Fall Shrubs for Color

You can enjoy planting in our area year round, but the warm soil and cooler temperatures of fall make it a perfect time for planting.  What else do we love about fall? Color!! The leaves changing color is a favorite for most all nature enthusiasts.  While you may adore the changing color of the trees, don’t discount shrubs to add gorgeous fall color and blooms as well.  If you want fall color or flowers from shrubs but aren’t sure what shrubs produce the best fall color or which will succeed in the light of your garden, then this post is for you! 

Fall Foliage to Love

Full Sun

If you are enamored with bright colored leaves, these shrubs are excellent choices.  

• Dwarf Burning Bush has bright red foliage during the fall.
• Nandina Firepower has bright red foliage for both fall and winter (win, win!!).
• Cotinus Gold Smokebush has foliage that is chartreuse or yellow.
• Itea (many varieties) has fall color that ranges from reds and oranges.
• Thuja Fire Chief has orange color.
• Blueberry bushes offer red to purple foliage.
• Kaleidoscope Abelia offers foliage with many colors, including greens, yellows and reds.

Fall Flowers to Love

Full Sun

If you prefer flowers or fragrance over colorful foliage, consider these options.

• Cephalanthus Buttonbus is a native shrub and blooms little white flowers in the fall.
• Osmanthus Fragrans has deliciously fragrant flowers that smell like apricots.
• Roses – Drift, Knock Out, Easy Elegance – any of these varieties will continue to bloom through first frost. 
• Sun Hydrangea – Many varieties (Little Lime, Limelight and others) will hold their bloom until first frost.
• American Beautyberry does not flower but produces gorgeous dark pink berries in the fall.

Fall Foliage to Love

Part-Sun to Full Shade

Finding shrubs that offer foliage color in shade or part-shade can be a challenge, but these Hydrangea won’t disappoint.  They also bloom in the fall!

• Tiny Tuff Stuff Hydrangea
  • Enjoy pink or blue blooms in summer and into fall.  Foliage transitions to a rich bronze or red.
• Oakleaf Hydrangea
  • Bloom colors vary as does fall foliage (different varieties can be mahogany, orange, red, purple, or bronze!)

Fall Flowers to Love

Part-Full Shade

For beautiful flowers in the fall, consider these shrub suggestions. 

• Encore Azaleas bloom for the second time in the fall.  
• Camellias Sasanqua – The blooms vary in shape size and color, but many bloom in the fall.  Camellia Japonica bloom in winter. 

All of the shrubs listed here are usually available in the Garden Center.  If you need advice on planting, you can check out this post on shrub planting tips.  We want your shrubs to be as successful as possible.  Happy colorful planting for fall, friends!