While fall is the season of endings for many plants, others are late bloomers. Some plants flower late, while others have beautiful foliage that is a treat to look at when it is reflected in the water. Try these plants out around the garden pond.
The Toad Lily is Ideal for the Shady Pond Garden
Although the Common or Hairy Toad-lily (Tricyrtis hirta) has a less-than-beautiful name, its flowers are strangely beautiful. They are white with purple spots and a distinctly lily-like look about them. Orchid-lovers will adore the toad lily for its similarity to many common potted orchids. Use this as a feature plant near ferns like the delicate lady fern (Arthyrium felix-femina). This plant is also hardy in partial or full shade, which makes it a perfect choice for the hard-to-plant shady pond garden.
Japanese Anemones Like the Outskirts of the Pond Garden
The large white flowers of the Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida Honorine Jobert) blossom from the end of August to the middle of autumn. While the plant prefers well-drained soil, it also enjoys consistent moisture at its roots. Anemones will also tolerate some shade.
Turtle Head Flowers Bloom in Very Wet Soil
Chelone obliqua or Turtlehead is a bog-loving plant that flowers late in the season. The Turtle Flower springs into bloom in late August or September and the flowers can last for almost two months. These white and pink flowers look similar to the foxglove, but they are nearly closed at the opening so that they look like the head of a turtle.
Cardinal Flowers Provide Red Flowers for Hummingbirds
Cardinal flower or Lobelia cardinalis gives striking red flowers in the late summer or early fall. These plants are an excellent backdrop to the pond, as they grow from two to four feet tall. They will attract hummingbirds to feed before the birds journey back to warmer climates for the winter.
Hardy Ageratum Has Fuzzy Purple Flowers
Hardy Ageratum (Eupatorium coelestinum) like to grow in damp places. This plant blooms with purple-blue blossoms in the fall months. The furry flowers are the perfect complement for plants like the hosta, with their bold green or variegated leaves.
While it can be a challenge to find plants that will add fall flowers to wet places around the pond, the looking is worth the effort. A pond that is graced by flowers in the fall is a beautiful place, a place to stop and sit and watch the bees, birds, and other animals drink nectar and prepare for the long winter.
Tricia Edgar - Tricia Edgar is a gardener, environmental educator, and science writer from the Pacific Northwest.
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