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Fall brings a stunning transformation to gardens as leaves change color and plants take on new hues. Many gardeners look forward to this time of year to enjoy vibrant bursts of reds, oranges, yellows, and purples. Adding plants that shine in autumn can create a beautiful landscape that extends the colorful growing season well past summer.
We’ve put together a list of 21 brilliant plants that provide amazing fall colors to brighten up any garden. These picks include trees, shrubs, perennials, and more that thrive in various climates and conditions. With some planning, you can design a yard filled with rich autumn tones to enjoy as the weather turns cooler.
1. Japanese Maple
Japanese maples are stunning trees that bring vibrant fall color to gardens. Their leaves transform into a dazzling array of reds, oranges, and golds as the weather cools. We love how these compact trees fit easily into most landscapes. They work well as focal points or accent plants in smaller spaces.
Japanese maples come in many varieties with different leaf shapes and colors. Some popular red-leafed cultivars include ‘Bloodgood’, ‘Red Dragon’, and ‘Tamukeyama’. To get the best fall display, plant Japanese maples in a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade.
They prefer moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Regular watering and a layer of mulch helps keep the roots cool and moist. With proper care, these beautiful trees will provide eye-catching autumn interest for years to come.
2. Sweetspire ‘Little Henry’
Sweetspire ‘Little Henry’ is a compact native shrub that brings vibrant fall color to gardens. This small deciduous plant reaches about 3 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for tight spaces. In late spring, ‘Little Henry’ produces fragrant white flower spikes that resemble bottle brushes. These blooms attract pollinators and add visual interest.
The real show begins in autumn when the leaves turn brilliant shades of orange and red. This fall display can last for weeks, creating a stunning focal point in the landscape.
‘Little Henry’ grows well in full sun to partial shade. It prefers moist, well-drained soil but can tolerate wet conditions once established. This low-maintenance plant is also deer-resistant and drought-tolerant. We recommend using ‘Little Henry’ in mixed borders, as a ground cover, or in native plant gardens. Its compact size works well in containers too.
3. Panicle Hydrangeas
Panicle hydrangeas are a fantastic choice for fall color in the garden. These hardy plants burst into bloom as other flowers start to fade, creating a stunning display.
We love how panicle hydrangeas offer long-lasting flowers that persist well into autumn. Their showy panicles come in various sizes and colors, adding interest to any landscape.
Some popular varieties include ‘Limelight’, with its green flowers that turn pink-burgundy, and Fire Light®, which produces full mophead blooms that transform to a vibrant red.
For smaller spaces, dwarf options like Bobo® or Little Lime® work well. These compact plants still pack a colorful punch without overwhelming the garden.
Panicle hydrangeas are easy to grow and can handle full sun to partial shade. They’re a reliable choice for gardeners looking to extend their garden’s beauty into the fall season.
4. Autumn Blaze Maple
Autumn Blaze maple is a stunning tree that brings vibrant fall color to any garden. This hybrid combines the best traits of red and silver maples. We love its fast growth rate and adaptability to different soil types. The tree’s oval crown and strong branching structure make it a great choice for landscapes.
In autumn, Autumn Blaze maple lives up to its name. Its leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow. This colorful display lasts longer than many other trees.
Planting is easy in spring or fall. We recommend using well-draining soil and adding some compost to help it grow quickly. For those short on space, Autumn Blaze maple can be grown from cuttings in pots. This lets you enjoy its beauty even in small gardens.
5. Sugar Maple
Sugar maples are famous for their stunning fall colors. These trees put on a dazzling show of yellow, orange, and red foliage each autumn. Native to North America, sugar maples can grow quite large over time. They reach heights of 60-75 feet with a spread of 40-50 feet at maturity.
We love sugar maples for their classic, rounded shape. Their dense canopy provides excellent shade in the summer months. In spring, sugar maples produce small yellow-green flowers.
By fall, they develop winged seed pairs called samaras. Sugar maples prefer full sun to partial shade. They grow best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. With proper care, these trees can live for over 200 years.
6. Smoke Bush
Smoke bush is a stunning addition to any fall garden. This shrub gets its name from the fluffy, smoke-like plumes that appear in summer. In autumn, the smoke bush shines. Its leaves turn vibrant shades of red, orange, or purple. The exact color depends on the variety.
We love Smoke Bush for its versatility. It can be grown as a shrub or trained into a small tree. It’s also drought-tolerant once established. Some popular varieties include ‘Royal Purple’ with deep purple leaves and ‘Golden Spirit’ with golden-yellow foliage.
These add a pop of color to the garden all season long. Smoke bush is easy to care for. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts to various soil types. Regular pruning keeps it compact and promotes a more vibrant fall color.
7. Katsura Tree
Katsura trees bring stunning fall color to gardens. Their heart-shaped leaves turn shades of yellow, orange, and apricot in autumn. The fall display is just one of the Katsura’s charms. These trees have an elegant pyramid shape and shaggy brown bark that adds winter interest.
Katsura trees grow well in full sun or partial shade. They like moist soil but can handle a range of conditions. Most katsura trees reach 40-50 feet tall at maturity. We love that katsura trees are low-maintenance.
