Autumn is a time of breathtaking transformation in the garden, and nothing boosts the vibrancy of the season like adding shrubs for fall color! From the fiery red of burning bush to the delicate, waving plumes of Miscanthus grass, this guide will help you select the perfect plants to enhance your garden this September. No matter where you are in the Quad Cities, these fall shrubs and grasses promise to deliver a stunning display of color and texture that will captivate and inspire.
Top Fall Shrubs and Trees for Stunning Color
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
Known for its spectacular red foliage, burning bush is a quintessential shrub for fall color. This deciduous shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade and is adaptable to a variety of soil types, making it a versatile choice for many gardens. Its vibrant red leaves contrast sharply against autumn's often-muted tones, ensuring it stands out in any landscape. To achieve the best color display, plant burning bush in well-drained soil and ensure it has ample space to showcase its brilliant hues.
Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)
Korean Spice Viburnum captivates with its clusters of pink buds that open into fragrant white flowers in spring. As the blooms fade, they give way to red berries that mature to black, offering multi-season interest. This deciduous shrub also features striking fall foliage, with its green leaves turning shades of red and burgundy. Korean Spice Viburnum thrives in well-drained soil and prefers full sun to partial shade, making it a versatile choice for mixed borders or foundation plantings. Its heady fragrance and seasonal color make it a garden favorite.
Blueberry Bushes (Vaccinium spp.)
Blueberry bushes are a versatile and rewarding addition to any garden, offering delicious fruit and multi-season appeal. In spring, they bloom with clusters of delicate white or pink flowers, followed by juicy, sweet blueberries in summer. As the season progresses, the glossy green foliage transitions to striking shades of red, orange, and yellow in the fall, adding vibrant color to the landscape. Blueberries thrive in well-drained, acidic soil and prefer full sun, making them ideal for garden beds, borders, or even containers. In addition to their ornamental qualities, blueberry bushes attract pollinators and provide a bountiful harvest, making them a perfect choice for edible landscaping.
Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa)
Aronia, also known as chokeberry, is a hardy, deciduous shrub celebrated for its ornamental beauty and edible fruit. In spring, it produces clusters of small, white flowers that attract pollinators, followed by glossy, dark purple berries in late summer, which are rich in antioxidants. Its foliage transforms to brilliant shades of red and orange in the fall, adding stunning seasonal color to the garden. Aronia thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates a variety of soil conditions, including wet and poorly drained soils, making it a versatile choice for naturalized areas, borders, or rain gardens. In addition to its ornamental value, the berries are often used in jams, juices, and baked goods.
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Virginia Sweetspire is a superb choice for anyone looking to add rich fall colors to their garden, with foliage that turns a stunning array of red, orange, and purple as the season progresses. This shrub is also known for its fragrant white flowers that appear in late spring to early summer. Virginia sweetspire prefers moist, well-drained soil and can thrive in full sun to partial shade, making it a versatile and visually appealing option for fall color.
Tiger Eyes Sumac (Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger')
Tiger Eyes Sumac is a bold and vibrant shrub known for its deeply cut, fern-like foliage that emerges in a striking chartreuse yellow in spring, transitioning to bright orange and fiery red in the fall. Its unique texture and color make it a standout in any garden, providing dramatic seasonal interest. This compact version of the staghorn sumac grows to around 6 feet, making it suitable for smaller spaces. Tiger Eyes Sumac thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soils. Its tolerance for poor soil and drought makes it an excellent choice for low-maintenance, xeriscape, or erosion control plantings, while its vivid colors bring life to borders and naturalized gardens.
Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
Paperbark Maple is a striking ornamental tree celebrated for its rich cinnamon-brown bark that peels and curls, creating a stunning textural effect year-round. Its trifoliate leaves emerge in a soft green in spring, turning shades of red, orange, and bronze in the fall, offering a brilliant autumn display. This slow-growing, deciduous tree typically reaches 20-30 feet in height, making it ideal for small to medium landscapes or as a specimen tree. Paperbark Maple thrives in well-drained soil and prefers full sun to partial shade. Its exceptional bark, combined with its compact form and vibrant fall color, makes it a unique and attractive focal point in any garden.
