I guess this is some form of Japanese maple, picked up for a pittance. In its youth, it flamed out with beautiful color. Not so much last year, so I will be curious to see what happens as temperatures drop. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the lacy leaf shapes on bright red stems.
Another younger maple with similar origins is coloring up nicely. You can see why I hope that it will not become more blasé with age.
Unlike so many leaves that deepen and darken, the Cotinus ‘Purple Robe’ lightens from its inky purple summer attire to coppery tones now.
Looking at the shapely, colorful foliage on the Spindle Tree (Euonymus sachalinensis), I can’t really fault it for failing to produce the dangling fruits which I formerly viewed as its reason for being.
A crape myrtle earns its keep with this display.
Oakleaf Hydrangea
While the black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapes ‘Nigrescens’) changes color not one whit (and who would ask it to?), it does produce pearlescent berries to add to the fun.
Speaking of berries, it would be hard to top the aptly named Beautyberry (Calicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’).
Or Berberis thunbergii purpurea, wearing its berries like jewels on opera night.
Pluck one of these berries, pop it in your mouth and see why Gaultheria procumbens is called Wintergreen. I often buy these for porch pots during the holidays. They make good ground cover, so I never have too many of them.
Seedheads left behind when the Crocosmias stop flowering make startling bouquets indoors or out.
Each of the little burry balls on the Castor Bean Plant holds three seeds, ensuring that this favorite will show up somewhere in the garden next year.
Unlike everything else in this post, Yucca ‘Bright Edge’ makes no concessions to changing seasons. That’s OK. I am perfectly satisfied by its perseverance, maintaining its spiky splendor whatever the weather throws at it.
See what Pam has up her sleeve for this October edition of Foliage Follow Up.
Lots of interesting foliage, some I recognize and some that is new. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, how I wish my oakleaf Hydrangea would color up like that. It drops a few of its leaves every fall/winter, but they don’t turn such beautiful shades. Usually they just turn yellow and crispy. I do hope when your maples grow up that they continue to give you such pretty autumn colors.
I am a sucker for oakleaf hydrangea. My crepe myrtle hasn’t started to change color yet, but I can’t wait to see the show in my back yard!
That is a nice colour on your oakleaf hydrangea. It doesn’t always turn that colour here but when it does is a cheer to behold.
Derek~Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Glad I could show you something new.
Alison~I just cut down a black elderberry that loomed over the oakleaf. Liberated, it is really coloring up for the first time.
Julie~Always something to look forward to.
Mark & Gaz~I guess conditions have to be just right. This is a banner year for this one.
That’s a lot of beautiful foliage ricki! I’m regretting a mid-August clean-up robbed me of the crocosmia seed pods this year, what was I thinking! Luckily I’ve got lots of black mondo berries to play with. Yours look especially pearlescent.
Loree~Yes, cleaning up is a mixed blessing. You didn’t miss much by cutting off the flower of your Rogersia ‘Bronze Peacock’. The seed pod is nothing to write home about. Next year, off with its head.
Gorgeous as always ricki! (And your foliage is quite lovey too.) The yucca bursting froth from the carpet of succulents is really cool!
“Like jewels on opera night…” I love that. And that Berberis is incredible. William McClenathan calls the Japanese maple “Japles.” Clever, huh? Yours sure are pretty. Even that green one is nice because the petiole is pink. You know me and pink. Enjoy the sunny weekend.
Peter~I blush.
Grace~High praise, your royal pinkness.
Such pretty picks for this month! BTW, the ‘Bright Edge’ yucca will make a springtime concession one day when it’s old enough to send up a bloom stalk of bell-shaped, white flowers.
Pam~I look forward to the day when ‘Bright Edge’ does its thing.
We share a Japanese maple and Pride of India. Hope my P of I cuttings take, that tree has gorgeous cinnamon/bronze coloured bark.
Diana~I’ve had good luck with layering as a propagation method, but not so much with cuttings. Good luck with yours.
Hi Ricki, Thanks for linking this post to GBFD. You have some lovely foliage, the Males of course give great colour and form in all seasons they are in leaf, and the hydrangea is one of my favourites.
Just a note: when I started GBFD I didn’t know about foliage follow up, but I was encouraged to continue when I did know as many people (myself included) found it difficult to do two ‘big’ posts in two days. I am more than happy that you link to your “follow up” post, a mention of GBFD would also be nice, but you’re still very welcome to always link your posts even if you don’t; I don’t host to score points. Christina