Some of the best color in the landscape comes in fall, when the leaves of trees and shrubs take on seasonal hues. Three native shrubs with fantastic fall leaf color come in several sizes and shapes, making them perfect for urban, suburban or rural landscapes. All of these are winter-hardy.
Native Fothergilla
In spring, fothergilla pops with round, bottlebrush-like fragrant flowers that are somewhat showy. Sometimes called witch alder, it is a perfect companion to tulips, daffodils and other spring-blooming plants. Fothergilla is a neat and tidy plant – even large varieties retain good form. Leaves with a greenish-blue caste emerge after the plant blooms. In fall, this beauty’s leaves turn yellow-red to purple-red.
Fothergillas are native to the Southeast and can be found in woodlands, mountains, ravines and along streams. It is a slow-growing, deciduous shrub. The smaller variety (F. gardenii) gets about 3 feet tall and wide. Mountain witch alder (F. major) is 6 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 9 feet wide. Grow in full sun (six-plus hours of direct sunlight) to part shade. The larger variety makes an attractive hedge. “Blue Shadow” grows in the range of 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, and its leaves are icy blue.
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Oak Leaf, a Native Hydrangea
This gorgeous native hydrangea is easy to grow and provides four seasons of interest in the garden. Late spring to early summer, this shrub blooms white, cone-shaped flowers amid green leaves the size of your hand. The flowers turn pink as they age, with the color persisting well into the fall. Once autumn hits, the leaves turn a beautiful, leathery wine-red. These stay on the plant through winter. Also in winter, the bark starts to flake off, revealing a lovely cinnamon hue.
Grow oak leaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia) in full sun (six-plus hours of direct sunlight) to part shade (they tolerate shade). Like all hydrangeas, these prefer slightly moist soil, so water during hot, dry spells. If planted to accommodate its mature size, this plant may never have to be pruned. If pruning is needed, do so within a month after it blooms.
The oak leaf hydrangea species is about 6 feet tall and wide. Several varieties, such as “Alice,” “Snow Queen” and “Snowflake,” may exceed that size but have wonderfully thick flowers. Dwarf varieties are closer to the 4-foot-tall and -wide range, making them perfect selections for smaller yards. Other good varieties include “Sike’s Dwarf,” “Pee Wee” and “Ruby Slippers.”
Native Ninebark
Ninebark gets its name from the several layers of bark it sheds throughout the year. The bark takes on red to light brown hues as it sheds. The native ninebark species (Physocarpus opulifolius) has green leaves that slightly resemble maple leaves. The shrub has flat, reddish-pink to pinkish-white to white flowers formed in clusters along the branches.
Almost all of the newer varieties have colorful leaves that turn brilliant red in fall. Purple leaves dominate newer introductions, including “Diabolo,” at 8 to 10 feet tall and wide, and “Summer Wine,” 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. Among the smallest is the purple-leafed “Little Devil” at 3 feet tall and wide.
“Amber Jubilee,” which has orange leaves that seem to glow, is named to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. It gets about 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide. “Coppertina” has coppery centers with reddish-purple leaves. This is another big one at up to 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide.
For the best color, grow ninebarks in full sun (six-plus hours of direct sunlight) or part shade. If planted for its mature size, pruning will not be needed except to remove a dead or an errant branch or two.
Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp blogs at hoosiergardener.com and is available to speak or present programs about gardening and sustainable living. You can reach her at thehoosiergardener@gmail.com.
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