In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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« Giant pumpkin contests | In the Garden front page | Fall foliage, fall berries »

September 24, 2007

The same frosty weather that turns impatiens to mush and blackens the remains of marigolds is perfect for bringing out the dramatic colors of fall. The colors and textures of fall and winter - in leaf, berry, flower and bark - are as vibrant as anything summer has to offer. This week I’ll highlight some of the beautiful leaves, flowers and berries fall has to offer our gardens.

I'll start with one of my favorites: Euonymous alata ‘Compacta,’ or winged burning bush. The stems have corky “wings” on them, and the shrub produces graceful, light green leaves. But the plant is most striking in the fall: its leaves turn a brilliant clear red. The entire bush is lit up with color. You can cut branches and bring them indoors.

Winged euonymous is a polite shrub, growing to about eight feet tall and four or so feet wide. It grows a bit slowly and makes a graceful, almost pyramidal shape. Grown for its corky wings, it produces tiny flowers in spring. By the time the leaves fall away, tiny red berries remain on the plant. They hang like miniature Christmas lights. This euonymous isn’t a pest, doesn’t reseed readily (after 15 years I only have three or four seedlings) and doesn’t require much care. A bit of water, decent soil and ample sun make it happy.

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