21 Epic Shrubs To Plant In Fall For Gorgeous Garden Color And Variety!
Welcome! This article contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you.
Autumn is secretly the best time to plant shrubs! Cool air, warm soil, and autumn rains create the perfect conditions for healthy root development before winter dormancy. So, let’s explore the 21 best shrubs to plant in autumn. Whether you’re hunting for stunning fall foliage, early spring blooms, wildlife habitat, or homegrown food, one of these epic autumnal shrubs will work.
Sound fun?
Then let’s explore these epic September shrubs in detail!
Best Garden Shrubs To Plant In The Fall
Here are our 21 favorite shrubs for fall planting. They thrive when planted in autumn and are perfect additions to various garden styles.
1. Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)
These dual-purpose shrubs deliver delicious, antioxidant-rich berries! They also offer stunning fall foliage in shades of orange and crimson. For homesteaders, they’re a low-maintenance investment in food security. They also attract a large number of beneficial pollinators.
- USDA Grow Zone: 3 through 8, depending on variety.
- Benefits: Delicious edible fruit. They also support bees and have fiery red foliage in the fall.
- Shrub Size: Most varieties grow between 2 and 6 feet tall and (approximately) 2 to 6 feet wide.
Plant two or three different blueberry varieties. That way, you get superior cross-pollination and extended harvest seasons. (Plus, tons of diverse flavor!)
2. Spirea (Spiraea spp.)
These reliable bloomers make gorgeous clusters of cascading white, pink, or red flowers. Local bee populations love them! Their compact growth habit and drought tolerance (once established) make them ideal for busy gardeners seeking maximum impact with minimal fuss.
- USDA Grow Zones: 3 through 8.
- Benefits: A low-maintenance shrub ideal for mass plantings. Bees are especially attracted to its flowers.
- Shrub Size: Most varieties grow between 2 and 5 feet tall and wide.
Spirea’s name comes from the Greek word “speira,” meaning wreath. These cheerful bloomers will often produce a second flush of flowers if you deadhead the spent blooms in midsummer.
3. Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Ninebark is a lovely native powerhouse. It offers year-round interest with clusters of white flowers, colorful seed heads, and exfoliating bark that adds winter texture. Homesteaders appreciate its extreme hardiness and ability to thrive in challenging conditions where other shrubs fail.
- USDA Grow Zones: 2 through 7.
- Benefits: Beautiful peeling bark, colorful foliage, and spring flowers. It is also a reliable pollinator plant.
- Shrub Size: It typically grows between 5 and 10 feet tall. Roughly 4 to 8 feet wide.
The dense branching structure makes ninebark a favorite nesting site for songbirds. Its late-season seed heads provide winter food for goldfinches and other seed-eating birds.
Read More – 25 Creative Ways To Turn Your Backyard Into A Secluded And Private Paradise – Without Turning Into A Hermit!
4. Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
This native gem provides late-season nectar when few other plants are flowering. It’s a much-welcome support beacon for struggling pollinators. Beyond its ornamental value, witchhazel has traditional medicinal uses, making it a valuable addition to any homestead’s natural pharmacy.
- USDA Grow Zones: 3 through 8.
- Benefits: One of the few shrubs that bloom from late fall into winter. It also has fragrant flowers and a long history of medicinal use.
- Shrub Size: It grows between 10 and 20 feet tall. About 10 to 15 feet wide.
Witchhazel shrubs are famously resilient. The flowers can even survive freezing temperatures. To many gardeners’ surprise, they often spring back to life when the weather warms!
5. Juniper (Juniperus spp.)
Juniper shrubs are evergreen workhorses that provide year-round structure and privacy. They’re also highly drought-tolerant once they establish. Their berries feed wildlife. And many varieties offer aromatic foliage that works perfectly for culinary or craft purposes.
- USDA Grow Zones: 2 through 9, depending on the variety.
- Benefits: Evergreen and drought-tolerant. Provides year-round texture and color in the landscape.
- Shrub Size: Creeping forms are usually 1 to 2 feet tall. Upright forms reach over 20 feet high.
Gin lovers, take note. Many juniper species produce the aromatic berries that give gin its distinctive flavor! However, it takes female plants 2 to 3 years to grow berries. And you’ll need both male and female plants for fruit production.
