Autumn flowers: what are they and how to grow?

The richness of colors and aromas of autumn flowers amazes the imagination. This large group includes many both wild and cultivated plants that are widely used in landscape design and gardening of backyard territories. What types of autumn flowers are considered the most popular among gardeners? What are the features, timing and duration of their flowering? How to care for plants that bloom in autumn?

With the onset of autumn, the beauty and brightness of summer flower beds and flower beds begins to fade. You can revive the garden palette and add new rich colors to it with the help of various ornamental plants, the flowering of which occurs in the autumn.

Gardeners consider unpretentiousness to be one of the important features of autumn flowers. These representatives of the world of ornamental flora are able to endure a drop in air temperature, increased wind, seasonal drought and other whims of nature. At the same time, the impact of unfavorable environmental factors practically does not affect their external attractiveness and charm.

The amazing endurance of some autumn flowers allows them to withstand not only freezing temperatures, but also unexpected snowfall. Moreover, many of these plants (ornamental cabbage, euonymus) under the influence of low air temperature become even brighter and more attractive.

In decorative gardening and balcony gardening, hundreds of varieties of autumn flowers have become widespread, differing from each other both in morphological structure and in the requirements for growing conditions. Most of these plants are unpretentious, frost-resistant and beautifully flowering perennials that do not require specific care.

Colchicum - an interesting variety of perennial corms, valued for long and spectacular flowering. In height, these representatives of the world of garden flora reach 18-20 cm. Bell-shaped beautiful flowers of crocus flowers are similar to crocus flowers. The color of the flowers is pink-white with a delicate lilac shade.

Late flowering decorative bows - a group of unpretentious bulbous plants that are widespread in landscape design. The flowering of these plants begins in the middle of summer and continues until the arrival of frost. The height of decorative bows can vary from 20 to 80 cm. The flowers are small, bell-shaped or star-shaped, collected in lush inflorescences of a spherical or umbellate shape. The color of flowers can range from simple white to lilac-lilac and pinkish-purple.

Hydrangeas - a variety of flowering shrubs, low trees and lianas, blooming from spring to late autumn. The dimensions of plants depend on their species and varietal characteristics. The average height of garden hydrangeas is 2.5-3 m.During the flowering period, the plants form many lush scutes or panicles, consisting of fruit-forming and sterile flowers with a delicate aroma. The color of the inflorescences can be milky white, lilac pink, bright blue, sky blue.

Goldenrod (also called autumn mimosa) - a wild variety of meadow perennials, growing mainly in Europe and Asia. The height of goldenrod stems can reach 90-100 cm. The duration of flowering is from May to September. At this time, the plants form very spectacular and lush bright yellow inflorescences of a brush-like or panicle-like shape.

Gelenium - a variety of herbaceous perennials, valued for their long and surprisingly beautiful flowering. The height of plants found in the wild can reach 100 cm. Cultural forms of heleniums are also known, the height of which is only 10-15 cm. The beginning of flowering of plants falls on June, the end - in October. Inflorescences are compact, symmetrical baskets, reaching 4-5 cm in diameter. The color of flowers can be either monochromatic or variegated.

Asters - herbaceous flowering plants, most often grown by gardeners as perennials. The height of asters depends on their varietal characteristics and can vary from 15 to 100 cm or more. These plants are light-loving, but unpretentious, resistant to pests and pathogens. The size, shape and color of asters depend on their variety and variety.

Gatsania - light-loving ornamental crop, usually grown by gardeners as a perennial. In height, this flowering plant can reach 25-30 cm, which determines the popularity of its use in the arrangement of low flower beds and borders. Gatsania bloom begins in June and continues until the arrival of frost. The flowers are quite large (up to 8-9 cm) baskets, framed by bright orange, golden yellow, crimson red petals.

Chrysanthemums - an extensive genus, including flowering annual and perennial plants. In ornamental gardening, Korean and Indian chrysanthemums are widespread, blooming from early October to late November. Plants reach a height of 30-50 cm. There are also tall chrysanthemums, reaching a height of 80-100 cm. Flowers are simple, double or semi-double, chamomile, anemone, pompon or spherical.

Levcantemella late (autumn chamomile) - a very spectacular variety of garden plants, the flowers of which resemble the flowers of the well-known field chamomile. Stems are erect, strong and tall (up to 120-150 cm long), united in a compact and strong bush. Flowering of Levcantemella begins at the end of summer and continues until the onset of frost.

Begonia - a beautifully flowering decorative perennial, appreciated by gardeners for its colorful and long flowering. When grown in a garden, this plant is capable of blooming until late autumn. The height of most varieties of garden begonias reaches 25-40 cm. The color of the leaves can be either monochromatic green or multicolored - marble, emerald red, silvery brown. The color palette of flowers includes white-pink, coral, crimson-red and other shades.

Rudbeckia - a variety of flowering, unpretentious plants grown by gardeners as a perennial ornamental crop.The strong, upright stems of these plants can reach a height of 90-100 cm. In most species of rudbeckia, flowering begins in July and continues until late autumn. Flowers - simple large baskets, reaching 10-15 cm in diameter.

The color of flowers depends on the species characteristics of the plants. The palette of colors includes deep yellow, orange-orange, orange-yellow and lilac-purple shades.

Gentian - a variety of forest and meadow perennial (less often annual) grasses, often used by gardeners to create beautiful flower beds and decorate shady gardens. At home, gentian can be grown as a balcony plant. The gentian bloom lasts from 2 to 4 months. The timing of the beginning of flowering depends on the species characteristics of the plant.

Marigold - a variety of graceful annuals and perennials, widespread in ornamental gardening. Depending on the varietal and species characteristics, the height of the plants can vary from 20 to 100 cm. The most popular among gardeners are low-growing varieties and hybrid forms of terry marigolds, grown mainly as curbs, container and balcony plants.

