The Purple-And-Orange Plant Combo That Looks Great Together In Fall

While you might associate autumn blooms with coppery and bronzy shades, those are far from the only colors that can look stunning in the fall garden. If you're looking for a more unexpected fall palette, purple and orange make a particularly striking pairing. Combining plants like New England asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and helenium (Helenium autumnale) is an easy way to bring that high-contrast combination to your own landscape.

The numerous purple blooms of the New England asters perfectly complement the orange or yellow flowers of the easy-to-grow heleniums (also known as sneezeweed). While these asters always bloom in late summer and fall, heleniums vary in time, so choose a cultivar that overlaps if you want the two colors on display at once. For orange flowers that blossom around the same time, consider varieties like 'Mariachi Salsa' or 'Short 'n' Sassy'. 

Care for New England asters and heleniums is quite similar, as they thrive in the same environments. That shared preference makes them especially easy to combine in one bed. And both of these North American native plants are pollinator magnets as well, so your local bees and butterflies should enjoy them as much as you. 

While asters can be grown from seeds, many helenium cultivars, particularly hybrid ones, can only be purchased as live plants. Both thrive in sunny spots, though heleniums can also handle part shade. They both grow best in rich, fertile growing medium that doesn't get too dry. Consistent moisture is especially important as the plants get established. To help increase the soil's fertility and improve its ability to hold moisture, consider amending it with compost if necessary. Both plants make great additions to rain gardens too. And with New England asters hardy in zones 4 through 8 and heleniums hardy in zones 3 through 8, they have a huge overlap in their ranges. That makes this duo suitable for a broad swath of U.S. gardens.

New England asters generally grow to between 3 and 6 feet tall, while the height of heleniums can vary widely depending on the cultivar. Both 'Mariachi Salsa' and 'Short 'n' Sassy' are shorter varieties that grow to only around 20 inches. Plant the compact heleniums toward the front of the bed and use taller asters behind them to create a layered display, with purple and orange blooms appearing at different heights. When choosing your combinations, check both mature height and bloom time so the orange-and-purple effect lasts as long as possible.