Fall 2010

GCSC Chairman Jerry W. Weise

Ah, Fall!  Finally some relief from the heat!  In much of the Southeast however, we are still in the grips of an extremely dry season.  So, what plants have fared well?  As you move about your community take notice of species that are still perky and try to determine if they survived with only natural rainfall or had the benefit of irrigation.  Also identify fall blooming/fruiting plants that add interest and color to the autumn landscape.  Here along the coast our pink Muhly grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris, or Sweetgrass of basketry fame is waving soft pink blooms gracefully in each breeze.

Sweetgrass is one of many native grasses that are tough customers, performing in whatever weather comes our way.  As you survey what has done well this year in your town, keep a log so you can use these notes to plan and plant for next year.  If you see a gorgeous plant, research its name now so you are prepared for spring.  If the plant is a tree or shrub, you may wish to locate a source now since November is prime time for planting trees and shrubs in our Southeast.

Bright, beautiful and interesting fall plants for your garden plans:  Lantanas, non-native but hybridized to be well-behaved and a great nectar source for fall flights of butterflies;  almost all herbs especially basils and sages;  Alliums that may bloom late in the Upstate but are presenting seed heads on the coast;  Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) (their heavy pollen is carried by insects, not wind, so they do not contribute to itchy eyes/nose allergies);  Blanket flowers, Gaillardia spp., that bloom all season;  Blazing Star, Liatris spp., sporting stiff spikes of flowers in shades of purple to white; Joe Pye Weed, a 6 foot tall perennial with soft lavender butterfly magnet flowers;  many native asters and sunflowers.

If you need shrubs, fall blooming Witch hazel (Hamamelis), Camellia sasanqua, and Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans) offer beauty and fragrance. These understory shrubs prefer some shade and acidic soil.  Be very wary of mulch you spread around acid loving shrubs.  Oak leaves and pine needles decompose and add mild amounts of acidity to the soil.  Beware of some of the bagged or bulk red colored mulches.  Acid loving citrus (limes, key limes, Myer’s lemons, etc.) may not bloom and bear fruit if the soil Ph is not acidic.  Many other factors bear on fruit production so research the needs of your particular fruit trees.
For fall color and sweet fruit to savor, how about persimmons?  Our native Persicum grows across the state and, to me, the ripe fruit looks like tiny pumpkins hanging from branches begging to be relished.

Have a bountiful purple and gold Autumn!