They resist pests and diseases, making them easy to care for. Their shallow roots also make them a good choice near buildings or patios. For smaller spaces, weeping katsura varieties offer the same beautiful fall color in a more compact 20-foot form. The cascading branches create a unique focal point.
8. Virginia Sweetspire
Virginia Sweetspire is a stunning native shrub that adds brilliant fall color to gardens. Its leaves turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and purple in autumn, creating a dazzling display.
This versatile plant thrives in both sun and shade. It adapts well to different soil types, even tolerating wet conditions near streams or ponds.
In late spring to early summer, Virginia Sweetspire produces long clusters of fragrant white flowers. These attract butterflies and other pollinators to the garden.
We love how easy Virginia Sweetspire is to grow and maintain. It rarely needs pruning, though we can shape it in late winter if desired.
For best results, we plant Virginia Sweetspire in spring or fall. We space shrubs 4-6 feet apart to give them room to spread their graceful, arching branches.
9. Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a fantastic choice for fall color in gardens. This shrub or small tree offers brilliant yellow, orange, or red foliage as the weather cools.
But its real magic happens in late fall or winter. Witch hazel produces unique spidery flowers in shades of yellow, orange, or red when most other plants are dormant.
These flowers give off a sweet scent that can fill the air. They also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, helping other plants in your garden.
Witch hazel comes in different sizes and shapes. Some grow tall and vase-like, while others stay more compact and rounded. Most reach 15 to 25 feet tall.
We love witch hazel for its low maintenance needs. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil.
10. American Beautyberry
American Beautyberry is a stunning shrub that adds vibrant color to fall gardens. Its most eye-catching feature is the clusters of bright purple berries that appear in autumn. This native plant is easy to grow and care for. It thrives in both sun and partial shade. We love how adaptable it is to different soil types.
The shrub can reach 3-8 feet tall and wide. It’s best to give it plenty of space to spread out. We recommend planting beautyberries at least 5-6 feet apart. In spring and summer, the beautyberry has green foliage and small pink flowers. But it’s in the fall when it shines.
The purple berries persist well into winter, providing food for birds. American Beautyberry is a great choice for natural or wildlife gardens. It’s also perfect for filling larger spaces in the landscape.
11. Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangeas are stunning plants that offer fall color to brighten any garden. Their large, oak-shaped leaves turn beautiful shades of red and purple as autumn arrives. These hydrangeas produce big, cone-shaped flower clusters that start white and gradually change to pink or tan. The blooms last through summer and into fall, adding long-lasting beauty.
We love oakleaf hydrangeas for their versatility. They come in compact varieties like ‘Pee-Wee’ and ‘Munchkin’ that work well in smaller spaces. Taller types such as ‘Alice’ and ‘Harmony’ make bold statements in larger gardens.
Oakleaf hydrangeas thrive in partial shade and well-draining soil. They’re fairly low-maintenance once established. We recommend planting them in spring or early fall for the best results. With their changing leaf colors and long-lasting blooms, oakleaf hydrangeas bring multi-season interest to the garden. They’re an excellent choice for gardeners wanting to add fall flair.
12. Blueberry Bush
Blueberry bushes offer more than just tasty fruit. They bring stunning fall color to gardens with their vibrant scarlet and orange foliage. These versatile shrubs work well as hedges or standalone plants. Northern highbush varieties like ‘Razz’ are popular choices for colder climates.
Blueberries thrive in acidic soil with good drainage. We recommend planting them in the fall and providing regular water as they establish. For the best autumn display, ensure blueberries get full sun. Prune annually to maintain shape and encourage healthy growth.
Beyond their fall beauty, blueberry bushes offer spring flowers that attract pollinators. Their year-round interest makes them a smart addition to any garden seeking seasonal color.
13. Serviceberry
Serviceberry trees are a fantastic choice for fall color in gardens. We love the ‘Autumn Brilliance’ variety for its stunning orange-red foliage. These small trees or large shrubs offer beauty in multiple seasons. In spring, white flowers bloom. Summer brings tasty berries that attract birds.
Serviceberries are easy to grow in most soils. They prefer full sun to partial shade. Regular watering helps them thrive, especially when young. The trees reach 15-25 feet tall and wide.
This makes them perfect for smaller yards or as understory plants. We recommend planting serviceberries where you can enjoy their fall display. They work well as focal points or in mixed borders.
14. Fothergilla
Fothergilla is a stunning native shrub that offers brilliant fall color. This plant transforms gardens with its vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds as the weather cools.
In spring, fothergilla produces fragrant white bottlebrush-like flowers. These blooms attract early pollinators to the garden. After flowering, the shrub develops blue-green oval leaves that last through summer.
Fothergilla comes in different sizes. Dwarf varieties grow 2-3 feet tall, while larger types can reach 6-10 feet. This makes it versatile for various garden spaces.
We love Fothergilla for its low-maintenance nature. It grows slowly and rarely needs pruning. The plant prefers moist, acidic soil and can handle some shade, though it flowers best in full sun.
