Fall and Winter Shrubs
Virginia Sweetspire
Sure, Virginia sweetspire flowers in spring. But the small racemes of white flowers really are not anything to write home about. I consider the shrub more of a fall plant. In autumn, it bears nice reddish fall foliage; in fact, one of its cultivars is named 'Merlot'.
Mt. Airy Dwarf Fothergilla
Mt. Airy dwarf fothergilla shrubs will grow in zones 5-8. They have white blooms in spring, but I grow these bushes more for their autumn color.
Shrubs for Fall Color
When it comes to autumn color in the landscape, what's your pleasure? Whether it's brightly-colored leaves or luscious berries desirable to birds and humans alike, you'll find something that suits you in this resource on fall plants. Oh, and I throw in a vine for good measure.
Korean Spice Viburnum
Is Korean spice viburnum more of a spring plant or a fall plant? It's a tougher call with this shrub, folks. I love the heady fragrance of the white flowers in spring. The sharpness of the blossoms' smell, which reminds some of cloves, is responsible for the "spice" in its name. But the purplish fall foliage is nothing to sneeze at, either.
Diablo Ninebark
Diablo ninebark shrubs are spring, summer, fall and winter plants. That's right they have all seasons covered: 3 seasons because of their eye-catching dark foliage, and a fourth (winter) with their exfoliating bark. And they have been known to be hardy to frigid zone 2, to boot.
Daphne Shrubs
Like ninebark, 'Carol Mackie' daphne shrub blooms in spring but does so much more than that! Those spring flowers are white to light pink, and they are sweetly scented. But because of its variegated foliage (which is nearly evergreen), this daphne plant is no one-hit wonder.
Shrubs and Trees for Winter Landscape Interest
Winter doesn't have to be the lost season for landscaping. With proper planning, you can have a dynamic design to gaze at through those windows glazed with Jack Frost's handiwork. The answer can be as obvious as growing evergreens or as subtle as choosing winter plants for their ability to hold snow (which can paint a pretty picture).
Mountain Laurel
Mountain laurel is another flowering shrub that is perhaps grown more for its leaves than its blooms. Despite being an evergreen (of the broad-leaved variety), the leaves can look a bit ratty late in the season, as they develop brown spots. But for the most part, the shiny green leaves add much to a landscape design.
Yellow Twig Dogwood Shrubs
Yellow twig dogwood (Cornus stolonifera), like its red-twigged cousin, is a must-have winter plant. The yellow bark is more prominent on the new shoots that emerge in early spring, but the color of the older branches is still bright enough to cheer you up on a winter's day. The berries that arrive in the wake of the spring flowers will draw birds.
"That Twisted Little Bush," Harry Lauder's Walking Stick
Corkscrew filbert is kind of a screwy shrub, with branches twisting all over the place. But there is nothing crazy about growing this bush (also called "Harry Lauder's walking stick") in your landscape. With its fascinating branching pattern, it's a wonderful fall and winter plant, as the twists and turns of the branches are more visible once...