Savor the Relaxed Beauty of a Graceful Demise

I thoroughly enjoy watching plants change and evolve with the ebb and flow of the seasons—all seasons! Without a doubt, I adore autumn. I like everything about it—the cooler temps, the changing light, the shifting of gears. I'm even okay with the return of rain. I enjoy the feeling of abundance that the garden exudes at the pinnacle of its fullness. And of course, I love the fall foliage colors.

But there's more to the fading season than the traditionally celebrated fall color of the deciduous trees and shrubs. And though there are scads of plants that I specifically admire on the basis of their fall color, I'll leave them for another post, another day. Ornamental grasses, also fantastic contributors to the fall garden, are in a class all their own. We feted them in a different post where I singled out some of my favorite late-season varieties.

Instead, in this post we're going to single out plants that have merit based on their dead and dying foliage—plants I value for their graceful demise. The senescent display takes many forms: withering foliage, faded flower, dried stems and seed heads, decorative berries, and other delights of deterioration.

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While there's much to appreciate from the aesthetic standpoint, equally important are the ecological and cultural benefits of letting your garden age gracefully. Leaving the faded remnants of last year's perennials provides habitat for birds and insects while covering and protecting the ground from the vagaries of winter.

I try to walk most days. One of the pleasures of this daily practice is the ability to gawk at gardens and appreciate plants throughout my neighborhood (and beyond). I like to revisit the same spots over and over. This allows me to monitor and learn about many more plants than I'm able to grow hands-on here in my home garden.

Wonder what that looks like? The video below is a brief, street-side tour of a garden that I happened upon while exploring my neighborhood. The garden-makers did an excellent job of choosing perennials that die with grace and used them to create a garden that offers life, even in death.

As a bonus, my appreciation of this process of decline comes in really handy because I'm a lazy gardener. So I'm glad to enjoy my aging garden at my leisurely end-of-year pace. The gallery of photos below show that even on a wet and gray Northwest day, there's always something to savor.

SCENES FROM THE GARDEN & OUT AND ABOUT

Hosta don't often show up on lists that extoll the virtues of perennials that die beautifully. This garden should shake that up. This is in the front yard garden of a neighbor, so I get to watch it through the seasons. To see it in summer and to get the plant list for the full combination, click here.

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Hosta don't often show up on lists that extoll the virtues of perennials that die beautifully. This garden should shake that up. This is in the front yard garden of a neighbor, so I get to watch it through the seasons. To see it in summer and to get the plant list for the full combination, click here.

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This sliver of a garden is in Nancyland—the fantastical private garden of one of our neighborhood's most renowned gardeners. The highlight of this narrow bed along the driveway is a mass of Japanese forest grass skirting the bottom of the vignette. Also present is a fern (not sure of the variety), Rhamnus Fine Line, and a ninebark. The evergreen Mahonia 'Charity' is bursting into bloom and will provide a feast for over-wintering hummingbirds.

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This sliver of a garden is in Nancyland—the fantastical private garden of one of our neighborhood's most renowned gardeners. The highlight of this narrow bed along the driveway is a mass of Japanese forest grass skirting the bottom of the vignette. Also present is a fern (not sure of the variety), Rhamnus Fine Line, and a ninebark. The evergreen Mahonia 'Charity' is bursting into bloom and will provide a feast for over-wintering hummingbirds.

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Combohuahua appreciates the beauty of fallen foliage too!

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Combohuahua appreciates the beauty of fallen foliage too!

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Take time to enjoy the transient display of falling leaves. The delicate red foliage will sift its way through the fern before settling at soil level, where it will enrich the soil as it decomposes.

Take time to enjoy the transient display of falling leaves. The delicate red foliage will sift its way through the fern before settling at soil level, where it will enrich the soil as it decomposes.
Last of the straggling blooms of a hardy fuchsia mingle with the fall foliage of oakleaf hydrangea.

Last of the straggling blooms of a hardy fuchsia mingle with the fall foliage of oakleaf hydrangea.
The aging seed heads of Abelia x grandiflora are as colorful as flowers as they decorate this evergreen shrub in autumn—arguably more colorful that its white summertime flowers.

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The aging seed heads of Abelia x grandiflora are as colorful as flowers as they decorate this evergreen shrub in autumn—arguably more colorful that its white summertime flowers.

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There just isn't a season that Bupleurum fruticosum doesn't have something on offer! Shown here are its seed heads late in the year (December).

