While Pansies are a great choice for fall seasonal color here in Atlanta GA, Unique Environmental Landscapes expands the options and chooses from a larger plant pallet when it comes to creating those big, beautiful flower beds we all enjoy throughout the otherwise dormant months.
One of our first choices is the Red Bore Kale. This plant is not only ornamental but it is also edible. We like to use it as an accent plant with other flowers such as pansies, etc. As it grows, it turns a beautiful dark, deep purple and the leaves are very curly almost resembling clouds. If you want to eat it, pull the leaves from the bottom of the plant where other flowers will cover this area. Kale likes the sun and well drained, moist soil.
Ornamental cabbage is another great choice. It comes in many varieties and colors so choose one that works best with your other plants. Or create a beautiful collage of color by using a variety of cabbage colors. This too, is edible, but probably not as tasty as the cabbage you purchase from your local farmer’s market. Cabbage prefers full sun to partial shade.
Snapdragons offer a splash of bright color and it’s blooms are especially profuse in cooler weather. Winters in the Atlanta area are quite often mild enough that Snapdragons will excel. They are bushy plants with tall spikes of flower buds and offer a good focal point in the garden.
Choose these varieties as good focal points
- Kale Coral Prince
- Cabbage Osaka Pink
- Kale Redbor
- Kale Red Russian
Choose these as good accents:
- Mustard Red
- Giant Swiss Chard “Bright Lights”
- Cardoon (hardy with Atlanta mild winters)
- Euphorbia “Glacier Blue”
- Yucca
- Rosemary
- Dwarf Conifers
Be sure to use appropriate plants for the size of your bed
So, what are you waiting for. Go out and create a fall color bed for a colorful winter!
