10 Best Shrubs to Plant in Autumn for Striking Foliage

Autumn is the perfect time to plant shrubs in your garden. As the temperatures cool down, the soil remains warm, allowing new shrubs to establish strong root systems before winter. Planting in autumn also avoids the busy spring planting season. This gives you time to thoughtfully plan and design your garden during the fall and winter.

Choosing shrubs with beautiful and colorful fall foliage is a great way to add interest to your garden in autumn. The brilliant reds, oranges, and purples brighten up your landscape as the leaves start to fall. To get the most out of your autumn shrubs, it’s important to select varieties that will thrive in your specific hardiness zone and soil conditions.

Here are 10 of the best shrubs to plant in autumn for gorgeous fall foliage

Burning Bush

Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is a deciduous shrub prized for its fiery red fall foliage It’s hardy, adaptable, and low maintenance. Plant it in full sun for the brightest leaf colors Prune in late winter to maintain its shape. Burning bush grows in zones 4-8.

Oakleaf Hydrangea

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) features large, oak-shaped leaves that turn rich shades of red and purple in autumn. It also has showy white blooms in summer Give it partial sun and rich, moist, well-draining soil Mulch the roots in winter and prune in summer after blooming. Grow in zones 5-9.

Dwarf Fothergilla

Dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) is loved for its orange, red, and yellow fall foliage. In spring, it has fluffy white bottle-brush blooms. For the best fall color, plant in full sun and moist, acidic soil. Prune in early spring. It thrives in zones 5-8.

Smoke Bush

Smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria) has purple foliage that turns brilliant shades of orange, red, and purple in fall. It also has soft, smoky summer blooms. Give it full sun and well-draining soil. Drought tolerant once established. Grow in zones 4-9.

Azalea

Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) are flowering evergreen shrubs. Some varieties have leaves that turn striking gold, burgundy, and red hues in autumn. Plant in part shade with rich, acidic, well-draining soil. Azaleas grow best in zones 6-8.

Gold Dust Aucuba

Gold dust aucuba (Aucuba japonica) is an evergreen shrub with vivid yellow speckled leaves that shine in autumn. It thrives in partial shade with moist, well-draining soil. Makes a beautiful accent plant. Hardy in zones 7-10.

Viburnum

Viburnums offer over 150 varieties with excellent fall foliage in shades of red, burgundy, and orange. Many also produce berries for birds. Give them full sun to partial shade and weekly watering. Grow viburnums in zones 2-9.

Ninebark

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is a fast-growing deciduous shrub. Its leaves turn gorgeous bronze, gold, and burgundy hues in fall. It needs minimal care and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Hardy in zones 2-8.

Red Twig Dogwood

Red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) has leaves that turn red and gold in fall. Its red stems provide great winter interest. Plant it in partial shade in moist soil. Prune stems in spring to promote new growth. Thrives in zones 3-8.

Winterberry Holly

Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) is a deciduous holly with lush green summer foliage that turns shades of purple and bronze in fall. It also produces abundant bright red winter berries. Give it full sun to partial shade and wet soil. Grows in zones 3-9.

When prepping your garden for these shrubs, make sure to give them plenty of space to reach their mature sizes. Dig holes twice as wide as the root ball. Amend the soil with compost or organic material to improve drainage. Water new shrubs weekly until they are established. Mulch around the base to insulate roots.

With proper planting and care, these striking shrubs will add long-lasting, gorgeous fall interest to your garden for years to come. Their foliage transforms into a blaze of autumn colors to lift your spirits as the seasons change.