Summer is short in Quebec! Of course, we are fortunate to experience four distinct seasons, each as interesting as the next, but the fact remains that the warm season passes very quickly. Already in September, even though the daytime temperatures are still very pleasant, the nights are cool, and this natural cycle of life affects the appearance of many plants that make up our landscapes. The good news in all of this is that we can extend the summer by choosing plants that are at their peak at the end of the season, even up to the first frosts. By making well-thought-out choices, you'll want to enjoy your yard for as long as possible.
Perennials
Autumn Anemone
With its leaves similar to those of maples and its beautiful flowers composed of large white, pink, or red petals surrounding a bright yellow center, the autumn anemone adds a lovely touch of life at the end of the season. Give it a well-moist space in partial shade and watch the show.
Aster
The aster blooms from the beginning to the end of the season. Its small star-shaped flowers in purple, pink, white, yellow, and other colors are grouped in clusters of different heights depending on the variety. Plant asters in full sun or partial shade in rich soil and enjoy blooms until the November frosts.
Autumn Sedum
This low plant with thick, fleshy foliage topped with a dome of compact flowers, most often pink-red or purple, is ideal for the foreground of your arrangements. It’s a succulent that thrives in the sun but can tolerate partial shade; it can handle almost any environment, in fact. It’s an easy perennial that offers all its charm in autumn.
Grasses
Chinese Miscanthus
If you want to add movement to your landscape throughout the season, miscanthus is the ornamental grass you need. Its beautiful arched leaves are topped with feathery flowers that start pink and turn silver at the end of summer. It’s a plant that can become quite imposing, and its roots are difficult to remove: give it space!
Switchgrass
Rather easy to grow, switchgrass is interesting from spring to autumn. By mid-summer, its fountain-like foliage takes on a red hue. It becomes covered with very airy panicles whose seeds attract birds. It’s an easy-to-grow grass that works very well as a backdrop for a flowerbed.
Blue Oat Grass
This beautiful grass with bluish foliage can give a tropical look to your autumn landscape. Its beautiful thin leaves are evergreen, so it retains its color throughout the winter. It’s a plant that tolerates drought very well, ideal for rockeries or slopes in full sun.
Autumn Chrysanthemums
We can't talk about autumn plants without mentioning the magnificent and colorful autumn chrysanthemums. They are available in pots of various sizes and in a multitude of colors in garden centers from the end of August. Whether left in their pot to decorate the table, the stairs, or the entrance of the house, or planted in the flowerbed in place of the annuals that have finished their useful life, chrysanthemums alone embody the floral spirit of autumn. Use them without moderation and fully enjoy these bright colors that bring life to gardens as they quietly fall asleep.
Autumn is a magnificent season in the garden. By planning adequately, you will have plants in full bloom that will accompany your beautiful days until the snow covers the landscape. Visit your local Passion Jardins merchant and stock up on autumn plants to brighten up your landscape for a long time.
Tips and advice
