14 Fall-Blooming Shrubs That Extend Color in the Garden

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Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums are popular fall-blooming shrubs that bring vibrant colors to the garden in late summer and fall. They come in a wide range of colors, from deep purples to warm oranges and yellows, making them a favorite for autumn displays.

These plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, and they bloom profusely when given the proper care. Their blossoms are a great addition to garden borders, pots, or hanging baskets, providing late-season color when many other plants have finished flowering.

Golden Forsythia

Golden Forsythia is a deciduous shrub that offers a vibrant yellow hue during the fall months. Its cheerful blooms and long-lasting color make it a perfect choice for brightening up fall gardens, even when the rest of the landscape is starting to fade.

This shrub thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, and its bright golden flowers often bloom right before the first frost. In addition to its fall display, Forsythia is also an early spring bloomer, making it a versatile addition to any garden.

Spirea (Japanese Spirea)

Spirea shrubs, particularly the Japanese Spirea, are known for their abundant clusters of flowers that appear in late summer and continue into the fall. These blooms are typically white, pink, or red, providing a soft yet impactful color contrast against the changing foliage.

Spirea is easy to care for and can grow in a variety of soil types, thriving in both sunny and partially shaded areas. It is perfect for garden beds, borders, and low-maintenance landscaping, adding beauty and interest well into the fall.

Asters

Asters are fall-blooming perennial shrubs that offer a burst of color when many other plants are nearing the end of their growing season. Their daisy-like flowers come in shades of blue, purple, and pink, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Asters prefer full sun and well-drained soil and are relatively low-maintenance once established. They are perfect for creating a colorful late-season display in garden beds, providing an extended flowering period from late summer to fall.

Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)

Fothergilla shrubs are known for their striking fall foliage, turning shades of yellow, orange, and red. While they bloom in the spring with fragrant white flowers, their true beauty shines in the fall when their leaves display vivid color against the crisp autumn air.

This shrub is a perfect choice for adding texture and color to your garden, especially in woodland settings or shaded areas. Fothergilla prefers moist, well-drained soils and thrives in both partial shade and full sun, making it a versatile option for any garden.

Beautyberry (Callicarpa)

Beautyberry shrubs are known for their stunning purple or white berries that appear in the fall. These berries stand out against the shrub’s deep green foliage, which begins to take on shades of yellow, orange, and purple as the weather cools.

In addition to their colorful berries, Beautyberry shrubs attract birds and wildlife, making them an excellent choice for those looking to add both beauty and biodiversity to their garden. They grow best in full sun to partial shade and are relatively easy to care for.

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)

Virginia Sweetspire is a fragrant shrub that produces white, spiky flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by vibrant red, orange, and purple foliage in the fall. This shrub is known for its beautiful fall color, which adds warmth and texture to the garden when other plants have finished blooming.

Sweetspire thrives in moist, well-drained soils and partial to full sun. It is an excellent choice for a native shrub that provides seasonal beauty and supports local wildlife, including pollinators, birds, and small mammals.

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis)

Witch Hazel is a fall-blooming shrub that stands out for its unique, spidery flowers that bloom in late fall and winter. Its vibrant yellow, orange, or red flowers appear when the weather turns cooler, making it an ideal addition to gardens seeking late-season interest.

This shrub is adaptable to various soil types and prefers partial to full sun. Its fragrant flowers, combined with its ability to thrive in cold weather, make it a wonderful addition to gardens that want a pop of color in the fall and beyond.

Sweet Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)

Sweet Mock Orange is a fragrant shrub that blooms in late spring, but its true charm is in its fall foliage. During the fall months, its dark green leaves turn rich shades of yellow, orange, and red, making it a standout in the landscape.

This shrub prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It is perfect for hedges, borders, or as a focal point in a mixed garden, offering both fragrance and stunning fall color.

Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)

Burning Bush is famous for its vibrant red foliage in the fall. Its name comes from the intense color transformation that occurs as the leaves turn from green to bright red, creating a striking display in gardens.

This shrub thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it easy to grow and care for. It is an excellent choice for adding bold color and drama to your garden during the fall months, as it transitions from summer green to a fiery red.

Caryopteris (Bluebeard)

Caryopteris, commonly known as Bluebeard, is a fragrant shrub that blooms with striking blue flowers in late summer to early fall. Its vibrant flowers contrast nicely with its aromatic gray-green foliage, offering both visual and sensory appeal in the garden.

This shrub grows best in well-drained soil and full sun. It attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, making it a great addition to any garden looking to support local wildlife while adding color during the fall season.

Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)

Abelia is a versatile shrub that provides beautiful late-season blooms and foliage. It produces clusters of small, fragrant white to pink flowers, which continue into the fall, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.

This shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade and grows well in a variety of soil types. Its glossy green leaves gradually turn a reddish hue in the fall, adding even more interest to the garden as the seasons change.

Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

Crape Myrtle is a deciduous shrub known for its striking flowers, which bloom in vibrant shades of pink, purple, red, and white during the summer and fall. These beautiful blooms are often accompanied by dark green foliage that turns to deep orange and red hues in the fall.

Crape Myrtle grows best in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a great addition to sunny gardens. Its attractive fall foliage and long-lasting blooms help extend the beauty of your garden well into autumn.

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

New Jersey Tea is a native shrub that blooms late in the summer and into the fall, producing small, white flowers in clusters. These blooms provide a soft, delicate contrast to the shrub’s green leaves, which turn yellow and red in the fall, giving it a pleasant seasonal appeal.

This shrub grows best in dry, well-drained soil and full sun. It is an excellent choice for low-maintenance gardens, providing both beauty and support for pollinators during the fall months.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.