Fall Foliage in East Texas

While much of the rest of the country has already experienced autumn, fall color usually peaks in the last few weeks of November here in east Texas. We haven’t even had a hard frost yet, though the forecast suggests that is coming Tuesday morning. With the arrival of cooler temperatures and shorter days, plants turn brilliant colors of red, orange, yellow, purple and a myriad of variations between. Our autumn show was pretty strung out over the past few weeks, and below are some of my favorite plants for fall color. You’ll see that many of them are Rhus and Acer with a few other colorful characters that follow. Maybe if you are looking for adding more fall color to your garden, you’ll get some inspiration from the images.

Our native Rhus or sumac species are wonderful plants for fall color. I’ve learned from having Rhus glabra seedings pop up here at the house color is variable; some have barely any color at all. There is a clump of Rhus glabra just up the road in …

Our native Rhus or sumac species are wonderful plants for fall color. I’ve learned from having Rhus glabra seedings pop up here at the house color is variable; some have barely any color at all. There is a clump of Rhus glabra just up the road in Nat that that always has this nice wine color in the fall.

 
Most Rhus glabra will turn a more vibrant red at the end of the season.

Most Rhus glabra will turn a more vibrant red at the end of the season.

 
Another sumac that has spectacular fall color is Rhus copallinum or winged sumac, named for the foliage projections on either side of the leaf’s rachis.

Another sumac that has spectacular fall color is Rhus copallinum or winged sumac, named for the foliage projections on either side of the leaf’s rachis.

And, these newly planted Rhus aromatica plants at my house are putting on their coat of many colors. This species makes a wonderful low groundcover, though other selections of the species can get taller.

And, these newly planted Rhus aromatica plants at my house are putting on their coat of many colors. This species makes a wonderful low groundcover, though other selections of the species can get taller.

Maples are another genus where one can find a diversity of species offering fall color. Wild Acer rubrum can be hit or miss. This fencerow find glowed bright enough to warrant a stop for some photographs. Don’t you just love those licorice red pe…

Maples are another genus where one can find a diversity of species offering fall color. Wild Acer rubrum can be hit or miss. This fencerow find glowed bright enough to warrant a stop for some photographs. Don’t you just love those licorice red petioles?

Karen is starry-eyed over this beautiful red maple!

Karen is starry-eyed over this beautiful red maple!

A maple that I’ve learned about since moving to Texas is Acer leucoderme, the chalk maple. It is praised for having some of the best fall color of a maple in the east Texas region.

A maple that I’ve learned about since moving to Texas is Acer leucoderme, the chalk maple. It is praised for having some of the best fall color of a maple in the east Texas region.

A close up of the leaves of Acer leucoderme. They tend to be a bit smaller than the typical red maple and sugar maple leaves, but they still have incredible fall foliage.

A close up of the leaves of Acer leucoderme. They tend to be a bit smaller than the typical red maple and sugar maple leaves, but they still have incredible fall foliage.

I have fallen in love with the brilliant yellows of Acer floridanum, our southern sugar maple. We have a forest right across the road where the understory is peppered with these trees that glow in the darkened shade of pines and oaks.

I have fallen in love with the brilliant yellows of Acer floridanum, our southern sugar maple. We have a forest right across the road where the understory is peppered with these trees that glow in the darkened shade of pines and oaks.

I see many Acer floridanum hugging the forest edge of roadsides.

I see many Acer floridanum hugging the forest edge of roadsides.

A decent Acer floridanum leaf on blacktop for some relief.

A decent Acer floridanum leaf on blacktop for some relief.

I’ve long thought that one of the under appreciated traits of Vaccinium is the fall foliage. Even here in Texas, blueberry cultivars like ‘Gulf Coast’ can turn a brilliant red.

I’ve long thought that one of the under appreciated traits of Vaccinium is the fall foliage. Even here in Texas, blueberry cultivars like ‘Gulf Coast’ can turn a brilliant red.

Taxodium distichum turn a beautiful bronzy orange at the end of the season. We have one at our house, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the fallen leaves contrasting with these Carex glaucodea.

Taxodium distichum turn a beautiful bronzy orange at the end of the season. We have one at our house, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the fallen leaves contrasting with these Carex glaucodea.