6. Holly (Ilex spp.)
These evergreen shrubs offer bedazzling winter interest, glossy leaves, and gorgeously bright berries. The berries feed birds when other food sources are scarce late in the season. For homesteaders, holly also serves as both an ornamental hedge and a natural security barrier with its spiky leaves.
- USDA Grow Zones: 5 through 9, depending on species.
- Benefits: Evergreen with glossy leaves. Many varieties also produce bright berries that feed birds and provide winter interest.
- Shrub Size: Shrub forms can be as small as 3 feet tall. Tree-like varieties can grow up to 50 feet tall.
Christmas secret: Holly’s association with winter holidays dates back to ancient Celtic and Roman traditions, and the berries are technically drupes (like cherries) that can persist on the plant well into spring if birds don’t harvest them first.
Read More – 18 Edible And Yummy Groundcover Crops That Are Much More Beneficial Than Regular Grass!
7. Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)
Abelia is a magnificent, graceful shrub that blooms from spring through fall. This gorgeous garden gem also offers a consistent nectar source for hungry butterflies and bees. Their bronze-tinged winter foliage and gentle fragrance make them perfect for creating welcoming garden spaces.
- USDA Grow Zones: 6 through 9.
- Benefits: Semi-evergreen with glossy leaves. Its fragrant flowers attract hummingbirds and bees.
- Shrub Size: Most varieties grow between 3 and 6 feet tall. About 3 to 6 feet wide.
Abelia’s tubular flowers bloom in continuous flurries from late spring through fall. This timeframe makes it an excellent nectar source for migrating hummingbirds.
8. Lilac (Syringa spp.)
Autumn’s cool, moist weather is perfect for lilac planting. These beloved shrubs produce intensely fragrant flower clusters that work for potpourri, perfume, or culinary uses. Their dense growth creates excellent privacy screens while their flowers attract beneficial insects to the garden.
- USDA Grow Zones: 3 through 7.
- Benefits: Beloved for their classic, fragrant blooms in spring. They also provide excellent nectar for pollinators.
- Shrub Size: They can grow between 6 and 15 feet tall. Roughly 5 to 12 feet wide.
Perfumer’s delight: The essential oils in lilac flowers are most concentrated in the early morning hours, making dawn the perfect time to harvest blooms for homemade potpourri, perfume, or even lilac-infused honey.
9. Red And Yellow Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
Have you ever seen Twig Dogwood shrubs? They’re little-known, yet still gorgeous. And beyond their ornamental value, they’re ecological powerhouses that prevent erosion, attract birds with their berries, and provide excellent habitat for wildlife. Homesteaders value their rapid growth and ability to naturalize wet or challenging areas.
- USDA Grow Zones: 2 through 8.
- Benefits: Provides bright red or yellow winter stems. They also produce berries that attract birds.
- Shrub Size: They grow 6 to 9 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide.
Winter artistry: For the most vibrant winter stem color, cut the stems back to 6 to 12 inches every few years in late winter. The youngest wood produces the most brilliant reds and yellows.
Read More – 17 Gorgeous Pollinator Trees That Support Butterflies, Bees, And Wildlife!
10. Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense)
Here’s another lovely garden shrub that offers stunning color. Its unique fringe-like flowers in pink, red, or white create an exotic focal point in the landscape. The burgundy foliage varieties provide year-round color contrast that’s particularly striking in winter gardens.
- USDA Grow Zones: 7 through 10.
- Benefits: Evergreen with purple foliage. It also produces unique, ribbon-like flowers.
- Shrub Size: It can grow between 6 and 15 feet tall. About 6 to 10 feet wide.
Color-changing magic: The intensity of Loropetalum’s purple foliage depends on sunlight exposure. Plants in full sun develop deep burgundy leaves. At the same time, those in partial shade maintain softer purple-green tones with more dramatic seasonal color shifts.
11. Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Fall planting coincides with this native’s spectacular autumn foliage display. It offers a short preview of what gardeners can expect annually. Its fragrant white flower spikes attract butterflies and beneficial insects, while its spreading habit makes it excellent for naturalizing wet areas. This low-maintenance native requires no fertilizer and adapts to various soil conditions.
- USDA Grow Zones: 5 through 9.
- Benefits: Fragrant white flower spikes. Its foliage turns brilliant red and orange in the fall.
- Shrub Size: It usually grows 3 to 5 feet tall. About 4 to 6 feet wide.
