This very broad topic should peak some interest from those appreciating all that the fall season can bring to the garden. Whether it’s a fruit display, the turning leaves, or late-season blooms, the choices are many. Here are some of the plants we offer for landscape interest this fall:
Shrubs with Fruit –
Beauty Berry – The lilac-colored fruit are unique only to beauty berry. Tiny pink blooms turn into long clusters of fruit on arching branches in late summer, feeding birds until late fall.
Viburnum – So much diversity with this group of shrubs, flowers, fruit and fall color. Fruit colors ranging from purple to black, blue, orange and red, and even pink depending upon the variety. Viburnum is an important food source for wildlife and grows well in Missouri.
Cotoneaster – An interesting arching shrub featuring red berries in fall and winter. ‘Cranberry’ has the largest fruit of all the cotoneasters.
Winterberry – A member of the holly family, winterberry loses it’s leaves allowing the bright red fruit to be more visible through fall and winter. Another great source of food for our native birds. We carry the dwarf “Berry Poppins” and “Mr Poppins” as a pollinator, as well as taller varieties.
Holly – Traditional holly is a treat if there is a good spot for it in the landscape. We carry many varieties of holly that bear the nice bright red fruit. Check with us when ready so we can guide you on the best variety for your yard.
Aronia – Chokeberry’s dark purple fruit lasts well in the landscape because it’s astringent taste isn’t palatable to birds and wildlife until late winter. ‘LoScape Mound’ only grows 2′ tall and 3′ wide. This shrub is very tough and will grow in most soils.
Shrubs with Late Blooms –
Abelia – As if the colored leaves aren’t enough, it’s the flowers and sepals from August to November that are the real attraction. We carry ‘Rose Creek’ and ‘Kaleidoscope’ for smaller varieties (3-4′ tall and wide) and Glossy and Canyon Creek for larger spaces ( 5-6′ tall and wide).
Rose-of-Sharon – This summer blooming shrub will continue well into the fall. Check out our dwarf varieties now available, growing only to 4′ tall.
Butterfly Bush – As long as there is new growth, there are blooms on Butterfly Bush, providing nectar for birds, butterflies, and many types of insects. Available in short (2 1/2 to 4′ tall) to tall varieties (5-6′ tall).
Crape Myrtle – Usually blooming from July through September, some of those crape myrtle blooms may continue into October.
Heptacodium – Listed as a large shrub or small tree, Heptacodium’s claim to fame is fall and winter interest.
Hydrangea – The white summer blooms of the Panicle hydrangeas fade to pink in late summer, sometimes lasting into the autumn. Reblooming Mophead hydrangea varieties may continue through October.
Shrubs with Fall Leaf Color –
In addition to Viburnum, Cotoneaster, and Aronia already listed for their fruit display, leaf color is another feature. Consider Itea and Burning Bush for bright red color. Both Oak-Leaf Hydrangea and Fothergilla have a nice long-lasting show of burgundy. Unexpected fall displays also come from Spirea, Barberry, Ninebark, and Cotoneaster.