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Don’t you like the fall colors
As gardeners, we value all of the plants and trees that produce the brilliant foliage that we see every fall when our growing season wears off. Stunning trees, bright orange pumpkins, and radiant mothers all come to mind when we think of fall colors.
But you should also consider shrubs when planning the fall colors. There are many types of shrubs that we can plant especially in October and November to beautify our gardens; we are nearing the time to plant these perennials for next year’s beauty.
Shrubs are the garden’s workhorses. Because they’re smaller than trees, you can find shrubs that will fit anywhere – even in containers – and because they’re perennials, they will beautify your garden for years to come. But what are the best shrubs to get the best color?
There are a number of shrubs that not only produce wonderful fall color, but are also beautiful when they bloom and bear their green foliage in the summer. When choosing your plants, consider the color combinations that go well together; they range from yellow to orange and red to bronze and purple. If you’re looking to plant some autumn annuals like kale and pansies, this selection also goes well with the shrubs included here.
A common plant in our Oklahoma landscape is staghorn sumac, which is green in spring. The cutleaf staghorn sumac has lacy fern-like foliage that changes from green to bright yellow in summer; in autumn it is breathtaking, with scarlet leaves under the yellow-orange.
This shrub grows very quickly to heights of 3-6 feet tall and just as wide and tolerates cold temperatures from zones 4-8 (we’re in zone 7).
This sumac tolerates full sun to partial shade, so it is ideal as a specimen plant in a Japanese garden, in a mass planting or as a mixed discount.
Other than pruning deadwood, it doesn’t need much attention and you can find it at any local garden center.
One of the most beautiful yellow shrubs in autumn is the witch hazel. In addition to yellow leaves, this shrub also bears yellow flowers that look like ribbons and bloom from mid to late autumn.
Although it requires little maintenance, it has shallow roots and needs water during periods of drought.
It grows 10 to 20 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide, and is hardy from zones 4 to 8. It prefers moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil and can be planted in full sun to partial shade.
Another popular shrub is the oak leaf hydrangea, which is interesting for four seasons. The green leaves in spring give way to the long, white, draped flowers; In autumn the leaves turn purple, bronze and red for a spectacular play of colors.
The oak leaf hydrangea is a smaller shrub that grows 4 to 8 feet tall and wide and should be planted in rich, moist, well-drained soil.
This plant likes heat and humidity and can be used anywhere on your property, alone or in a mass group. She likes full sun to partial shade, has a hardiness zone of 5-9, and is available at local garden centers.
It is difficult to find year-round oak leaf hydrangea, but Gold Mound Spirea comes close and features three seasons of beauty with spring foliage, summer flowers, and fall color.
In addition to the golden autumn color that gives this shrub its name, light red splashes also find their way onto the leaves in autumn.
It is hardy in zones 4-8 and needs full sun and moist but well-drained soil.
Fall is the time to plant perennials for next year’s color.
These shrubs produce great fall color, so now is the time to decide which shrubs will work best in your garden.
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