“Autumn Glory” (Acer rubrum)
“Autumn Glory” is a stunning cultivar of the red maple known for its brilliant autumn display. In fall, its dark green leaves turn vibrant shades of scarlet and crimson, lighting up any landscape. This deciduous tree also offers year-round interest with its smooth gray bark and small red flowers that appear in early spring. “Autumn Glory” thrives in well-drained, slightly acidic soils and prefers full sun. It's an excellent choice for adding height and bold color to larger gardens or as a specimen tree in residential landscapes. Its striking fall colors and graceful form make it a standout feature in any setting.
"...group plants in clusters for a more natural look..."
Complementary Perennials for Fall Interest
For vibrant fall color in Iowa, several perennials stand out and to fill out the spaces between your chosen fall shrubs. These plants provide striking hues and texture as the growing season winds down., providing striking hues and texture as the growing season winds down. Try these for an instant wow factor:
Huechera 'Caramel': Features golden-caramel foliage that deepens to amber and peach tones in fall, adding a warm glow to the garden.
Sedum 'Angelina': Transforms from chartreuse to bright orange in fall, offering a vibrant and low-maintenance groundcover.
Sedum 'Autumn Joy': Produces clusters of pink flowers that turn deep burgundy in fall, providing late-season color.
Sedum 'Matrona': Offers pinkish blooms and bold stems, with foliage that turns red in autumn for added interest.
Little Bluestem: Tall, native grass that shifts to orange and purple hues in fall, adding texture and height to the landscape.
Goldenrod: Bright yellow blooms in late summer to early fall, perfect for attracting pollinators and adding a pop of color.
Asters: Produces a profusion of purple, pink, or white flowers in fall, creating a cheerful and colorful display.
Beautiful Grasses for Fall Texture and Color
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Switchgrass adds an elegant touch to any fall garden with its tall, graceful seed heads that glisten in shades of gold and bronze and its unparalleled ability to provide texture and movement. Switchgrass thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and its autumn colors create a beautiful contrast against other fall plants.
Miscanthus Cultivars
Miscanthus, particularly the cultivars 'Purpurascens' and 'November Sunset,' offer exceptional color and texture for fall gardens. 'Purpurascens' features reddish-purple foliage that intensifies in the fall, while 'November Sunset' displays a warm palette of gold, bronze, and pink. Both cultivars are known for their graceful, arching plumes that add a touch of elegance to any garden. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them a reliable choice for a vibrant fall display.
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Red October Big Bluestem is a striking ornamental grass known for its dramatic foliage. In spring, its narrow leaves are deep green with red accents, transitioning to rich burgundy by fall. After frost, the grass turns vibrant candy-apple red with scarlet highlights. Reaching 6 feet tall, this hardy native grass adds bold color to mixed perennial borders.
The Blues Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues')
The Blues Little Bluestem is a compact, ornamental grass prized for its striking blue-gray foliage that transforms into shades of orange, red, and purple in the fall. This upright, clump-forming grass typically reaches 2-3 feet in height, making it perfect for smaller gardens or as a vertical accent in borders. In late summer, delicate silvery seed heads appear, adding further interest and texture. The Blues thrives in full sun and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including dry and poor soils. Its drought resistance and ability to support wildlife make it a valuable addition to low-maintenance, eco-friendly landscapes.
"Plant shrubs with contrasting colors and textures together to enhance their individual beauty..."
Tips for Planting and Care
To maximize your garden's fall color, plant your seasonal shrubs and grasses where they will receive the right amount of sunlight and have access to well-drained soil. For best results, prepare your soil by adding organic matter to help create proper drainage, preventing waterlogging. When planning your plantings, you should factor in the mature size of each plant to ensure proper spacing.
Care Instructions
Creating the perfect conditions to maximize your fall color requires regular care and attention throughout the season. Start in the early spring to support healthy growth and ensure a stunning fall display. Water your perennial grasses and shrubs deeply during dry spells to encourage roots to dig down deep, and ensure the water does not remain waterlogged. Prune or deadhead as needed to remove dead material and maintain shape.
Creating a Cohesive Fall Garden Design
Design Ideas
Combine these vibrant fall garden plants and grasses to create a cohesive fall design full of exciting colors and textures. Plant shrubs with contrasting colors and textures together to enhance their individual beauty, incorporate grasses to add movement and additional layers of color, and group plants in clusters for a more natural look or to create focal points in your garden design.
Incorporating some of these shrubs for fall color into your garden is a wonderful way to celebrate the season and enhance your landscape. For more fabulous fall home and garden ideas, come see us today at Wallace's. We're gearing up for a colorful season, and we'd love to see you soon!
