25 Garden Shrubs That Flower And Bloom In The Fall

Every gardener adores when their yard is bursting with color from all their lovely blooms. The pinks, bright reds, blues, and yellows bring joy to all who lay eyes on them. But then, it seems like out of nowhere, you spot an orange leaf on your patio. The trees are starting to lose their vivid green color, and the air in the early morning has a little bite. It's fall. You almost feel a little sad that all that color is about to fade. But did you know it doesn't have to be that way? There are plenty of fall-blooming shrubs that can bring colorful cheer into your yard late into the season. Best of all, you don't have to limit yourself to the ubiquitous mums that everyone plants at the first signs of fall.

The delicate pink blossoms of the panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), the bright jewel-purple buds of the butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), and the vivid red of the firecracker bush (Russelia equisetiformis) are just some of the fall-blooming shrubs waiting to stave off that sadness of summer's end. Some of these shrubs will even add a dose of color after the first frost. Others, like the rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), are the perfect flowering shrubs to plant if you have a small garden and don't have room for a full-sized bush. 

The seven-son flower (Heptacodium miconioides) gets its name from the clusters of seven blooms that grow on the shrub in the fall. The delicate white flowers that appear are small, trumpet-shaped, and very fragrant. The seven-son flower tree is a wonderful addition to any fall garden, especially if you live in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9, where they are hardy.

Witch hazel (Hamemalis virginiana) is a shrub that can get quite large (up to 20 feet tall), so make sure you plant it in an area with room for it to grow. Witch hazel is well-known for its medicinal properties, but it can also add interest to any garden. Its fragrant, cheery yellow blooms appear in the fall and can bloom through the beginning of winter. Plant this shrub in full sun to get the most color from its blooms and add color to your backyard to brighten your mood through winter. It's hardy in zones 3 to 8.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) shrubs can grow quite fast and are perfect for the beginner gardener. There are many things you should know when planting a rose of Sharon, and the first is that they are extremely adaptable to a multitude of growing conditions. They also come in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, white, and even blue. This beautiful shrub will bring you colorful, showy blossoms through autumn to brighten your day and bring a touch of uniqueness to your fall-colored garden. Plant with caution, as the rose of Sharon is considered invasive in some U.S. states and is only hardy in zones 5 to 9.

The African daisy (Osteospermum) is a colorful perennial that blooms through fall. It comes in white, as well as a variety of bright colors. These flowers have larger blooms than a traditional daisy and grow in a shrub form, providing multiple flowers to add to fall bouquets and arrangements. In zones 9 to 11, you can plant the African daisy once and have blooms year after year. If you live in regions colder than this range, grow these flowers as annuals. 

The doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum) cultivar called 'Summer Snowflake' is a shrub that has beautiful white blooms, and these remain on the branches well into fall. These plants aren't too large, as far as shrubs go, reaching a mature size of 8 feet in height and 10 feet in width. They are cold hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8.

Hardy fuchsias (Fuchsia magellanica) are a favorite among flower lovers and are perfect for brightening up fall gardens in hardiness zones 5 to 10. They are lovely shrubs with drooping, bi-colored flowers in shades of white, pink, and red that bloom until the first frost. These plants are disease resistant and are ideal for beginner gardeners.

The Ben Franklin tree (Franklinia alatamaha), named for the famous founding father, is a bigger shrub that blooms with large, white, fragrant flowers reminiscent of dogwood. This shrub will produce flowers all the way until the first frost and will add a bit of drama to any yard. It is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8.

Verbena (Verbena bonariensis) is a drought-tolerant and low-maintenance perennial that showcases lovely purple blooms. This delicate-looking shrub blooms from summer through fall with clumps of tiny, tube-like flowers that in range in color from bright purple to red, pink, apricot, and even blue. Growing as high as 5 feet, this plant makes a perfect addition against a wall or fence due to its height. Verbenas are hardy in USDA zones 6 to 11.

Commonly seen on porches as soon as the pumpkin-spice-flavored everything makes its appearance is the garden mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium). Usually featured in large pots or baskets with hay bales and scarecrows all around, they are a great fall choice for good reason. These flowers truly represent fall with the variety of autumnal colors they come in. A single plant can have numerous blooms that form a perfect explosion of color. Perennial garden mums are hardy in zones 4 to 9. 

The panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) is a dainty species that blooms well after summer's heat has gone. These beautiful hydrangeas thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8. This type of hydrangea forms pointed clusters of white flowers that almost look like paint brushes. As fall comes on, their white flowers turn to shades of pink, burgundy, white, and even green. 

The crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is known as the "flower of the South" as it is mostly grown in the southern U.S. It has beautiful showy flowers that bloom through late fall, ranging in color from white to pink, purple, and red. It's a gorgeous shrub sure to cheer up any flower lover longing for color before winter. The crape myrtle is hardy in zones 7 to 10.

Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is an edible perennial in the mint family, but don't worry, it isn't aggressive like most mint species. It is a purple-flowered shrub that is similar in shape and color to lavender. Its vibrant buds bloom from June to September, creating a wonderful burst of vivid color that's perfect for adding interest to your garden long after other flowers are spent. This shrub works best for hardiness zones 3 to 8.

Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) is exactly what its name states — a beautiful flowering bush that is a magnet for butterflies, as well as other pollinators, due to its honey scent. It has wand-like flower clusters extend out from the main limb with brightly colored flowers in pink, purple, red, orange, and even blue, and last from summer to fall. This species is invasive in a number of states, so make sure it's safe to plant in your location. The butterfly bush is perfect for growing in zones 5 to 9.

Bluebeard (Caryopteris) is a woody shrub that grows dainty, bright blue flowers in clusters. If you want to add a pop of blue to your flower garden to cheer you up when autumn starts to show its face, this is a perfect choice. Bluebeard is hardy in zones 5 to 9 and is another great plant to grow in your garden if you are a beginner, as it's extremely low maintenance.

What could be more exciting than something called a firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis)? If you live in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11, you're in luck — you can grow this interesting shrub as a perennial in your garden. This bush has amazing, bright red, little trumpet-like flowers that hang in clusters. It perfectly resembles a shrub that someone hung firecrackers from. And it would make an exciting addition to your flower bed as fall sets in. 

Reblooming, or Encore, azaleas (Rhododendron Encore® Group) comprise a group of azalea varieties that bloom in the spring and once again in the fall. Each shrub is home to many tube-shaped blooms that come in a variety of colors, from white to all hues of pink, purple, and red. These low-maintenance azalea varieties are hardy in USDA zones 6 to 10.

Japanese anemone (Anemone hupehensis), also known as windflower because its long stems sway in the breeze, is a beautiful fall-blooming flower that comes in shades of rose, pink, and white. They have a similar flower shape to that of the wild rose, with wide petals encircling a yellow center. These shrubs add a bit of delicate color to any fall flower garden and are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8.

Fall asters (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) are dainty, purple-shaded flowers with long, thin petals surrounding a yellow center. They are native to the U.S. and parts of Mexico and are notably prevalent in Texas. They make a lovely addition to the garden due to their drought resistance, which is an ideal quality for late summer and fall. The fall aster affords a wonderful pop of purple color sure to delight any gardener and is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.

Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) is a bright, purple-colored fall-flowering shrub that can be grown across multiple regions in the U.S. Globe amaranth resembles clover flowers in shape with a round ball of tiny, bright bracts. There are varieties that range in color from white to gold, orange, and pink. When globe amaranths are almost done flowering, you can cut and dry them, then add them to fall flower arrangements. Globe amaranth is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11.

The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is an unusual shrub that has both flowers and fruit in the fall. Its flowers appear as dainty, white or pink urn-shaped buds that form in hanging clusters alongside the bright-red ripening fruit. This shrub could be quite the interesting addition to any garden with its Dr. Suess-like appearance. While the fruit is edible raw, it's not very tasty; however, you can use it to make a lovely jam or jelly. Strawberry trees are hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10.

The fragrant tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans) is shrub that belongs to the olive family. The shrubs produce tiny white flowers in the early spring and again in the fall, and these have a strong apricot scent. Although the flowers are not going to brighten up your garden as much as some of the others on this list, the fragrance alone is definitely great for enhancing your mood. Fragrant tea olive is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11.

The abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) is a shrub that flowers from early spring all the way through fall. It blooms with trumpet-shaped flower clusters that are a delicate pink to white in color. The foliage provides plenty of late-season visual interest, too, as the leaves turn a red-purple hue in the fall. Certain to keep you in good spirits as the end of summer approaches, abelias are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8.

The camellia (Camellia sasanqua) is a beautiful and fragrant shrub that has an extremely long fall blooming period that stretches from September to December. That alone should be a good enough reason to add the camellia to your flower garden — just imagine having this shrub blooming with large pink or red flowers throughout the fall and into winter. Sure to bring delight to anyone's yard, these beautiful shrubs are hardy in zones 7 to 9.

The bush cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa) is a cheerful, yellow-flowering shrub that produces large, five-petaled flowers through summer and fall. Resembling a buttercup, this late-season bloomer will bring much-needed joy if you're mourning the end of long summer days, helping you forget that those cold mornings signal approaching winter. Hardy in zones 2 to 7, bush cinquefoil is an excellent shrub for adding fall color in many parts of the United States. 

If you've ever dreamed of planting roses but don't think you have the skill, the polyantha rose (Rosa polyantha) is the perfect choice. This variety of rose is extremely hardy and not as finicky as its other rose cousins. It produces an abundance of small pink flowers well into the fall. Polyantha roses are best suited for USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9.