Indigenous peoples traditionally used Virginia Sweetspire’s leaves to make medicinal teas. And modern gardeners love how its spreading root system helps prevent soil erosion along stream banks and wet areas where other plants struggle.
12. Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)
These garden favorites provide massive blooms perfect for fresh and dried arrangements. They add exquisite beauty and utility to the landscape. Many varieties also change color based on garden soil pH! This subtle surprise offers you a fun way to experiment with natural garden chemistry.
- USDA Grow Zones: 3 through 9, depending on species.
- Benefits: Large, colorful blooms. Reliable ornamental shrubs that attract pollinators.
- Shrub Size: Most grow between 3 and 15 feet tall. Roughly 3 to 12 feet wide.
pH party trick: Blue hydrangeas planted in alkaline soil will gradually shift to pink over several seasons. Adding coffee grounds or aluminum sulfate around pink varieties can slowly coax them toward blue. It’s like nature’s own mood ring!
Read More – 21 Incredible Edible Shrubs That Produce Delicious Fruit And Are Easy To Grow!
13. Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)
Azaleas dazzle all who see their spectacular spring flower show. These acid-loving shrubs create stunning woodland gardens and provide early nectar for emerging pollinators. Their dense growth habit makes them excellent foundation plants that suppress weeds naturally.
- USDA Grow Zones: 5 through 9, depending on variety.
- Benefits: Bursts of vibrant spring flowers. Many evergreen forms also keep attractive foliage all year long.
- Shrub Size: Most azaleas grow between 2 and 6 feet tall. Roughly 2 to 6 feet wide.
Butterfly magnet: Azaleas are one of the first primary nectar sources of spring, making them essential pit stops for migrating butterflies. Their early blooms often coincide perfectly with the emergence of native bee species after winter dormancy.
14. Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’)
Here’s a gorgeous, slow-growing evergreen that thrives in cool weather. Its perfect pyramidal shape requires no pruning, so it’s ideal for low-maintenance formal gardens or container growing. This compact conifer provides year-round structure and can serve as a living Christmas tree for smaller spaces.
- USDA Grow Zones: 2 through 6.
- Benefits: Compact, conical evergreen shrub. An excellent choice for a year-round garden structure.
- Shrub Size: It grows slowly to between 6 and 12 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide.
Dwarf Alberta spruce are ultra-slow growers. They only add 2 to 4 inches per year, but its perfect symmetry means you’ll never need to prune it. After 30 years, you’ll have a stunning 10-foot specimen that looks like nature’s own topiary artist crafted it.
15. Camellia (Camellia spp.)
These elegant evergreens bloom when few other plants provide color. They’re superb late-season standouts that create stunning winter focal points. Their glossy foliage and formal flowers also make them perfect for sophisticated landscape designs or cut flower gardens.
- USDA Grow Zones: 7 through 9.
- Benefits: Evergreen shrubs with stunning flowers that bloom in fall and winter.
- Shrub Size: They can grow between 6 and 12 feet tall. Roughly 6 to 10 feet wide.
Tea ceremony treasure: Camellia sinensis, a close relative of ornamental camellias, gives us all the tea in the world, and many ornamental varieties share that same rich, glossy foliage that makes them stunning backdrop plants even when not in bloom.
Read More – 21 Lovely Garden Flowers That Grow Shockingly Fast And Fill Empty Spots Without Fuss!
16. Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)
These fragrant beauties produce intensely perfumed white flowers that can be used for corsages, potpourri, or enjoyed in the garden. Gardenia flowers release their most intense perfume in the evening hours to attract night-flying moths for pollination. Their glossy evergreen foliage also provides year-round structure in warmer climates.
- USDA Grow Zones: 7 through 10.
- Benefits: Intoxicating fragrance. They also provide glossy evergreen foliage.
- Shrub Size: Most varieties grow between 3 and 6 feet tall. Roughly 3 to 6 feet wide.
Gardenia shrubs are perfect for planting near patios or bedroom windows! That way, you can enjoy their intoxicating scent during warm summer evenings.
17. Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
Fall planting gives these magnificent shrubs time to develop robust root systems before their energy-demanding spring bloom period. Their massive flower clusters create breathtaking displays that support early-season pollinators when few other nectar sources exist. The larger varieties provide excellent screening and windbreaks for homestead properties.
