Bring Autumn Inside with a Native Plant Arrangement

Hockessin, De., Nov. 17, 2017 -- The cold weather signals the end of the growing season, but before the ground freezes, autumn has some stunning jewels to show off. With gold and crimson foliage, stately grasses, and pops of late-season flowers, autumn brings a whole new native plant palette to explore. Native plants can look just as good in an arrangement as they do in the home landscape.

The native plant garden is full of material to cut for a late fall arrangement. Highlight the season by selecting fruiting branches, turning foliage, and late-blooming flowers. Take care not to completely denude a plant! Featured here are Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis) and Winter Gold winterberry (Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Gold’). The finished arrangement stands on display in Mt. Cuba Center’s Conservatory. It will look fresh and presentable for visitors to the garden for up to a week.

Natives produce long-lasting effect in arrangements with their foliage, fruits, and flowers. An uncommon choice cut is Peachie’s Pick Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis ‘Peachie’s Pick’), a perennial which bursts with large, showy purple flowers and blooms from late summer through autumn. It’s also the time of year to appreciate the turning leaves, fruiting branches, and seed pods of plants.

Henry’s Garnet Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’) ranges from deep orange to red, while Hubricht’s bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) produces long spikes of quill-like, chartreuse foliage. Fruiting branches, like the jet black drupes that dangle off sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica) or the electric purple clusters of berry-like drupes on American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) make an arrangement unique. Grasses put on a show in autumn as they turn from green to fiery orange, red and gold, and last extra-long in arrangements. Wild oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) produce seedheads that look intricately woven. 

By planting a variety of plants which sustain interest throughout the seasons with blooms, foliage and fruits, there will always be something to cut for an arrangement. Learn more at mtcubacenter.org

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/400dd4e7-0a73-48b5-a3ae-f43f8865a060

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40efd839-4a3b-4058-a430-a9c46cc89dcd

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c7c9ecb7-d2f3-4bb2-a271-e245a0d8c49e

Katie Bohri
Mt. Cuba Center
302.239.8893
[email protected]