When planning your garden for the future, I always think it’s a good

policy to think of plants that bring with them a nice splash of fall

color. A few of my favorites: 

Texas ash (Fraxinus texensis)

This fast-growing tree is much better suited to our central Texas

area than Arizona or fantex ash. It reaches a height of 40 feet with

a width of 25 to 30 feet and lives far longer than the other ash

varieties. It doesn’t mind the heat, or alkaline soils, while its water

requirements are relatively low. And this time of year the Texas

ash turns red, gold, purple, and orange. It’s quite a show.

(15 gal: $125)

_____________________________________________________

Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)

A fall beauty known also as the maidenhair tree. This long lived

tree is known as a living fossil and dates back far into prehistoric

times before dinosaurs roamed the earth. Ginkgo is well adapted

to our soils and makes a nice street tree between curb and sidewalk.

It can grow to a height of 40 feet and turns a brilliant, incandescent

gold before it drops its leaves. Ginkgo leaf extracts benefit the circu-

latory system and it is used in the treatment of headaches, memory

loss and depression. Its extracts represent a billion dollar industry

worldwide. (15 gal: $125)

 _____________________________________________________

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

This deciduous shrub grows 4 to 6 feet, blooms in the spring and

summer and has beautiful purple berries in the fall. Its spring flowers

are pale pink to lavender and its fall berries are borne on arching

stems. Although poisonous to humans, its seeds are a favorite of birds.

(5 gal for $25)

_____________________________________________________

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)

This evergreen shrub or small tree occurs all over our area. Yaupon

can grow to 12 to 15 feet and is happy in both sun and part shade. It

blooms small white flowers in the spring and carries beautiful red

berries through the winter months. This plant is also a favorite food

source for birds. Mockingbirds go nuts over these berries!

(5 gal for $35)

_____________________________________________________

Possum Haw (Ilex vomitoria deciduosa)

This is a deciduous form of yaupon holly that occurs throughout the

region. It loads up with orange to red berries for the winter months.

There is a beautiful specimen on Manchaca Road (northbound) just

before Crockett High School. Possum haw grows to 12 to 20 feet and

can be found growing in full sun to part shade. (5 gal for $30)

_____________________________________________________

Roughleaf Dogwood (Cornus drummondii)

Here is another native with great fall color. It grows to 12 to 20 feet

with a 15 foot spread. It blooms in the spring with white flowers and

is a good source of nectar for wildlife, and is a good source of seeds

for birds. Unlike its east Texas cousin, this dogwood does well in our

alkaline soil and drier conditions. (not in stock; available to order)

                                   Happy Gardening everyone!