Celebrate Fall with Decorative Plants
When fall arrives and colder weather sets in, I get the urge to redecorate! I often express my desire for change through flowers. I feel inspired by the beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red, especially in contrast to my annuals which don’t look so good in the fall. It’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the warm fall sun.
Classic fall chrysanthemums
I love chrysanthemums in the fall, with their impressive colours and abundant flowers that practically hide all their leaves. It’s the perfect plant for adding colour to your space. As a bonus, chrysanthemums are in full bloom in the fall. They don’t require fertilizer to flower, they just need to be watered. You’ll be able to enjoy their flowers until the frost comes. Even if there’s light snow, they will continue to bloom until overnight temperatures fall below 5°C. Once that happens, compost your beautiful chrysanthemums and replace them with fir or dogwood branches.
Spicy ornamental peppers
These peppers come in shades of yellow, orange, purple and red, and can grow both indoors and outdoors. They are only grown as a decorative plant and the fruit is not edible. These peppers are easy to grow, and you can use them to create fall arrangements. They pair nicely with dark foliage and fountain grass.
Spooky plants
This October, spooky plants are coming to IGAs near you! Several varieties will be available, and Halloween icons like witches, devils or spiders are hiding in each one! As a bonus, use your phone or tablet to scan the hidden QR code on the jars for an augmented reality experience! All the spooky plants are meant to be grown indoors and will stay alive well beyond October. They include the gynura, monstera deliciosa, tradescantia pistachio, chlorophytum orange glow, rex begonia and syngonium randy. All care instructions are also available on IGA.net.
Indestructible ornamental cabbage
Ornamental cabbages are fascinating plants in the fall. Their bluish, purple hue intensifies as temperatures cool. I especially like kale and red cabbage. They’re very tolerant to the cold and can withstand temperatures down to -10 °C. In the early morning, you’ll often see cabbages covered in frost, waiting for the sun to warm them up. It’s a beautiful sight. As a bonus, most varieties of cabbage are edible and can be harvested once winter has arrived.
Beautiful fountain grass that sways in the wind
Fountain grass grows beautiful plumes at the end of summer. In the fall, these plumes look like they’re dancing in the wind and add shade to flower beds and decorative pots. They’re drought-tolerant, so you’ll hardly need to water them. If the frost comes early, it may lose its colour and turn blonde, but I still think it’s beautiful!
Have a wonderful fall filled with colour!
