In addition to foliage changes seen in landscape trees and shrubs, a select number of perennials contribute to the autumnal leaf colors. Here is a select list of popular perennials endeared for their autumnal foliage hues.

Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) – stunning golden foliage beginning in late September.

Bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) – geranium ground cover with reddish purple foliage color in October; Geranium x ‘Rozanne’ foliage develops a bronze-red tint; G. macrorrhizum ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’ – mixed foliage turns an attractive red color in fall.

Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium  ‘Bressingham Purple’) turns royal purple foliage in spring and fall; summer foliage is vibrantly green.  

Ferns (selected ferns) – Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora), Royal fern (Osmunda regalis); Sensitive fern (Onclea)

Selected forms of sedums (Sedum spp.) develop yellow and orange shades in fall. example: S.  rupestre ‘Angelina’

Bronze-leaf rodgersia (Rodgersia podophylla) takes on coppery red and yellows shades in the fall; annual fall color is highly variable.

Dwarf Variegated Solomon seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’) is rarely recognized by gardeners.

Leadwort (Ceratastigma plumbaginoides) – low mounding groundcover awakens very late in spring. Deep green leaves develop splashes of red in fall. Blue, starry flowers bloom in late summer into fall.

Herbaceous Peony (Paenonia lactiflora) – fall color is iffy among peony varieties; some may turn rusty orange lasting a week or more.

Golden aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’) – golden foliage hangs on through October.

Ornamental grasses (Miscanthus sinensis); Japanese bloodgrass (Imperata cylindrica); pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergeri capillaris) or white M. capillaris ‘White Cloud’ inflorescences; foliage of assorted sedges (Carex spp).

Several forms of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) – ‘Northwind’ (autumnal  yellow leaf blades), ‘Shenandoah’ (reddish tones in leaf blades), ‘Cheyenne Sky’ (dark maroon leaf tips)

Bellwort, merrybells (Uvularia perfoliata) – fall leaf color lasts 7-10 days.