Disanthus cercidifolius: A Star in the Woodland Garden

The deep red-purple foliage of Disanthus cercidifolius can be seen from every angle in the Woodland Garden right now. It suffered slightly during our summer drought  but looked spectacular today.  Disanthus cercidifolius has heart-shaped bluish-green leaves during the summer which are subtly attractive in the garden. It should mature to about 6-10 feet in height over time. I have under-planted it Helleborus foetidus, the stinking hellebore. The deeply-cut dark green foliage compliments the round leaves of Disanthus cercidifolius nicely.  Disanthus cercidifolius has done well for me in dappled shade planted in humus-rich, moist soil.

   

Lindera glauca var. angustifolia was not looking too shabby today either.

Aster 'Little Carlow'

Aster 'Little Carlow' is my favorite autumn perennial. It lights up the garden with masses of violet-blue daisies with yellow centers. It has a beautiful billowing habit that is very graceful. The trick is to cut it back in early July. My experience is that 'Little Carlow' also benefits from extra watering during dry periods to get the best results. With a little effort, 'Little Carlow' will reward the gardener for the first two weeks of autumn.

The Garden the Last Day in September

My belief is that an autumn garden in New England should shine and be at its best when the weather and light is the most beautiful. Most gardens feel spent at this time of year. I want my garden to feel fresh and vibrant as the fall foliage season begins. I use annuals for both flower and foliage and late season perennials, most notably asters and grasses. What can say New England better than asters in autumn? Here's what the garden looked like this week. We had a light frost earlier this week which did little damage. I am hoping for another couple of weeks of this before a hard frost hits. I don't see temperatures below the upper 30s in the next two weeks...time will tell.