Episode 6: Unusual Plants for Fall — Picks That Make Late Season Gardens Sparkle

# What this episode covers

This Super Cool Plants podcast episode focuses on unusual late-season plants that stand out in fall gardens. Hosts and guests argue for replacing overused staples with options that bloom, show color, or produce structure when many typical selections have finished.

# Who speaks and why it matters

Episode experts are Dr. Andy Pulte, a Fine Gardening contributing editor and plant sciences faculty member at the University of Tennessee, and Richie Steffen, a contributing editor and executive director of the Miller Garden in Seattle. They share specific plant picks that perform well in fall and note where those plants fit by hardiness zone.

# Andy Pulte's recommended fall picks

Andy highlights plants that add unexpected late-season interest:

• Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis, Zones 3–8) — valued here for its fall presence rather than spring spears.
• Muhly grass 'White Cloud' (Muhlenbergia sericea 'White Cloud', Zones 6–9b) — a grass that adds late-season texture.
• Hosta 'Hudson Bay' (Hosta 'Hudson Bay', Zones 3–9) — a cultivar that provides foliage interest into fall.
• Blueberry (Vaccinium spp. and cultivars, Zones 2–10) — multi-season interest through fruit and fall color.

Photos accompany these picks in the episode resources.

# Richie Steffen's recommended fall picks

Richie's list leans to flowering bulbs, shrubs, and distinctive shrubs:

• Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale, Zones 4–9) — a bulb that blooms in fall.
• Pink Dynamo™ mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata 'JPD01', Zones 5–9) — a cultivar with late-season floral interest.
• Glow Girl® birchleaf spirea (Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor Gold', Zones 3–8) — a shrub offering fall color.
• Redvein enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus, Zones 4–7) — a shrub noted for its autumn display.

# Practical placement and design notes

• Use these plants to add texture, color, or structure in October and beyond. Grasses like muhly and foliage plants like hosta extend interest beyond bloom times.
• Shrubs such as blueberries and enkianthus provide both seasonal flowers and fall color, giving layered interest across months.
• Bulbs such as autumn crocus deliver sudden, unexpected flowers when many perennials are done.

# Where to access the episode

You can listen on your preferred podcast platform or watch the episode on Fine Gardening's YouTube channel. The article page includes photos and links to the plants mentioned.

# How to use the list

• Treat the episode lists as targeted swaps for common late-season plants. If you rely on the standard five—mums and asters—try replacing one with an unusual bulb or shrub to diversify bloom time and texture.
• Check your USDA hardiness zone against the zone ranges given for each plant before planting.

# Related resources mentioned

The episode page links to other Super Cool Plants episodes and related Fine Gardening content on fall perennials, shade plants, and regional fall selections.