as a seasonal patio or porch plant, or in your garden. Kick back and enjoy its Mediterranean vibes as you savor the delicious fruit. It is truly “fignomenal.”

Fignomenal® fig

Name: Ficus carica* ‘PT-DF-14’

Zones: 7–9

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil

Native range: Eastern Mediterranean region, Western Asia

*Invasive alert: Edible fig (Ficus carica)

This plant is considered invasive in CA.

Please visit invasiveplantatlas.org for more information.

Stephanie Cohen is the author of several gardening books and has spent her entire career trialing, speaking about, and teaching all things plants. Although officially retired, she will never retire from gardening.

Illustration: Elara Tanguy

Sources:

Christina Tyzzer is sharing a look back at the gardening year with us as we move into fall.

We garden in Indiana in Zone 6a. It has been a hot, dry year, and so a bit challenging, but we learn so much through these challenges. Here is a look at our 2022 garden.

The vegetable garden is promising

Christina Tyzzer is sharing a look back at the gardening year with us as we move into fall.

We garden in Indiana in Zone 6a. It has been a hot, dry year, and so a bit challenging, but we learn so much through these challenges. Here is a look at our 2022 garden.

The vegetable garden is promising a great harvest in a few short months! We did learn that the tomatoes cannot be tied to our 6-foot fence next year, as those red globes are just too enticing to the chickens! They got all of the first fruit by pecking through the fence.

The ‘Queen Lime’ zinnias (Zinnia elegans ‘Queen Lime’, annual) bring in plenty of pollinators and beneficial insects . . .

. . . and make beautiful bouquets to drool over.

The dahlias (Dahlia variabilis, Zones 8–10 or as tender bulbs) provided the biggest challenge, with many days over 90°F.

This praying mantis on a “Brown Sugar” dahlia didn’t mind the heat.

And now that this long, hot season is drawing to a close, we are so thankful for what the garden has given us. It continues to provide for the winter table and to give us delightful (albeit spooky) fall decorations with beautifully delicious winter squash (Waltham butternut, spaghetti, and Musque de Provence pumpkins). I am now ready for the cleanup to begin, and I have many improvements planned for the 2023 season!

If you are looking back on the spring and summer of gardening as we move into fall, we’d love to see pictures of what worked (or didn’t) in your garden. Send them in to the GPOD!

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.