Fall planting season is here! Time for new plants as a reward for surviving summer’s domineering heat. Funny enough, every year I find myself coming back to the same handful of plants. Not because I’m short on ideas, but because these are the ones that keep earning their spot in my designs. They look good most of the year, they don’t ask for much, and the pollinators love them as much as I do. If you’re adding anything to your beds this month, start here for my favorite garden staples:
Salvias/autumn sage (Top Pick: Cherry Red Mirage) Salvias are a go-to for good reason. They bloom for months, not weeks, in shades of deep purple, red, and soft blue. Bees and hummingbirds adore them. Once established, they easily handle hot summers and only need a trim once a year to stay full. If you only add one thing from this list, make it a salvia. Look for the Mirage varieties that stay more compact (think less “leggy”) than traditional autumn sage.
Oakleaf hydrangea. (Top Pick: Ruby Slippers) This plant can be a showstopper in the right soil and partial shade. Its big, clustered blooms age beautifully from white to dusty pink, and the leaves turn a rich burgundy come fall. It’ll struggle in direct afternoon sun more than my other picks but works wonderfully under trees or against a north-facing wall.
Red yucca. It’s the hardiest of my recommendations, handling drought, poor soil, and extreme heat without complaint. It’s versatile, fitting in just as well in a modern design as an earthy cottage garden. Red yucca sends up tall, coral-red flower spikes, which makes it a favorite with pollinators and hummingbirds, too. This variety has green “leaves” that do not have needle-like spines like a true yucca would.
Japanese maple (Top Pick: Crimson Queen). My rockstar choice for Dallas weather, handling the heat and the cold with equal ease. It goes dormant in winter, but if you want color in “off season”, the Coral Bark variety is worth a look — its bare branches turn a striking red once the leaves drop. A boulder or a few hostas underneath add gorgeous contrasting layers.
Ajuga. Simple but oh-so-versatile ground cover with purple flowers for spring. I love to accent flagstone walkways with the Burgundy Glow variety.
What they have in common is that they do the hard part for you: surviving a Dallas summer. Once they’re in, you’re mostly just enjoying them with a little extra water to support them in the hotter months.
Thinking about which of these would work in your yard? Let’s book a walkthrough this fall.
In the meantime, tell me in the comments about your favorites that I missed. I’m always up for adding new ones to my list!
Grow with Love,
Hilary 🌿