New Beginnings, and New Plants to Mark Their Start

September is a time of new beginnings. We may think of it as summer’s end, but rather, this time of year marks one or more new beginnings. A new harvest. A new year of school. A new buckle-down approach at the office, following time spent in vacation mode. A new season of invigorating temperatures and holidays to look forward to.  

Think of all the new beginnings you have experienced, from childhood on, in September. Think of the occasions you should be acknowledging (in fact, celebrating) right now. Then commemorate one or more of them with a tree, a shrub, or a plant.

Which Plants Are Most Appropriate to Mark New Beginnings?

It has long been a tradition to plant trees to commemorate life that has passed and life that has just begun. But on a much smaller scale, selecting a new plant or compact shrub, either for a gift to someone else or a gift to yourself (no shame in that), can mark the start of a new day.

For major milestones and for gardeners who have the space, I like flowering shrubs, which are typically very strong. Shrubs endure. Like trees, as long as you have chosen the right ones for the horticultural zone in which you live, Hydrangeas, Spireas, and other shrubs will get planted for year upon year of enjoyment. Their enduring nature allows them to spark memories for us as we see them over time. Hydrangeas, Spireas, and certainly Buddleias attract pollinators, thus doing good in the garden while looking good. And because I have chosen ones that match the zone in which I live, they endure.

Hydrangeas tend to be favorites for almost everyone, with gardeners perhaps most enamored by the big-leaf Hydrangeas that can exhibit a color change to their flowers depending on the acidity of the soil (pink flowers in alkaline soils, or blue in acidic soils). Big-leaf Hydrangeas will not do well in every region though, so choose carefully. Also, when it comes to these beauties with the big mop-head flowers, do a little research around when to prune, as pruning at the wrong time can remove buds… no flowers next season. But some wonderful Hydrangeas can now be found at greenhouses and online, offering new growth on both old and new wood. With these, the timing of pruning is much less of a worry.

Smaller Plants to Commemorate New Beginnings

For those who do not have the space to add one or more Hydrangeas, or for those who simply would prefer a small-scale houseplant, Oxalis is a good choice. I show it photographed here, beside a mop-head Hydrangea from my garden, but these photos are not to scale. Although Oxalis can grow full, you will want to consider it to be a manageable houseplant. (Tips for growing it well are linked here.) You will choose a Hydrangea or a similar flowering shrub when you want something bigger for outdoors. 

By virtue of its leaf shape, Oxalis can be an ideal plant for sending wishes for good fortune in relation to a new beginning. While some Oxalis is a bit different, the beauties with the shamrock styling are perfect for wishing good luck for a new adventure, new challenge, new day.

Oxalis comes in a variety of colors, from the “wearin’ o’ the green” varieties of Oxalis, sometimes with great foliage markings, to the richly toned Plum Crazy Oxalis. If you are interested in the “fall colors”, then perhaps a Plum Crazy Amber Oxalis is the best option, with its bronzed look that will be seasonably in-place on any countertop, desk, bureau, or windowsill during the autumn months… you name the location, as long as it is out of reach of pets. (Oxalis contains oxalic acid, which is unhealthy for pets to nibble.)

Oxalis, one of your favorite Hydrangeas (from big-leaf to panicle), perhaps even Punica Granatum 'Nana', a Dwarf Pomegranate Tree with its classical symbolism—these and many, many other plants can be used to commemorate occasions, mark new beginnings, and spread good wishes.

While summer must pass, and while its passing comes with understandable sadness, the enchanting new days of autumn are ahead. The smell of a woodstove… the chill of the wind… the rustling of leaves… the new start: Autumn is full of enchantment. Mark its entry, and mark the start of other new beginnings, with a plant or two.