Fall is an excellent time for gardening! Summer vacations are complete, nights are cool, days are warm days, there is morning and evening dew and the soil is warm. This is the perfect recipe for successful planting. This time of year there many quality shrubs available sporting the fantastic colors of fall. Add a few of these to the recipe and enjoy immediately.
Dwarf Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ or ‘Little Moses) – This shrub truly lives up to its name. With brilliant red fall coloring, this choice, compact form is excellent for hedge and specimen use.
Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) – This unique shrub has brilliant yellow, orange and scarlet fall coloration, often all on the same leaf. We have one growing in the specimen bed across from the Azaleas paired with the amazing color of our Ginko. Height: 2-3’, Spread: 2-4’
Nandinas, the whole lot of them – Choose from many varieties that reveal colors ranging from orange to fiery red to burgundy. ‘Firepower’ is going to be the absolute breath taker when it comes down to vividness in red color.
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) – This plant boasts large, coarse, deep green foliage that turns a stunning scarlet shade in the fall. Upright panicles of white flowers appear in late June. Tolerates partial shade. Height: 5-6’, Spread: 6-7’
Purple Beautyberry (Callicarpa diochotoma) – Incredible electric purple berries from September through the end of October. Leaves turn yellow in the fall and fruit persists beyond leaf drop. An easy to grow shrub! Height: 2 – 4’, Spread: 3 – 5’
Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) – Serviceberry is an attractive low-spreading shrub or small tree. The young branches and buds are reddish brown and smooth while the older twigs are gray. White flowers are plentiful, fragrant, and grouped in showy white clusters of 3-20 flowers. The fall berries are initially red, later ripening to dark purple.
Viburnum (Viburnum species) – This genus of shrubs and small trees is a valued food source for birds and other wildlife. Most plants in this group are tolerant of wet soil and partial shade, and are useful as specimens or for informal hedge and screen plantings. For fruit production, it is best to set out two or more plants of a species and plant in a sunny location. ‘Highbush Cranberry’ is a popular upright shrub with maple-like leaves bearing showy clusters of white flowers in late spring, followed by bright red berries in fall. The berries often persist through much of the winter.
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) – An under used landscape plant with white flowers in June, followed by a superb fall show of brilliant reddish-purple leaves. Loves moist areas and is perfect for massing and naturalizing. Height: 3-4’, Spread: 5-6’
Winter Berry Holly (Ilex verticillata) – Persistent red berries make this plant a standout for the winter landscape. Several selections like ‘Sparkleberry’ range in size from 3-14’ high by 4-8’ wide. Some tolerate wet feet and all selections are excellent for attracting birds to the landscape.
