Shrubs With Fall Interest for the Williamsburg, Virginia Area

Good design does not stop at the property line. A well-designed landscape integrates with surrounding landscapes and with the greater the region. One key to achieving this integration is to allow the landscape to vary with the seasons. Too often we see landscapes that are overly dependent on evergreens. Evergreens can keep the landscape static throughout the year and, at worst, make it stick out like a sore thumb.

Playing to - and encouraging - seasonal variation can be used to great advantage. Below are some plants we’ve found that will bring out the best in a fall garden in the Williamsburg, Virginia area.

SHRUBS
Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) - Beautiful red foliage and berries. Berries persist into early winter and are attractive to birds.
Winged euonymus (Euonymus alantus ‘Compacta’) - Also referred to as Burning-bush euonymus. Excellent red fall color. However, is considered invasive because of its tendency to sprout prolifically from seeds. We’ve moved away from specifying this plant for that reason.
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) - Showy white flowers from summer will persist and slowly turn pink and then bronze. Leaves turn multiple shades of dark red to orange to yellow. Exfoliating bark takes over and carries the show all winter.
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’) - A spreading shrub that can be used as a ground cover. Fall color is various shades of red.

Posted by , Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 12:57 pm in Tips