In general, perennials are not rated very high for their fall leaf color. This is very wrong as some produce stunning autumnal foliage colors. In addition, some ornamental grasses produce colorful floral heads (inflorescences).The first six are perennial dicots and the next six are grasses with awesome inflorescenses.

Bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) – short 9-12 inches high clump forming groundcover that bears purple flowers in May-June. Its deeply cut foliage green leaves turn shades of red after first frost. (Zones 3-8).

Red leaf mukdenia (Mukdenia rossii) – fanned, maple-like leaves emerge bright green in spring, age to bronze-green in summer, and finish green with bright red streaks in Fall. White bell-shaped flowers stand above the foliage in early spring. Use as a groundcover for woodland gardens, border edging, or add to mixed containers. (Zones 4-8)

Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) – an erect, clump-forming perennial with clusters of 1/2 inch wide, 5-petal, powder blue flowers in late spring, feathery green summer leaves, and gradually turns golden yellow starting in late summer. Stems rise to 3 feet tall. Similar in appearance is Amsonia ciliata, minus conspicuous hairiness over the new leaves. (Zones 5-8).

Leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) – 6-10 inch tall rhizomatous groundcover with blue flowers from late summer into Fall; clean medium green summer foliage turns bronze or red in fall. (Zones 5-9).

Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) – glossy, copper-tinted new fronds emerge through the growing season into Fall; its frond color is perfect color for the Fall garden. (Zones 5-8).

Dwarf Variegated Solomon Seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’) – 2-3 feet bright green elegant foliage that is splashed or streaked with white. Sweetly scented creamy white flowers form along its arching stems. Leaves turn an attractive gold color in Fall. (zones 3-8)

Muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaries) produce loose, billowy inflorescences best described as pink clouds in early Fall. Pink muhly grows to 2.5 – 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide in flower. ‘White Cloud’ sports white flowers and grows more upright than pink muhly. New in 2022 was M. reverchanii Undaunted® that produces rosy pink floral sprays in early fall (USDA hardiness zones 6-10).

‘Black Mountain’ bluestem (Andropogon ternarius) varies across its natural range, growing up to 5 feet tall in some areas. ‘Black Mountain’ stays at 3 feet and under and grows more compact and refined than species. Flowering stems emerge bluish-green and develop reddish hues later in summer. Inflorescences (flower heads) have spikelets covered in silvery, white hairs. (Zones 6-9).

Several Varieties of Switch Grasses (Panicum virgatum) develop a great fall color. ‘Shenandoah’ – leaves develop rich black-burgundy tips in late summer; ‘Northwind’ – bright gold-streaked fall foliage; ‘Cheyenne Sky’ – dense, upright clump of blue-green blades turn wine red in early summer along with purple inflorescence in late summer. Leave switch grasses for winter interest. (Zones 5-9).

Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) is a cool season plant and is one of the first ornamental grasses to emerge in spring and produces flowers and seeds early. Cultivars ‘Stricta’ and ‘Karl Foerster’ seed heads turn golden and shorter cultivar ‘Overdam’ turn tan in autumn. (Zones 4 – 9).