As we transition from the fading blooms of summer into fall, don't think that all hope for color is lost until spring. There are many plants that will take us all the way into winter and sometimes beyond. Here are three favorites that come to mind.TRICYRTISKnown by the common name "toad lily," Tricyrtis is a reliable fall performer in the partly shaded to shaded garden when little else is in bloom. Gracefully arching stems sport curious, purple-spotted, orchidlike blooms in September and October in zones 5a to 9b.Tricyrtis prefers moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. It is easy to grow from seed and you are likely to find self-sown seedlings scattered here and there as a bonus. Combine tricyrtis with hostas, ferns, white wood aster and hellebores for year-round interest in the shady garden.Tricyrtis hirta is probably the most common variety sold in the United States. Many cultivars are available; some with variegated leaves. But also look for T. formosana, T. lasiocarpa and T. latifolia. For golden foliage, try T. hirta Minazuki.ASTERSFor stunning late-season color, you can't beat asters. They are easy to grow and there are numerous varieties that are hearty in virtually every part of North America.Although drought-tolerant, asters prefer well-drained, moist, fertile soil and full sun. Pinching or shearing in June will promote a bushier plant and some of the taller varieties may need staking, but that shouldn't deter you from using these versatile, faithful performers.New England asters (A. novae-angliae) are native from Vermont to Alabama and westward from North Dakota to New Mexico. Look for varieties such as Purple Dome and Alma Potschke.Likewise, heath aster (A. ericoides) is native from Maine to Georgia and west from Minnesota to New Mexico. Bloom colors are white, pink and lavender. Look for the variety Blue Star or Esther (pink), each producing masses of small daisylike flowers nearly obscuring the foliage.Smooth aster (Aster laevis) is another native ranging from Quebec to British Columbia and south to Mexico and Georgia. Blue Bird is a popular and reliable variety.For shade, consider the white wood aster (A. divaricatus). Native to American woodlands, this aster blooms well in dry shade, providing a bright contrast to the orange, brown and red colors of fall.SALVIASThe vast array of salvias (sage), some 700 to 900 species both annual and perennial, presents a perfect opportunity to provide for autumn color in the garden. Although not reliably hardy north of zone 5, many varieties can still be grown as annuals to complement a late-season display. No matter where you live, there are salvias worthy of easing your garden toward winter. Cuttings are simple to root and save for spring planting.Colors range from white and light blue to deep purple and fire-engine red as well as wine and bi-colors. There is even a yellow (S. koyamae) sage. Heights range from about a foot to over 6 feet. Salvias like full sun to a bit of late-afternoon shade. They are drought-tolerant and a welcome source of late-season nectar for hummingbirds and other pollinators. Deadheading will prolong the bloom right up to frost.Of the more hardy sages (zones 5-7), look for S. azurea; as the name implies, its flowers are azure blue. S. officinalis has a number of cultivars such as Aurea grown for its yellow foliage; Berggarten, one of the best blue flowering forms; Purpurescens, with purplish leaves, or Rubrifolia, with purple-red flowers. S. x sylvestris boasts varieties hardy from zone 4 to zone 7, with violet-blue and rose-blue flowers.For contrast, combine these with S. mexicana Limelight (lime-green foliage and blue flowers) and S. elegans Golden Delicious (yellow foliage and red flowers). These are not hardy beyond zones 7 or 8, but are well worth the effort to keep year after year.These are just a few of the many options for extending the gardening season into fall and beyond. Consider combining these plants with Sedum, Solidago (the tamer varieties of goldenrod) and a variety of grasses, leaving the seed heads and skeletons for late-winter interest. This way, the promise of spring seems that much closer!(Joe Lamp'l, host of Fresh from the Garden on the DIY Network and GardenSMART on PBS, is a Master Gardener and author. For more information visit www.joegardener.com and www.DIYnetwork.com.)
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