Shrubs for Bright Fall Foliage

Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) – Zones 2-8. This viburnum will grow 6-10′ tall and wide, and is a popular choice for fall foliage color in the landscape. Like most viburnums, Arrowwood is easy to grow in a wide variety of garden conditions and will tolerate full sun to part shade. White flowers provide spring beauty and summer fruit attracts birds to the garden. This viburnum Fall color will have yellow to orange or burgundy-red fall colors, adding lots of beauty to the autumn garden.

Blueberry Shrubs (Vaccinium spp.) – Blueberry bushes are one of those ornamental fruiting shrubs that can serve a dual purpose in the landscape. Blueberries are usually planted for their fruit crop, but with the increasing interest in “edible landscapes”, they have increased their popularity in mixed borders and gardens. Most vaccinium species, even hybridized cultivars, have beautiful fall foliage making them a valid choice for a colorful autumn garden. Gardeners may choose to leave the fruit on the bush to encourage song birds and other wildlife in the garden. Fall foliage on blueberry plants will usually be a bright orange or red color. Blueberry shrubs need acidic, moist soil and do well planted with Camellias or Azaleas as they share similar soil requirements.

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) – Zones 5-9. While hydrangea shrubs are often planted in the landscape for the large, spring flower clusters, the oak leaf hydrangea also provides spectacular autumn color. The leaves turn bronze, purple, or deep red in the autumn and have a pleasing, lobed shape that resembles an oak leaf. Oakleaf hydrangeas make good medium-large shrubs for a perennial plant backdrop, woodland garden, or loose hedge. Their 6′ stature can reach to 8′ tall without pruning and the hydrangeas tend to have a rounded growth habit.

Aromatic Sumac (Rhus aromatica) – Zones 3-9. Native in many parts of Canada and the United States, this sumac has beautiful fall foliage and tends to be less invasive than some other sumacs can be. A low-maintenance shrub, the aromatic sumac tolerates poor soil and full sun to part shade. The 2-6′ tall shrub makes a stabilizer for hillsides and embankments while still providing lots of interest to the landscape. Aromatic sumac has fragrant foliage and twigs, attractive yellow flower clusters, grape-like fruits that are enjoyed by numerous wildlife, and stunning fall color. Each autumn the green leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange and burgundy.

Witch-Alder Shrub (Fothergilla major) – Zones 4-8. A large shrub or small tree, the witch alder is a deciduous plant with beautiful fall foliage color. Fothergilla is easy to grow in the garden and is in the same family as witch hazel, another versatile plant for the landscape. The white spring flowers are fragrant, the summer leaves attractive and the foliage color is stunning. The bright red fall color adds a lot to any autumn landscape and when witch alder is used as a loose hedge or fence row the massed effect can be visually captivating.