The Fall Colour Edit
– By Audriana VanderWerf
How to Create a Garden That Looks Beautiful Through Autumn
When you think about fall colour, what comes to mind?
Orange pumpkins.
Golden leaves.
Red maple trees.
They're beautiful, of course, but autumn colour can be so much more.
Some of the most striking fall gardens combine unexpected shades of burgundy, purple, pink, cream, silver and gold to create a landscape that feels rich, layered and completely intentional.
The secret isn't having more plants.
It's understanding how colour works together.
So let's look at your garden through a designer's eyes.
Think Beyond Orange
Orange is one of fall's signature colours, but it doesn't have to be the star of your garden.
Try pairing traditional autumn shades with unexpected colours for a more sophisticated look.
Think:
Burgundy + Gold
Deep burgundy foliage or flowers paired with warm golden tones create a rich, dramatic combination.
Purple + Blush
Soft pinks and purples create a romantic autumn palette that feels completely different from the traditional fall colour scheme.
Cream + Burgundy
Creamy white blooms or light foliage against deep burgundy creates beautiful contrast.
Silver + Purple
Silver foliage paired with purple blooms creates a cooler, more modern autumn look.
The key is contrast.
When two colours are different enough from one another, each one makes the other stand out.
The Power of Burgundy & Purple
If you want to make your fall garden look instantly more dramatic, introduce deeper colours.
Burgundy and purple foliage can act almost like a backdrop, allowing brighter flowers to take centre stage.
Look for plants with:
- Deep burgundy leaves
- Purple flowers
- Dark stems
- Rich red foliage
Then pair them with golden mums, bright blooms or lighter-coloured foliage.
The result is a garden with depth rather than one flat block of colour.
Garden Tip: Think of dark foliage like the frame around a painting. It can make the colours around it look even more vibrant.
Why Texture Matters
Colour gets most of the attention, but texture is what keeps a garden interesting.
Imagine a garden filled entirely with round flower heads.
Now imagine adding tall ornamental grasses moving in the breeze, large leaves, delicate foliage and plants with interesting seed heads.
Suddenly, the garden has dimension.
Some great ways to introduce texture include:
- Ornamental grasses
- Fine, airy foliage
- Large tropical leaves
- Bold-leaved plants
- Seed heads
- Plants with unusual shapes
Texture becomes especially important in autumn because it helps your garden remain visually interesting even as individual flowers begin to fade.
Garden Tip: When choosing plants, don't just ask, "What colour is it?" Ask, "What shape and texture will it add?"
Create a Colour Story
One of the easiest ways to make a garden look professionally designed is to repeat colours.
Instead of choosing a different colour for every area, select a simple palette and carry it throughout your landscape.
For example:
The Warm Autumn Palette
🍂 Gold
🍁 Burgundy
🌿 Green
Or:
The Moody Autumn Palette
🍷 Burgundy
💜 Purple
🌿 Deep Green
Or:
The Soft Autumn Palette
🌸 Blush
🤍 Cream
🌿 Silver-Green
You don't have to use exactly the same plants everywhere.
Simply repeating similar colours throughout the garden creates visual connections that make the entire landscape feel more cohesive.
Find Your Fall Focal Point
Every beautiful garden benefits from somewhere for your eye to land.
This is your focal point.
It could be:
- A spectacular flowering plant
- A large garden mum
- A beautiful fall planter
- A statement container
- A colourful grouping of plants
- A decorative piece of garden art
Your focal point doesn't have to be enormous.
It simply needs to stand out.
Try placing it somewhere naturally visible, such as near your front entrance, at the end of a pathway or in a spot that catches your eye from inside your home.
Then use surrounding plants to support it rather than compete with it.
Your Garden Has a Colour Story
The most beautiful gardens aren't necessarily the ones with the most flowers.
They're the ones where everything feels like it belongs together.
A little burgundy here.
A touch of gold there.
Some soft green foliage.
A little purple.
A beautiful mum to bring everything together.
That's the beauty of designing with colour.
You don't have to completely change your garden.
You simply have to start looking at it differently.
As summer begins to transition into autumn, take a walk through your landscape and look at the colours you already have.
Then ask yourself:
What colour is missing?
Maybe your garden needs a little more gold.
Maybe a deep burgundy would create the contrast you've been missing.
Maybe some ornamental grasses would add the texture and movement your landscape needs.
Or maybe it's time to create a completely new colour story.
Whatever your style, fall is the perfect time to experiment.
Because autumn isn't just a season of changing leaves.
It's a season of incredible colour.
Happy Gardening!
– Audriana & The Bradford Greenhouses Team
