The scientific name for oakleaf hydrangea is Hydrangea quercifolia. The common name for these hydrangeas is sometimes given as oak leaf (two words, instead of one). Oakleaf hydrangea plants put out white flowers in summer that fade to a pinkish-brown in fall. But the plant's inclusion on this list is due to its foliage, not its flowers. Its oak leaf-like foliage turns purple, orangey-bronze or red in the fall. Tolerant of light shade, oakleaf hydrangea plants achieve a height of 4-6' and a spread of 4-6'.
There are three plants with "bittersweet" in their names. The plant to which I refer in this list of best plants for fall colors is American bittersweet, a vine native to North America. Oriental bittersweet vines (Celastrus orbiculatus) are attractive, to be sure, but terribly invasive when removed from their homeland. For those shopping in North America, make sure you go to a reputable nursery, where you can trust that what you're buying is truly American bittersweet.
American bittersweet is a must-have for those serious about providing the landscape with fall color. The berries, green in summer, bear a yellow husk in early fall. Even at this stage, they provide a truly striking display of fall color. But this initial treat is merely a foretaste of the splendor to come. For, as autumn progresses, the husk peels back, revealing an orange berry within. And as if that weren't enough, the numerous leaves of the vine turn a vivid yellow.
Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) reaches a height of 6-10' and a spread of 3-5'. This shrub has white flowers in early spring, which become glossy red berries in the summer. In autumn the berry color can turn deeper, almost to purple, providing interesting fall color. Although this shrub tolerates poor soil and shade, landscapers seeking maximum fall color from its berries should plant it in a sunny locale.
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a vine whose green leaves morph to brilliant colors in fall, ranging from red to burgundy. In the eastern U.S. this vine is a native, making it an easy plant to grow there. One caveat: if you wish to grow Virginia creeper up the walls of any buildings, make sure first that you desire it as a permanent fixture. Once this vine gets a toehold, it is difficult to remove it from its supporting structure. You could do damage to a wall in your attempts to rid it of entrenched Virginia creeper. Don't plant Virginia creeper next to a building, unless you are sure that you want it as permanent "siding" on the wall. This vine won't do your trees any good, either, so avoid letting it scale any of your specimens. Growing to great heights, this is the vine you'll often notice climbing telephone poles on its own, using the wires as bridges to cross the street.
Finally, Viking black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa 'Viking') bears white flowers in May with dark green foliage. The foliage morphs first to red, then to purple in the fall. Reaching a height of 3-5' and spreading out to 3-5', the plant tolerates wet soil better than most. The berries produced by this shrub grow in clusters and are a blackish-purple. Although not edible for humans, the bitter-tasting berries remain on the shrub well into the winter and serve as an emergency food source for birds. The same is true for two other plants on this list: bittersweet and sumac. Not an insignificant characteristic, considering the fact that many aficionados of fall color are also birdwatchers.