For a native alternative to burning bush, fothergilla is an excellent choice. It provides similar fall drama without being invasive. Consider adding this four-season shrub to brighten your autumn landscape.
15. Burning Bush
Burning bush is a stunning shrub that adds a fiery red color to fall gardens. Its leaves turn bright scarlet in autumn, creating an eye-catching display.
This deciduous shrub typically grows 6-8 feet tall and wide. It has an upright, rounded shape that works well as a hedge or accent plant.
Burning bush prefers full sun to part shade. It’s adaptable to different soil types as long as drainage is good. We recommend planting it in spring or fall.
For the best fall color, give burning bush plenty of sunlight. Prune it in late winter to maintain its shape and size. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system.
While beautiful, burning bush can be invasive in some areas. Check local regulations before planting. Consider native alternatives like chokeberry or sumac for similar red fall color.
16. Amur Maple
Amur maple is a stunning choice for fall color in gardens. This small tree or large shrub puts on a dazzling display of reds, oranges, and yellows when autumn arrives.
Native to parts of Asia, Amur maple adapts well to many growing conditions. It thrives in full sun to part shade and can handle various soil types.
We love Amur maple for its versatility. It works great as a specimen tree, privacy screen, or even a hedge. The tree typically grows 15-20 feet tall with a similar spread.
In spring and summer, Amur maple has attractive green leaves. Small, fragrant flowers appear in spring, followed by winged seed pods. The real show begins in the fall when the foliage transforms into brilliant hues.
For maximum impact, we recommend planting Amur maple where its fall colors will stand out. It pairs nicely with evergreens or against light-colored walls.
17. Spicebush
Spicebush is a great choice for adding fall color to your garden. This native shrub lights up shady areas with bright yellow foliage in autumn.
Spicebush reaches 10 to 20 feet tall and wide. It works well as a border plant or in natural areas. The leaves give off a spicy scent when crushed.
In spring, spicebush produces small yellow flowers before the leaves emerge. Female plants develop red berries in late summer that attract birds.
We love Spicebush for its multi-season interest. It provides spring blooms, summer greenery, fall color, and winter structure. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in moist, shaded spots.
Spicebush also serves as the host plant for spicebush swallowtail butterflies. Adding it to your garden supports these beautiful pollinators.
18. Sumac ‘Tiger Eyes’
Sumac ‘Tiger Eyes’ is a stunning plant that brings vibrant fall color to gardens. This shrub grows to about 6 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for small spaces.
The leaves of ‘Tiger Eyes’ start out chartreuse in spring, then turn a bright lemon-lime in summer. As fall approaches, they transform into eye-catching shades of yellow, orange, and scarlet.
We love the unique texture this plant adds to landscapes. Its feathery leaves grow on fuzzy, coral-colored stems, creating an interesting contrast all season long.
‘Tiger Eyes’ thrives in full sun to part shade and tolerates dry soil well. It’s a low-maintenance option for gardeners looking to add some autumn flair.
This sumac variety is hardy in USDA zones 4-8, making it suitable for many climates across the United States.
19. Aronia
Aronia, also known as chokeberry, is a stunning shrub that brings vibrant fall color to gardens. We love its versatility and low-maintenance nature. In spring, aronia produces clusters of white flowers that attract pollinators. By late summer, these blooms transform into berries in shades of red or black.
The real show begins in autumn when aronia’s leaves turn brilliant shades of red and purple. This fiery display can last for weeks, making it a standout in fall landscapes.
Aronia is hardy and adaptable to various soil types. We recommend planting it in full sun to partial shade for the best color and fruit production. This native shrub also provides food for birds and wildlife. The berries persist into winter, offering visual interest and sustenance for feathered visitors.
20. Redbud
Redbuds are stunning trees that bring vibrant color to fall gardens. Their heart-shaped leaves turn beautiful shades of yellow, orange, and red as the season progresses.
We love the Forest Pansy redbud for its deep purple foliage that shifts to red-orange in autumn. The Ruby Falls variety offers a weeping form with burgundy leaves that transform to golden yellow.
For a unique twist, the Golden Falls redbud features bright yellow foliage throughout the growing season. Its leaves take on orange tones in fall, creating a warm glow in the landscape.
Redbuds are fairly small trees, typically reaching 15-30 feet tall. This makes them perfect for smaller yards or as understory trees. They also attract bees and birds, adding life to the garden.
With proper care, redbuds can thrive in USDA zones 5-9. They prefer full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Regular watering helps establish young trees.
21. Coralberry
Coralberry is a fantastic choice for fall color in the garden. This native shrub puts on a beautiful display of berries that mature in October. The small pink or red berries appear in dense clusters along the branches. They provide a pop of color that lasts well into winter, even after the leaves have fallen.
Coralberry shrubs are tough and adaptable. They can grow in full sun to full shade and tolerate poor soils. The plants reach 3-4 feet tall and wide at maturity.
We love Coralberry for its low-maintenance needs. It’s deer-resistant and can handle cold temperatures down to -40°F. The berries also attract birds to the garden. For the best berry display, plant coralberry in groups. The bluish-green leaves provide a nice backdrop for the colorful fruit.
