The Brightest Flowers Of October In My Garden. Types And Varieties, Care, Photo

Of course, the main colors in the October garden are created by the autumn foliage of trees and shrubs of all sorts of shades. During this period, flowering plants gradually fade away, preparing for autumn sleep. And yet, while something is still blooming in the garden, it creates the illusion that summer is still going on. This effect is especially strong during Indian summer, when the sun warms up brightly like summer. Therefore, I try to have in my garden a certain group of flowers that are capable of blooming in late autumn and delight with their color before the frost does not envelop the garden with winter sleep. I will talk about such plants in the article.

1. Physostegy "Variegata"

Surely many are familiar with Physostegia virginiana with small purple flowers, which grows well due to the creeping rhizome, and blooms in mid-summer. Hybrid Physostegia "Variegata" (Physostegia variegata) significantly differs from the original species not only in more expressive appearance, but also in the flowering time.

Its light green leaves are edged with a distinctive creamy white border, which makes the plant attractive throughout the season. Spike-shaped inflorescences, consisting of lavender-pink flowers, larger than the usual physostegia, appear in early autumn and bloom until frost.

Delicate inflorescences not only decorate the flower garden, attracting butterflies, but are also great for cutting. Unlike some other varieties of physostegia, the "Variegata" hybrid is not prone to rapid growth, but forms a small compact, upright bush.

The height can be up to 90 cm, but in my garden it never exceeded 40-50 centimeters. Physostegia prefers rich, moisture-consuming soil and can grow near a stream or body of water. Bushes divide easily every 3-4 years in early spring.

2. Bell of Portenchlag

In a perennial culture, the Portenschlag bell (Campanula portenschlagiana) usually ends its flowering at the end of summer, but in my garden this species grows like a juvenile, so I have to periodically renew it by seedlings. In this case, it blooms from July to the end of October (seedlings from self-seeding also begin to bloom in the fall).

These tiny bells are very touching and delicate, they form low, thick cushions, which is why they are most often placed in a rock garden. Charming flowers from a certain angle are a bit like spring forest. Moreover, they have an unusual color, consisting of several shades. Depending on the lighting, they can appear mauve or blue-purple.

The inflorescences are rich in nectar and attract insects. This bell has tiny seeds, but this problem is removed by sowing one seed into the peat tablets with a toothpick. In general, growing this bell is not a problem. He will like sunny places or light partial shade and moderately fertile soils. It is best that the landing sites are elevated, as the bell is often wet in winter.

3. Colchicum

The appearance of a colchicum in the garden is always a small miracle. First, the touching characteristic appearance, which is more inherent in primroses, seems to bring us back to spring in the middle of autumn that has already come into its own.

And secondly, the bloom of the crocus begins literally suddenly. And if you rarely visit the dacha during this period, it may happen that a week ago this clearing was empty, but today, like mushrooms after rain, beautiful buds have crawled out and blossomed out of the ground.

Colchicum flowers are of two types - simple and double. The former are very similar to crocuses, and the latter bloom flowers slightly resembling chrysanthemums or nymphaean water lilies. Outward similarity gave rise to the name of one of the most popular terry varieties of crocus " Waterlily".

Another less popular terry variety has white flowers and is called Album Plenum. The main requirement of the crocus is good soil drainage and a sunny place. At the beginning of summer, linear leaves appear from under the ground near the crocus, which soon die off, but the peduncles without foliage crawl out in the fall.

4. Aconite Karmikhel (wrestler, skullcap)

Aconite carmichaelii (Aconitum carmichaelii) - one of the latest among the many varieties of skullcap. Most often it blooms in October and sometimes, during a long fine autumn, even in November. But, unfortunately, it also happens that significant frosts hit too early, and the flowering of this aconite can never be expected.

If he still manages to bloom, then it is always a great joy, because the plant has a very beautiful deep blue-violet color and an original flower shape. The structural features of the flower of this aconite duplicate other types, however, the Karmikhel aconite is favorably distinguished by the size of the helmets-flowers. They reach a size of four centimeters and form large inflorescences-spikelets, crowning strong erect stems.

This species also has several varieties and garden forms. If you plant several types of aconite in your garden, then due to the different flowering period they will successfully replace each other and it is Aconit Karmikhelya who will worthily complete the parade of skullcap.

Aconite Karmikhela, like other types of aconite, can grow well even on poor soils, but when planting, it is still recommended to add compost to the planting pit.

In order for the Karmikhel wrestler to flourish, it is recommended to plant it in the sun, although it can grow in partial shade.

This type of aconite is more resistant to powdery mildew than other species of skullcap.

5. Miscanthus and other grains

With the onset of cool autumn weather, the foliage of many ornamental grasses is painted in bright colors. Incredibly beautiful in the fall are such representatives of cereals as molinia, rod-shaped millet, hakonekhloya, pennisetum, bearded vulture and others. But a special place in this series is occupied by mixcanthus, because not only does the color of its foliage change, but the long-awaited flowering of lush inflorescences resembling bird feathers begins.

The purple miscanthus (Miscanthus Purpurascens) is famous for its particularly spectacular autumn color. In the fall, its foliage resembles flames that combine orange, red and pinkish hues.

The most popular among gardeners enjoy the numerous varieties of Miscanthus Chinese (Miscanthus sinensis). The foliage of representatives of this species also, in most cases, has an attractive autumn color of yellow, bronze and orange tones.

Unfortunately, miscanthus is not very winter-hardy in the middle lane and can fall out in especially harsh winters. Miscanthus Chinese has both more hardy and less winter-hardy varieties. But nevertheless, it will be necessary to establish which kind of variety will take root in your area exclusively by experiment.

When choosing a variety, you should also give preference to early varieties, since medium and late flowering in our climate, as a rule, manage to bloom only in a long warm autumn.

Miscanthus is a fairly unpretentious cereal. The plant tolerates a wide range of soils from sandy to heavy clayey. It tolerates short-term drought, but still watering is required during the dry period.

It will best grow in an open, sunny location. But in partial shade, its growth will be less vigorous, the intensity of flowering will decrease and the stems may lie down.

For better wintering of growth points, foliage is not cut off, but tied in sheaves, old leaves are cut off only in early spring. Easily multiplies by dividing the bush.

6. Chrysanthemum

Impressive floral decorations in the early to mid-autumn create a chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum). They have lush, dark green, dense foliage, against which the numerous constellations of inflorescences light up.

Reed flowers (petals) have countless shades: yellow, orange, amber or red (warm tones), lavender or burgundy, pure white or bicolor.

Chrysanthemums also have a wide gradation in height: border, medium and tall. Varies, depending on the variety, and the shape of the bush - from spherical to columnar.

Chrysanthemums are commonly used in designs to bring out a real burst of vibrant color in an autumn landscape. In late summer and early fall, these flowers can often be found on sale in supermarkets, where they are sold as functional annuals for fall decorations. Naturally, most of them were not selected on the basis of winter hardiness.

If chrysanthemums are to be used as perennials in the landscape, it is best to buy planting material from nurseries. For example, you should pay attention to multiflora chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium), which are distinguished by a genetic globular habit. Among them there are many rather winter-hardy varieties of various colors.

Growing chrysanthemums in the garden requires a rich soil that contains a large amount of nutrients for rapid growth of the root system and, subsequently, for lush flowering.

At the same time, chrysanthemums definitely need good drainage in order to prevent the development of various rot. For varieties with relative winter hardiness, it is better to provide shelter.