Plants with Fall Color

I’m so fortunate to live in an area where the roadside if full of beautiful changing leaves during autumn. However, as an ornamental gardener, I like my garden to look good as long as possible, so I often purchase plants with fall color; or those that I know will either bloom, produce fruit, or change color in the fall.

Trees

The sugar maple, which is common around here, is gorgeous, but can grow to over 50 feet tall and wide.

If you are in the market for a more manageable tree, you might like a dogwood tree.

Or a crab-apple tree like this one, called Indian Magic. Of course, both the dogwood and the crabapple produce beautiful spring blossoms too.

Shrubs

You may have heard of The Burning Bush shrub or Euonymus alatus. This easy to grow beauty can be found in many suburban landscapes and will last for years.

I really like Fothergilla major. In addition to fall color, this one also has interesting early spring flowers, that look great in arrangements.

Many hydrangea turn colors in the fall, like this pretty Hydrangea quercifolia or Oakleaf Hydrangea.

Itea Henry’s Garnet is another frequently planted shrub in the landscape, with beautiful color and spring blooms. This one only grows to about 3-5 feet tall so you can easily find a place for it in the garden.

For unusual striking color in the fall, try a beauty bush or Callicarpa dichotoma.

Perennials

Penstemon ‘Husker Red’ is beautiful in the fall.

Many perennial geraniums change colors in the fall like this Geranium sanguineum.

Did you know that there is an Autumn fern? AKA Dryopteris erythrosora.

Finally, this Epimedium or bishop’s hat, offers beautiful burgundy foliage with green veining.

These are just a few of the many to choose from. I hope that I have inspired you to think of fall, the next time you purchase a plant for your garden.