Native Shrubs For Fall Color
Bottlebrush buckeye fall color
Photo Credits: Purdue Arboretum
Photo Credits: Purdue Arboretum
Dwarf fothergilla fall color
Photo Credits: Purdue Arboretum
Photo Credits: Purdue Arboretum
Oak-leaved hydrangea fall color
Photo Credits: Purdue Arboretum
Photo Credits: Purdue Arboretum
If you’re looking to add native shrubs to your home landscape, fall is an excellent time to look for those with good fall color. While many factors affect the display of fall color, there are a number of native shrub species that perform reliably in our area.
Here’s a short list to consider, including their mature height as well as flowers and fall color. Most can adapt to either full sun or partial shade, especially morning sun with afternoon shade -- with the exception of Dirca, which prefers shade.
You can look up more details for each of these species at the Purdue Arboretum Explorer website. It includes location of these shrubs on the West Lafayette campus.
Selected Native Shrubs for Fall Color
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Size | Flowers | Fall Color |
| Aesculus parviflora | bottlebrush buckeye | 6-12' | white, summer | yellow |
| Aronia melanocarpa | black chokeberry | 3-6' | white, spring | yellow orange |
| Calycanthus floridus | sweetshrub | 6-10' | maroon, spring | yellow |
| Cephalanthus occidentalis | buttonbush | 5-12' | white, spring | |
| Clethra alnifolia | summersweet | 3-8' | white, summer | yellow |
| Cornus alternifolia | pagoda dogwood | 15-25' | off white, spring | red purple yellow |
| Corylus americana | American hazlenut | 10-16' | brown, spring | variable |
| Dirca palustris | leatherwood | 4-6' | yellow, spring | yellow |
| Fothergilla gardenii | dwarf fothergilla | 2-3' | white, spring | yellow orange red |
| Fothergilla major | witch-alder | 6-10' | white, spring | yellow orange red |
| Hamamelis vernalis | vernal witchhazel | 6-10' | yellow, spring | yellow |
| Hamamelis virginiana | common witchhazel | 15-20' | yellow, fall | yellow |
| Hydrangea quercifolia | oakleaf hydrangea | 3-8' | white, pink, spring summer | red purple |
| Itea virginica | Virginia sweetspire | 3-5' | white, summer | red orange |
| Lindera benzoin | spice bush | 6-12' | yellow green, spring | yellow |
| Physocarpus opulifolius | ninebark | 5-9' | white, pink, spring | dull yellow |
| Rhus aromatica | fragrant sumac | 2-6' | yellow, spring | orange red purple |
| Rhus glabra | smooth sumac | 9-15' | yellow green, spring | orange red |
| Rhus typhina | staghorn sumac | 15-25' | yellow green, summer | orange red |
| Sambucus canadensis | American elderberry | 5-12' | white, summer | yellowish |
| Viburnum dentatum | arrowwood viburnum | 6-10' | white, pink, spring | variable |
| Viburnum lentago | nannyberry viburnum | 14-16' | white, spring | variable |
| Viburnum prunifolium | blackhaw viburnum | 12-15' | white, spring | variable |
| Viburnum trilobum | American cranberrybush | 8-12' | white, spring | purplish red |