Pink in the autumn garden complemented by fall grasses and evergreens.

Pink is one of those colors that give people a visceral reaction, either for or against. Although widely accepted in early spring, pink is often overlooked in the fall. Perhaps the stark winter landscape contributes to our hunger for bursts of riotous color early in the year. But what about autumn?  Suggesting pink in the fall garden seems a pretty unlikely way to turn people on to pink, but I’d like to plead its case.

A pop of pink livens up the fall landscape.

Typically, autumn conjures up warm images of tawny landscapes draped in burnt sienna, ochre, and brilliant reds. Trees often take center stage, creating dazzling vistas, and colorful backdrops. What if we added pink to that palette? Pink can lend an unexpected pop of color, adding a sense of excitement. Or, it can work in harmony with the dominant colors of fall, lending additional warmth and coziness to an outdoor space. You may not want to paint your house pink or don a pink shirt, but when it comes to your fall garden, give pink a chance.

Plants for pink blooms in late summer – autumn:

• Lespedeza thunbergii, Bush clover (fuchsia blooms seen in picture directly above, and to the right.)
  

  Lespedeza thunbergii bursts into bloom in the late summer, early fall landscape.

• Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’
• Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’. This Oakleaf Hydrangea starts off with white blooms in June that slowly transition to lime green and eventually rose-pink (seen in the picture below right).
• Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’, Pink turtlehead. A delightful native plant for the perennial garden.
• Sedum spectabile (there are so many to choose from) The one below is called ‘neon’, eventually these bubblegum pink flowers turn to a tawny orange by mid-fall.
• Sedum sieboldii, A low growing Sedum with attractive blue-green foliage and pink blooms mid-fall.
•  Lagerstroemia indica, Crape Myrtle (again so many to choose from) The one seen below left is the cultivar ‘Tonto’
• Eupatorium maculatum or E. purpureum, Joe Pye Weed. This is a lovely native perennial sure to attract pollinators to your fall garden.

Sedum spectabile 'Neon' in foreground with Lagerstroemia indica 'Tonto' blooming in the background.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen' taking on its fall flower color.