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There just isn't a season that Bupleurum fruticosum doesn't have something on offer! Shown here are its seed heads late in the year (December).

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Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo' is a solid 3-season doer. Some would even credit it with four, based on the winter display of its shaggy stems. In spring, clusters of ivory blooms stand above dark foliage; as the flowers age they turn red before drying into decorative seed heads; in fall, foliage takes on autumnal tones. In winter, the peeling bark of mature plants adds further interest.

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Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo' is a solid 3-season doer. Some would even credit it with four, based on the winter display of its shaggy stems. In spring, clusters of ivory blooms stand above dark foliage; as the flowers age they turn red before drying into decorative seed heads; in fall, foliage takes on autumnal tones. In winter, the peeling bark of mature plants adds further interest.

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Colchicum autumnale is a fall blooming bulb, reminiscent of spring crocus. The slumping flowers make a colorful display as they call it quits for the year.

Colchicum autumnale is a fall blooming bulb, reminiscent of spring crocus. The slumping flowers make a colorful display as they call it quits for the year.
Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' is a ubiquitous evergreen shrub. Its understated contribution of late season color is often overlooked. As the weather cools, its evergreen foliage takes on tints of red and pink. Pair it with a blue conifer or dark-colored heuchera to enhance the effect.

Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' is a ubiquitous evergreen shrub. Its understated contribution of late season color is often overlooked. As the weather cools, its evergreen foliage takes on tints of red and pink. Pair it with a blue conifer or dark-colored heuchera to enhance the effect.
What can I say? I have a thing for slumping hosta. So here's another one for your consideration.

What can I say? I have a thing for slumping hosta. So here's another one for your consideration.
The fall foliage colors of Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei' are almost as colorful as its summer blooms. Okay, not quite. But still.

The fall foliage colors of Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei' are almost as colorful as its summer blooms. Okay, not quite. But still.
The yellowing foliage of a tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa), edged in red, is set off nicely backed by the deep green leaves of Mahonia gracilipes.

The yellowing foliage of a tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa), edged in red, is set off nicely backed by the deep green leaves of Mahonia gracilipes.
What do you see? Jumbled mess or an exciting tumble of colorful foliage? I think you know where I stand! :-)

What do you see? Jumbled mess or an exciting tumble of colorful foliage? I think you know where I stand! :-)
Don't forget to look down and enjoy the details of the decaying garden. The pattern of falling leaves; the subtle and tawny shades of senescence—drink it all in! Soon we'll be oohing and awing over the splendor of emerging crowns and unfurling foliage. Enjoy the ride!

Don't forget to look down and enjoy the details of the decaying garden. The pattern of falling leaves; the subtle and tawny shades of senescence—drink it all in! Soon we'll be oohing and awing over the splendor of emerging crowns and unfurling foliage. Enjoy the ride!

See the list below for a sampling of plants that age gracefully. Don't forget to click through for the full descriptions and to get ideas for what to plant with them.

A GALLERY OF PLANTS THAT AGE GRACEFULLY

Agastache 'Blue Boa'

Blue Boa Hyssop, Hummingbird Mint

Type: Perennial
Exposure: Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Allium 'Globemaster'

Globemaster ornamental onion

Type: Bulb / Corm / Tuber
Exposure: Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Allium schubertii

Ornamental Onion

Type: Bulb / Corm / Tuber, Perennial
Exposure: Afternoon Sun, Full Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone: 7, 8, 9

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Amsonia hubrichtii

Threadleaf Blue Star, Arkansas Blue Star

Type: Perennial
Exposure: Afternoon Sun, Full Sun
Zone: 5, 6, 7, 8

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Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion'

beautyberry

Type: Shrub
Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade
Zone: 7, 8, 9

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Echinacea 'Big Kahuna'

Big Kahuna coneflower

Type: Perennial
Exposure: Afternoon Sun, Full Sun
Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Echinacea 'Merlot'

Merlot Coneflower

Type: Perennial
Exposure: Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Eryngium 'Sapphire Blue'

sea holly

Type: Perennial
Exposure: Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'

Gold Variegated Japanese forest grass

Type: Grass / Grass-Like
Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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Helenium 'Mardi Gras'

Mardi Gras Sneezeweed

Type: Perennial
Exposure: Afternoon Sun, Full Sun
Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'

Panicle Hydrangea

Type: Shrub
Exposure: Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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