Autumn brings cooler temperatures and increased rainfall which reinvigorate the garden and create ideal conditions for installing new plants. Deciduous shrubs are among the best candidates for fall planting. Plants develop roots when soil temperatures are above 40o F, which means fall planted shrubs continue to grow roots well into winter. And because deciduous shrubs lose their leaves in autumn, they do not suffer water loss from winter winds that commonly plague broadleaf evergreen shrubs.
Many deciduous shrubs produce gorgeous fall foliage, but individual shrubs of the same species can vary considerably when it comes to fall color. Visiting the garden center in autumn allows you to select the most vibrant specimens. Planting these hardy shrubs in fall gives them a jump start over spring planted shrubs, ensuring they are well established before the heat of summer arrives.
Fall planting differs a little from spring planting. While we often fertilize plants or amend soil during spring planting, we want to hold off on fertilization in the fall. The same is true of pruning fall-planted shrubs. Fertilization and pruning encourage new growth, which does not have time to harden off before cold temperatures set in. Wait until spring to feed and prune your new shrubs. In the meantime, be sure to irrigate as needed throughout the autumn and winter months to keep the roots and soil moist.
‘Snowcicle’ Oakleaf Hydrangea
Credit:
Southern Living Plant Collection
Botanical Name: Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowcicle’Sun Exposure: Full to part shadeSoil Type: Rich, medium, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to alkaline (5.0 to 8.0)USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 6 to 9
The extra-large flower heads of ‘Snowcicle’ oakleaf hydrangea will make you swoon. Growing 12 to 14 inches long, the double-flowered panicles age from creamy-white to a lovely combination of deep rose, cream, and olive green. Blooms are held on sturdy stems and make long-lasting cut flowers. Autumn brings stunning wine-colored hues to the handsome foliage.
Rainbow Sensation® Weigela
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Southern Living Plant Collection
Botanical Name: Weigela florida ‘Kolmagira’Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Average, medium, well-drainingSoil pH: Acid to alkaline (5.5 to 8.0)USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 8
Rainbow Sensation® is a variegated weigela with vibrant yellow-edged foliage and a compact, rounded form. Clusters of soft pink flowers cover plants in late spring, drawing hummingbirds and other pollinators to the garden. This cold hardy shrub survives winter in containers throughout the South. Also try massing in borders or foundation plantings.
Sunbow® Azaleas
Credit:
Southern Living Plant Collection
Botanical Name: Rhododendron hybridsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Rich, medium, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic (<6.0)USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
The Sunbow® series of native azaleas produces honeysuckle-scented spring blooms on plants that stand up to heat and humidity. With large, showy flowers and vibrant colors, the series marks a notable update to flame azaleas. Varieties include the early-blooming Solar Glow™, which produces red-orange blooms, and Solar Flare™ with yellow flowers accented in orange hues.
White Wedding™ Hydrangea
Credit:
Southern Living Plant Collection
Botanical Name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘LeeP1’Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Rich, medium, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0)USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 8
This sun-loving hydrangea dazzles with a profusion of bright white flowerheads that stand upright on sturdy stems. Growing just six feet tall and five feet wide, this compact hydrangea is perfectly sized for planting beneath windows, along fence lines, or tucking into containers.
American Beautyberry
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Botanical Name: Callicarpa americanaSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Medium to moist, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to neutral (4.8-7.0)USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 6 to 11
This unassuming native shrub explodes onto the scene in early autumn, when bright purple to magenta berries ripen in dense clusters circling the stems. The fruits provide a feast for catbirds, Eastern towhee, wood thrushes, and other songbirds. This low-maintenance shrubs tolerates deer and rabbit browsing, dry soil, and drought.
Arrowwood Viburnum
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Tom Potterfield / Flickr / CC By 2.0
Botanical Name: Viburnum dentatumSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Average, medium, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0)USDA Hardiness Zone: 2 to 8
This handsome deciduous viburnum is well suited to the Upper and Mid-South. Native throughout eastern North America, arrowwood viburnum provides exceptional wildlife value through nectar-rich spring blooms and late season blue-black fruits. This fire-wise selection tolerates black walnut trees and deer browsing.
Forsythia
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Botanical Name: Forsythia spp. and hybridsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Medium, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0)USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 9
This prolific bloomer is responsible for the drifts of yellow flowers gracing gardens in early spring. An old-fashioned favorite with many improved cultivars available, forsythia is easy to grow and tolerates a range of conditions. Forsythia provides a nice backdrop to other plants when not in bloom. Group in borders among plants that flower in different seasons.
Summersweet
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Getty Images
Botanical Name: Clethra alnifoliaSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Rich, medium to wet, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic (<6.8)USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
The fragrant blooms of summersweet are abuzz with native bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Plants bloom well in shady locations and fill the late-summer gap with narrow, upright panicles packed with white or pink blooms. Plants commonly grow on wet sites and will not tolerate dry soil.
Virginia Sweetspire
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Botanical Name: Itea virginicaSun Exposure: Part shade; dappled sunSoil Type: Average, medium to moist, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0)USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
Virginia sweetspire erupts in bloom each spring, producing fragrant white flowers packed onto cylindrical heads that dangle from arching branches. The flowers attract a host of pollinators and the small seeds that follow are eaten by songbirds. Plants tolerate moist soil and periodic flooding, making them useful in rain gardens and along pond edges or stream banks.
Dwarf Fothergilla
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Botanical Name: Fothergilla gardeniiSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Rich, moist, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic (<6.0)USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 8
This slow-growing native shrub is adored for its white, bottlebrush-like blooms and fabulous fall color which ranges from yellow to burgundy. Flowers and fall color are strongest in full sun, but plants perform best with some shade. Provide dappled sunlight all day or afternoon shade for optimal performance. Look for showy cultivars featuring blue-tinged foliage.
Spirea
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Getty Images
Botanical Name: Spirea spp. and hybridsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Average, medium, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0)USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
Depending on the species, spireas flower in late spring or early to mid-summer, drawing scores of butterflies to the garden. Some varieties will bloom repeatedly through the summer, particularly when deadheaded. Spireas are easy to grow and tolerate deer, clay soil, and help control erosion. Updated cultivars offer a range of foliage and flower colors.
American Elderberry
You need to cook American elderberry fruit before use.
Credit: Image by H.Zell under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Botanical Name: Sambucus canadensisSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Rich, medium to moist, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to alkaline (5.5-8.0)USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
This adaptable native shrub produces edible fruits and flowers used to make jams, jellies, and elderberry wine (fruit must be cooked before eating). Birds also love to nibble on the dark purple fruits, making this an excellent shrub for wildlife gardens. Spring blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds, while the canopy provides nesting sites for songbirds and cover for quail.
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