In most species, flowering begins in the summer and continues until the arrival of frost. The color and shape of the flowers depends on the plant variety.

Gemantus (bloody flower, blood-flowering) - a variety of decorative bulbous perennials that bloom from mid-summer to late September. Leaves are juicy, wide, collected in a dense basal rosette. Inflorescences are large, spherical, crimson-red or snow-white in color. During the flowering period, the plants exude a specific, not very pleasant smell.

Petunias - one of the most popular varieties of ornamental plants used for balcony landscaping. These unpretentious graceful plants, under favorable conditions, are able to bloom on the balcony from autumn to mid and even to the end of winter. The most suitable for indoor maintenance are miniature bush, ampel and cascade varieties of petunias.

The length of their stems can vary from 25 to 30 centimeters or more. The palette of colors includes white-yellow, milky white, bright lilac, purple-red, dark purple, pale blue and other shades.

Daisies - low flowering perennials, suitable for balcony maintenance. The height of adult plants can vary from 10 to 30 cm. Leaves are spatulate or ovate, collected in a compact basal rosette. Inflorescences are simple, double or semi-double, reaching 5-8 cm in diameter.

The most popular varieties are with large double flowers of a spherical or pompom shape. Coloring flowers can be snow-white, pale or bright pink, carmine red, purple-burgundy, lilac-purple, inky purple.

Pelargonium - very popular decorative perennials, suitable for growing both in the open field and at home. Stems are erect or creeping, well branched, reaching about 35-45 cm in length. When kept indoors, plants are able to bloom almost all year round. Inflorescences are lush, airy umbrellas, located on a long thin peduncle.

The palette of colors includes milky white, coral pink, purple red, burgundy purple, lavender lilac and other shades.

The whole variety of types of autumn flowers can be divided into several categories based on the timing of their flowering. So, gardeners distinguish three main groups of ornamental plants, the flowering of which occurs in different autumn months.

According to landscape designers, the main criterion that should be followed when choosing certain autumn colors for a summer residence is the variety of their colors. If this condition is met, the garden with the arrival of autumn and until the first cold weather will delight its owner with bright, spectacular and unexpected color combinations.

When choosing autumn flowers for the garden, you should carefully read the descriptions of the varieties and varieties you like. An important role is played by such characteristics of plants as:

• unpretentiousness;
• resistance to diseases and pests;
• height.

When choosing plants that bloom in autumn for your personal plot, you need to take into account their color. Compliance with this recommendation will allow you to create original, contrasting and harmonious compositions in the future, avoiding boring color uniformity.

The time and timing of planting plants that bloom in autumn depend on their species / varietal characteristics. So, the seeds of most herbaceous plants (marigolds, petunias, phloxes, chrysanthemums, asters, pansies) are sown for seedlings from February to April. In open ground, flower seedlings are planted in May, when the probability of frost is reduced to a minimum. Under favorable conditions and following all the care recommendations, ornamental plants planted in spring bloom with the onset of autumn in the same year.

When planting young plants (seedlings or seedlings) in open ground, you should adhere to the recommended scheme for their placement. The distance between the holes or planting holes depends on the size of the plants in adulthood. So, low and medium-sized plants (marigolds, asters, chrysanthemums, undersized snapdragons, crocus flowers) are placed at a distance of 20-40 cm from each other. In turn, tall ornamental crops (hydrangeas, standard roses) are recommended to be planted at a distance of at least 120-150 cm from each other.

Seedlings and young bushes of plants blooming in autumn are planted in open ground by transshipment. This planting method is considered the most gentle, as it avoids serious damage to the root system. Plants, planted by the transshipment method, take root in a new place easier and faster, and enter the budding and flowering phase in a timely manner.

When drawing up a scheme for placing autumn flowers in a country flower bed their important characteristics should be taken into account:

• the size of adult plants (height, diameter of the aboveground part);
• timing and duration of flowering.

Low-growing species and varieties of plants blooming in autumn are always planted in front of the flower bed, medium-sized ornamental crops in the center, and tall ones in the background. So, an autumn flower bed, equipped according to the following scheme, will become a very bright and effective decoration of the summer cottage:

• foreground - crocus, silvery cineraria, undersized snapdragons;
• central line - marigolds, alissum, pelargoniums, phloxes;
• background - dahlias, hydrangeas, zinnias, chrysanthemums, rudbeckia.

Considering the timing and duration of flowering plants, you can equip a flower bed at the dacha, which will delight with bright colors all autumn - until the onset of cold weather. In September, this composition can be decorated with delicate flowering anemones, colchicum, Virginia and American asters, in October - graceful nasturtiums, helenium and marigolds.

Most ornamental crops that bloom in autumn do not require specific maintenance. However, if you follow simple recommendations, you can make their flowering even more lush and long-lasting.

So, in August-September, it is recommended to feed the plantings of decorative perennials with fertilizer containing phosphorus and potassium. As a top dressing, you can use superphosphate and potassium sulfate (2 tablespoons of each product per 1 square meter of planting). It is allowed to use ready-made complex fertilizers that do not contain nitrogen.

It is necessary to regularly remove dead inflorescences and stems, wilted buds, dried flower-bearing arrows and leaves from plants. Dead parts not only give garden plants an unpresentable look, but also often become a habitat for pests and pathogens.

All ornamental plants in the garden on the eve of cold weather must be regularly inspected for pest damage. With the arrival of autumn, many species of parasites begin to look for a suitable place for wintering. Very often, as such places, pests choose accumulations of dry foliage under plants, as well as the axils of leaves and buds on late-flowering perennial crops.

See below for an overview of autumn flowers in the garden.