I have enjoyed seeing our Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei glow in the mornings against the rising sun. Even from a distance outside our bedroom window, you can’t miss its giant leaves changing color. But, the best part is…

I have enjoyed seeing our Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei glow in the mornings against the rising sun. Even from a distance outside our bedroom window, you can’t miss its giant leaves changing color. But, the best part is…

 
… the silvery undersides of the leaves! Such a spectacular silver, it’s almost ghostly.

… the silvery undersides of the leaves! Such a spectacular silver, it’s almost ghostly.

 
Parrotia persica also beams in the fall. I delight each autumn that these behind the agriculture building at SFA color up.

Parrotia persica also beams in the fall. I delight each autumn that these behind the agriculture building at SFA color up.

 
Interestingly, this stand tends to be more yellow as I’ve seen other Parrotia that have more reds and purples in the leaves. Could be genetics or the environment.

Interestingly, this stand tends to be more yellow as I’ve seen other Parrotia that have more reds and purples in the leaves. Could be genetics or the environment.

 
 
Another woody that has good fall color is Hibiscus hamabo. It’s buttery yellow flowers in the summer are followed by golden yellow leaves in mid-autumn.

Another woody that has good fall color is Hibiscus hamabo. It’s buttery yellow flowers in the summer are followed by golden yellow leaves in mid-autumn.

 
And, you would never guess Asparagus officinalis could color up such a brilliant yellow. Here we see it in the Sprout garden mixed in with other perennials.

And, you would never guess Asparagus officinalis could color up such a brilliant yellow. Here we see it in the Sprout garden mixed in with other perennials.

 
And, I saved one of my favorites for last. The other day right down the road from my house, I discovered a black-leaved Liquidambar styraciflua. I know that sweet gums get a bad rap for their troublesome fruit, but check out these amazing leaves t…

And, I saved one of my favorites for last. The other day right down the road from my house, I discovered a black-leaved Liquidambar styraciflua. I know that sweet gums get a bad rap for their troublesome fruit, but check out these amazing leaves that follow!

 
WHOA! I’ve seen dark-colored leaf forms before, but to have a jet black Liquidambar styraciflua so close warrants propagation attempts.

WHOA! I’ve seen dark-colored leaf forms before, but to have a jet black Liquidambar styraciflua so close warrants propagation attempts.

Wow, wow, wow!

Wow, wow, wow!

And, since you’ve made it this far, I’ll share a little fall foliage knowledge with you. Notice how the one tip is still green. Anthocyanins, which give trees their red and purple colors in autumn, form new in the fall as the leaves prepare to sen…

And, since you’ve made it this far, I’ll share a little fall foliage knowledge with you. Notice how the one tip is still green. Anthocyanins, which give trees their red and purple colors in autumn, form new in the fall as the leaves prepare to senesce and fall off the tree. These compounds act as sunscreen, help stabilize the metabolic processes, and also discourage herbivory from insects. This one tip was hidden under the leaf until I pulled it to the top. It’s a good illustration that some leaves have to experience sunlight to cause that color shift.

Autumn at Montrose

One of the highlights while living in North Carolina was visiting Montrose in October, a garden tucked away in Hillsborough, NC. I loved visiting this time of year because the garden expanded my knowledge of plants that celebrated fall with their foliage and flowers.

Nancy and her husband Craufurd bought Montrose in 1977 to live there and enrich the gardens. The property had bones; it dated back to the 1800s when it Governor William Alexander Graham lived on the site and had his law office there. Now, Montrose is know for its unique collection of plants that provide four-season interest. Nancy is also well-known in the world of horticulture from her running Montrose Nursery from 1984 to 1993. I recall even seeing her name pop up in books occasionally as a renown expert on Cyclamen and other interesting perennials.

If you’d like to learn more about the garden, you can live a year in Nancy’s shoes by reading her book Montrose: Life in a Garden. It was one of my favorite reads during the evenings of graduate school. I loved the day-to-day garden life that she shared. But, for now, enjoy these photos and a few perspectives from an autumn visit to Montrose.

Celosia rises from a hodgepodge of perennials in this border near the May garden. The garden is set around numerous historical buildings. The law office can be seen in the distance and dates back to the 1800s.