- USDA Grow Zones: 4 through 8.
- Benefits: Large, showy flowers in spring. They also have glossy evergreen leaves that add year-round beauty.
- Shrub Size: Most grow between 4 and 10 feet tall. Approximately 4 to 10 feet wide.
Large rhododendron species can live for over 100 years! Their evergreen canopy also provides year-round shelter for birds, small mammals, and beneficial insects.
18. Boxwood (Buxus spp.)
Boxwoods are perfect if you want a gorgeous, low-maintenance hedge. These evergreen classics provide year-round structure and can be shaped into living sculptures or precise borders. They’re ideal for flexing your creative landscaping muscles! Their dense growth also creates excellent privacy screens and requires minimal maintenance once established.
- USDA Grow Zones: 5 through 9.
- Benefits: Classic evergreens that are perfect for hedges. They are highly versatile and tolerate pruning well.
- Shrub Size: Most varieties grow between 2 and 6 feet tall. About 2 to 6 feet wide.
Boxwood has been shaped into living sculptures for over 2,000 years, since ancient Roman times! Its dense growth means a single plant can be transformed into everything from simple spheres to elaborate animals with regular trimming throughout the growing season.
Read More – 26 Epic Garden Themes You Can Grow In Your Backyard – From Whimsical To Wild!
19. Fothergilla (Fothergilla spp.)
Fall planting showcases this native’s spectacular autumn display immediately! You’ll notice gorgeous foliage turning brilliant orange, yellow, and red. Its bottlebrush-like spring flowers appear before the leaves, providing early nectar for hungry backyard bees and other pollinators. This low-maintenance native adapts to various conditions and delivers consistent performance without fertilizer or pesticides.
- USDA Grow Zones: 4 through 8.
- Benefits: Brilliant fall colors. In spring, it produces unique, bottlebrush-like flowers.
- Shrub Size: They usually grow between 3 and 10 feet tall and 3 to 10 feet wide.
Honey bee heaven: Fothergilla’s bottlebrush flowers contain no petals. Just masses of fragrant stamens loaded with pollen and nectar, making them irresistible to early-season bees who often cover the entire shrub during peak bloom.
20. Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria)
Autumn planting allows smokebush to settle in before producing its famous “smoke” of feathery seed plumes that create a dreamy garden atmosphere. This drought-tolerant shrub offers stunning purple or green foliage that turns brilliant orange in fall. Its unique texture, and low water requirements make it perfect for water-wise landscapes and contemporary garden designs.
- USDA Grow Zones: 4 through 8.
- Benefits: Smoky, billowing flower clusters. It also has bold foliage in shades of purple, green, or gold.
- Shrub Size: Smokebush typically grows between 10 and 15 feet tall and wide.
Smoke show secret: The “smoke” effect comes from thousands of tiny, hair-like stems that remain after the actual flowers have finished blooming, creating wispy clouds that persist for months and look especially magical when backlit by morning or evening sun.
21. Viburnum (Viburnum spp.)
We’re ending our list of September shrubs with another showstopper. Viburnum! These versatile natives offer fragrant spring blooms, colorful fall berries that feed wildlife, and often stunning autumn foliage. For homesteaders, they provide food for birds, attract beneficial insects, and many species have edible berries for human consumption.
- USDA Grow Zones: 3 through 9, depending on species.
- Benefits: Fragrant flowers, colorful berries, and stunning fall foliage. Attracts many birds and pollinators.
- Shrub Size: They can grow between 3 and 20 feet tall. Roughly 3 to 12 feet wide.
Most viburnum berries are too tart for human consumption raw. But species like V. trilobum (American cranberrybush) produce fruits that make excellent jams and jellies. They offer you both ornamental beauty and homemade preserves from the same plant.
Read More – 14 Delicious Fruit Trees To Grow In Pots Or Containers – Even On A Porch Balcony!
Conclusion
There you have it. 21 incredible shrubs that will thank you for choosing fall as their planting season! From berry-producing powerhouses to fragrant showstoppers, each of these beauties will reward your autumn efforts with years of low-maintenance beauty. So grab your
What about you?
- Are you going to plant some shrubs this fall?
- Which shrub cultivars will you grow?
- Why will you grow the shrubs? For ornamental use? Fruit? Pollinator and wildlife support?
Thanks for reading.
Have a great day!
