Prepare Your Garden for Fall with Eight Transitional Shrubs
These stunning plants pack a late-summer punch and last well into autumn.
Even in the height of the summer, it’s not too early to be thinking about fall. Brighten your spirits as the days get shorter by planting high-performing shrubs noted for their scent and color.
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1/8Beautyberry
(Callicarpa americana)
Zones: 6-10
Height: 3-6 feet; width: 3-6 feet
Beautyberry’s flower is deceptively discreet, but then the plant explodes with brilliant purple pearls of fruit in October. There are also varieties with white or pink berries, all of which the birds love.Beautyberry
(Callicarpa americana)
Zones: 6-10
Height: 3-6 feet; width: 3-6 feet
Beautyberry’s flower is deceptively discreet, but then the plant explodes with brilliant purple pearls of fruit in October. There are also varieties with white or pink berries, all of which the birds love. -
2/8Oakleaf Hydrangea
(Hydrangea quercifolia)
Zones: 5-9
Height: 6–8 feet; width: 6–8 feet
This native hydrangea blooms in July, but the flowerheads linger and take on a tawny sheen as the months go by. The plant’s rough burgundy leaves in the fall and mottled bronze bark in the winter add extra interest.Oakleaf Hydrangea
(Hydrangea quercifolia)
Zones: 5-9
Height: 6–8 feet; width: 6–8 feet
This native hydrangea blooms in July, but the flowerheads linger and take on a tawny sheen as the months go by. The plant’s rough burgundy leaves in the fall and mottled bronze bark in the winter add extra interest. -
3/8Red Chokeberry
(Aronia arbutifolia)
Zones: 4–9
Height: 6–8 feet; width: 3–4 feet
Bright red berries and striking red foliage are the hallmarks of this shrub. As the name suggests, the fruit is bitter, but cooked with lots of sugar, it makes a tasty jam.Red Chokeberry
(Aronia arbutifolia)
Zones: 4–9
Height: 6–8 feet; width: 3–4 feet
Bright red berries and striking red foliage are the hallmarks of this shrub. As the name suggests, the fruit is bitter, but cooked with lots of sugar, it makes a tasty jam. -
4/8Red Twig Dogwood
(Cornus sericea)
Zones: 3–7
Height: 6–9 feet; width: 7–10 feet
Not only does this dogwood produce attractive blue-tinged drupes after it flowers, but its red stems make a dramatic foil to bright winter snow.Red Twig Dogwood
(Cornus sericea)
Zones: 3–7
Height: 6–9 feet; width: 7–10 feet
Not only does this dogwood produce attractive blue-tinged drupes after it flowers, but its red stems make a dramatic foil to bright winter snow. -
5/8Highbush Blueberry
(Vaccinium corymbosum)
Zones: 5–7
Height: 6–8 feet; width: 6-8 feet
Fresh blueberries are only the beginning with this prized plant. Its lovely white flowers in spring, reddish leaf color in fall, and interesting structure in winter make it a great year-round shrub.Highbush Blueberry
(Vaccinium corymbosum)
Zones: 5–7
Height: 6–8 feet; width: 6-8 feet
Fresh blueberries are only the beginning with this prized plant. Its lovely white flowers in spring, reddish leaf color in fall, and interesting structure in winter make it a great year-round shrub. -
6/8Holly Olive
(Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Gulftide’)
Zones: 7–9
Height: 8–10 feet; width: 7–9 feet
A holly look-alike, this shrub features tiny white flowers that bloom in November and give off a delicious scent reminiscent of a Russian olive tree. And since the deer don’t like it, it’s gaining popularity as a hedging plant.Holly Olive
(Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Gulftide’)
Zones: 7–9
Height: 8–10 feet; width: 7–9 feet
A holly look-alike, this shrub features tiny white flowers that bloom in November and give off a delicious scent reminiscent of a Russian olive tree. And since the deer don’t like it, it’s gaining popularity as a hedging plant. -
7/8Bottlebrush Buckeye
(Aesculus parviflora)
Zones: 4–8
Height: 8–12 feet; width: 8–15 feet
This native shade-loving woodlander produces beautiful panicles of white flowers in the summer, followed by brilliant yellow fall foliage.Bottlebrush Buckeye
(Aesculus parviflora)
Zones: 4–8
Height: 8–12 feet; width: 8–15 feet
This native shade-loving woodlander produces beautiful panicles of white flowers in the summer, followed by brilliant yellow fall foliage. -
8/8Glossy Abelia
(Abelia x grandiflora)
Zones: 5–9
Height: 3-6 feet; width: 3-6 feet
Abelia’s soft rounded shape is lovely at all times of the year. It produces fragrant flowers from summer to fall, when its leaves turn a rich purple bronze.Glossy Abelia
(Abelia x grandiflora)
Zones: 5–9
Height: 3-6 feet; width: 3-6 feet
Abelia’s soft rounded shape is lovely at all times of the year. It produces fragrant flowers from summer to fall, when its leaves turn a rich purple bronze.
Tips
- These shrubs are all low-maintenance and don’t require much pruning, except for holly olive.
- In late winter or early spring, remove old branches of red twig dogwood to encourage new growth. Added bonus: The branches look great in holiday decorations.
- Plant several different varieties of blueberries to get the best crop. Birds often get trapped in bushes with netting on them, so let the shrubs grow as nature intended them to.
- Leave leaf litter on the ground, which will protect roots and feed plants as it decomposes.
The print version of this article appeared with the headline: Bush League.
This article appears in the August-1 2023 issue of HC&G (Hamptons Cottages & Gardens).