Celosia rises from a hodgepodge of perennials in this border near the May garden. The garden is set around numerous historical buildings. The law office can be seen in the distance and dates back to the 1800s.

Verbascum chaixii ‘Album’ liked to grow near the gravel pathways.

Verbascum chaixii ‘Album’ liked to grow near the gravel pathways.

One of my first encounters with a fall favorite—Cuphea micropetala or candy corn cuphea.

One of my first encounters with a fall favorite—Cuphea micropetala or candy corn cuphea.

Another cute cuphea I saw was Cuphea cyanea. The flowers are small but there are plenty of them for effect. If you look closely, you might see the bat face in the flowers.

Another cute cuphea I saw was Cuphea cyanea. The flowers are small but there are plenty of them for effect. If you look closely, you might see the bat face in the flowers.

Nancy tries to time her open house weekends during the peak of autumn splendor. I hit it just right this visit to see Colchicum ‘Waterlily’ in flower.

Nancy tries to time her open house weekends during the peak of autumn splendor. I hit it just right this visit to see Colchicum ‘Waterlily’ in flower.

A nice massing of Sternbergia lutea brightened this shady spot. It is such a quaint autumn geophyte.

A nice massing of Sternbergia lutea brightened this shady spot. It is such a quaint autumn geophyte.

My first encounter with Centratherum punctatum was at Montrose. Since moving to Texas I have discovered what a wonderful heat-tolerant self sower this plant is.

My first encounter with Centratherum punctatum was at Montrose. Since moving to Texas I have discovered what a wonderful heat-tolerant self sower this plant is.

Dahlia coccinea erupts with vermillion flowers come October at Montrose.

Dahlia coccinea erupts with vermillion flowers come October at Montrose.

A close up of Dahlia coccinea.

A close up of Dahlia coccinea.

Cosmos sulphureus forms a wall of foliage and flowers that other plants can pop against.

Cosmos sulphureus forms a wall of foliage and flowers that other plants can pop against.

I love to use this image and the next to teach students about how a person’s orientation to the plants and sun can affect color and intensity. Here, Helianthus angustifolius glows bright with the sun to my back.

I love to use this image and the next to teach students about how a person’s orientation to the plants and sun can affect color and intensity. Here, Helianthus angustifolius glows bright with the sun to my back.

But, from this angle where I face both sun and plants, we now see more shadows, which creates more of a shade of yellow in the flowers.

But, from this angle where I face both sun and plants, we now see more shadows, which creates more of a shade of yellow in the flowers.

Stepping into the tropical garden, you can see that color is not the only driver here. Texture also creates a richness.

Stepping into the tropical garden, you can see that color is not the only driver here. Texture also creates a richness.

One of my favorite sights from Montrose was this old sugar kettle planted with hardy Orostachys. In their bloom they looked like flames licking out of a cauldron.

One of my favorite sights from Montrose was this old sugar kettle planted with hardy Orostachys. In their bloom they looked like flames licking out of a cauldron.

Nancy had a knack for creating simple yet effective plant combinations. I loved seeing this Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Heart’ planted with this Symphyotrichum.

Nancy had a knack for creating simple yet effective plant combinations. I loved seeing this Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Heart’ planted with this Symphyotrichum.

Another great color combination was this pairing of white Colchicum with this matrix of Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’.

Another great color combination was this pairing of white Colchicum with this matrix of Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’.

Muhly by Morning, Muhly by Day

Autumn is a time of swift change in the garden as plants scurry to have their last hoorah before frost, and it is beautiful watching them play with varying environmental factors.  While much of these shifts occur over days or weeks, sometimes only a few hours can make the difference. 

A few years ago I witnessed such change at Chanticleer with Muhlenbergia capillaris on a crisp autumn morning in October. I was back again in the Philadelphia area speaking to a crowd of 600 at the Perennial Plant Conference. Seeing the garden again was a nice comparison because I had just been there that summer for my guest gardening experience (Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3). I was most excited to see the elevated walkway and how it had developed through the season. This part of the garden was where I headed first.

The elevated walkway has a westward facing slope where even if the sun has been up for an hour or two, parts of it can still be shrouded in shadow.  When I approached the overlook, the muhly left me breathless. 

Wow.

Wow.

The panicles having soaked up the dew from the night now refracted light leaving little pink to be seen.  It was like a fog and reminded me of the milky clouds in the valleys that I've seen so many times driving the Blue Ridge Parkway further south.  And, having other plants like Eryngium yuccifolium and Kniphofia ‘Wet Dream’ emerging through the haze of plumes like otherworldly skyscrapers piercing stratus was a brilliant juxtaposition of plant heights and textures. 

This photograph I took that morning is one of my favorites of all time. It is three main characters with a few supporting cast, and it shows how such simple textures can create a spectacular view in a garden.

This photograph I took that morning is one of my favorites of all time. It is three main characters with a few supporting cast, and it shows how such simple textures can create a spectacular view in a garden.

I've admired Muhlenbergia capillaris for many years, but this planting was the icing on the cake. I have no memory of seeing muhly grass when I was there earlier that summer. It is no surprise, though. Most of the growing season the plant is lost in the haze of chlorophyll.  But, when it comes into flower, its mist of cotton candy pink becomes a beacon in the landscape and leads every eye towards it. It goes from nobody to a celebrity overnight, and now, everyone wants it.

But, just like fog, the effect burned off later in the day.  I returned close to lunch to find the whole look had changed, and now I saw a totally different planting.  The rose-colored muhly I've known for so long was back after the dew vanished.  The sun was harsher now, and the towering plants blended into the landscape.  

Such experiences remind me that we need to visit our gardens at all times of day during this darkening season. We never know what nature hath wrought for us nor how long these special moments will last.

The same shot but only a few hours later.

The same shot but only a few hours later.

Many of you emailed from my previous posts on Chanticleer about how you enjoyed the photos. Here are some more images from that trip for your viewing pleasure. 

The teacup garden in its autumn exuberance.

The teacup garden in its autumn exuberance.

Dew glistens on the ovate leaves of Euphorbia cotinifolia

Dew glistens on the ovate leaves of Euphorbia cotinifolia

Such a great cool color theme woven with Symphyotrichum, Plectranthus, Stachys, and Nicotiana.

Such a great cool color theme woven with Symphyotrichum, Plectranthus, Stachys, and Nicotiana.

Another part of the garden was warmed by the rising sun basking on red foliage and flowers. What a wonderful effect to echo the colors of summer Ensete in the fall foliage of an Acer palmatum.

Another part of the garden was warmed by the rising sun basking on red foliage and flowers. What a wonderful effect to echo the colors of summer Ensete in the fall foliage of an Acer palmatum.

The flowery lawn was at its height of color for the year.

The flowery lawn was at its height of color for the year.

Light shimmers through the emergent Verbena bonariensis in the flowery lawn.

Light shimmers through the emergent Verbena bonariensis in the flowery lawn.

Muhly grass acts a foil for Kniphofia ‘Wet Dream’…

Muhly grass acts a foil for Kniphofia ‘Wet Dream’…

…and as a web for the occasional Ascelpias seed.

…and as a web for the occasional Ascelpias seed.

Echinacea seedheads punctuate the gravel garden.

Echinacea seedheads punctuate the gravel garden.

Liatris elegans erupts out of the gravel garden at Chanticleer.

Liatris elegans erupts out of the gravel garden at Chanticleer.

Another view of muhly, this time on the rock ledge down from the gravel garden. Joe Henderson said he used more here to connect this planting with the elevated walkway and make the garden feel more cohesive.

Another view of muhly, this time on the rock ledge down from the gravel garden. Joe Henderson said he used more here to connect this planting with the elevated walkway and make the garden feel more cohesive.

Even in their fade, the Colchicum in the bulb meadow look good.

Even in their fade, the Colchicum in the bulb meadow look good.

Another shot of the fallen Colchicum.

Another shot of the fallen Colchicum.

The Sporobolus meadow in its fall color

The Sporobolus meadow in its fall color

The old iteration of the cut flower garden looked spectacular during my visit.

The old iteration of the cut flower garden looked spectacular during my visit.

 
Aster tataricus glows against the autumn sun.

Aster tataricus glows against the autumn sun.