Best Bushes And Hedges To Plant For Stunning Fall Colors

Bushes and hedges are a fantastic natural way to give you some added privacy from neighbors. They can help keep dogs and other large animals out of your yard, and dense bushes and hedges can even keep street noise to a minimum. When you think of these large plants, you may picture a green and fairly nondescript scene, but several types of bushes and hedges provide vibrant colors in the fall.

If you want to plant a bush or hedge that will provide stunning fall colors, consider burning bush, witch hazel, or fragrant sumac. Amur maple is a stunning maple variety that, when pruned, is an ideal deciduous hedge. If you want a plant that also provides fruit, opt for a blueberry bush. Other hedges that provide foliage and even blossoms include the oakleaf hydrangea, beautyberry, and chokeberry.

If you are planning to plant hedges along your property line, you might as well choose beautiful plants. If you happen to live in a climate where deciduous plants thrive, opt for hedges or large bushes that come alive with bright colors, or even blooms, in the autumn. Below is a list of great bushes and hedge plants that provide stunning colors in the fall.

Top 11 Bushes And Hedges To Plant For Amazing Fall Colors

1. Burning Bush

With a name like burning bush, it’s no surprise this stunning plant has beautiful colors in autumn. These plants have plentiful blueish-green leaves in the spring and summer months. In the fall, however, they turn bright orange to deep red.

They grow five to 10 feet tall, making them ideal privacy hedges. They tolerate partial shade as well. If you plant them in shade, however, they will likely turn a pinkish orange. In full sun you can expect the powerful orange and red colors for which this bush is known.

2. Blueberry

If you are seeking a plant that will provide you not only with beautiful fall foliage but also delicious sweet fruit, then plant some blueberry bushes. Some northern blueberry species can grow between six and 12 feet tall, and provide sweet berries into the late summer months.

In the autumn, before going dormant, these plants turn hues of yellow, orange, and red. If you live an area with these plants, expect tons of berries, as well as some stunning colors to enjoy up until the first frost.

3. Witch Hazel

Witch hazel has been a staple in the northeast and other northern states for hundreds of years. Early American settlers used this plant for all sorts of medicinal purposes, and it is still used for cosmetic and natural medical purposes to this day.

In the fall, this large bush offers stunning foliage. What is most interesting, however, is this plant is often the last bit of color found in a forest or a yard. It provides fragrant yellow flowers that bloom well after most other plants are bare.

4. Oakleaf Hydrangea 

If you want hedges that grow beautiful flowers in the summer and provide equally stunning foliage in the fall, then you should plant oakleaf hydrangea. This species of hydrangea can be found in several flower colors, from white to deep burgundy. 

The leaves look similar to an oak leaf. In the autumn these oak-like leaves also change colors just like the trees after which they are named. This plant likes plenty of sun but doesn't like to be overheated. If you can give it the conditions and care it requires, you are destined to have stunning colors lining your property from spring through to the end of fall.

5. Fragrant Sumac

Another beautiful plant that also smells delicious and is worth considering as a hedge plant is fragrant sumac. Unlike poison sumac, which is a plant that causes allergic reactions, fragrant sumac is harmless.

This plant grows upwards of six and a half feet tall. It gives off a citrus smell that comes from its leaves throughout the year. In the autumn, before it sheds its leaves, it turns a burnt orange and bright red color. This makes it a very appealing option for those looking for a hedge that provides more than just privacy.

6. Amur Maple

No fall foliage list is complete without mentioning some form of maple. Maple leaves are perhaps the most emblematic of autumn. While most maple leaves are found on trees, the Amur maple is small enough to be grown as a hedge.

If you prune this plant diligently, the Amur maple is a perfect hedge plant for those looking for color-changing maple leaves along their property line. This tree plant can grow upwards of 20 feet as a tree, or trained as a hedge, so ensure you are ready to prune it before you decide to plant it.

7. Beautyberry

If you want to add a splash of purple instead of the classic red and orange colors synonymous with fall, then you need to find a beautyberry bush. This plant may look fairly benign in the summer when it’s fully green, but it comes alive with color in the fall.

In addition to its leaves changing to a burnt yellow, the beautyberry has beautiful purple flowers that bloom in late fall. This makes it a great hedge for those looking to have a yard with colorful fall flowers.

8. Boston Ivy

If you are looking for a climbing plant to mask a man-made fence, or to climb a trellis or pergola, you should give Boston ivy a try. This particular type of ivy has leaves that look similar to a maple tree than to most ivy. 

Just like the maple tree, this climbing vine turns burnt orange and even red in the fall. It can grow up to 60 feet and thrives in cool seasonal climates. This makes it an ideal vine for those looking to quickly and easily add fall colors to their yard.

9. Deciduous Viburnums

Deciduous viburnums are another flowering hedge that gives the added gift of beautiful fall colors in the autumn. Furthermore, these clusters of flowers often have a sweet and inviting fragrance. Some species bloom in early spring, while others bloom in late fall.

These plants also have leaves that turn orange and bright red before winter. This combination of great smells, pretty flowers, and striking seasonal foliage makes it a great hedge option for those in a deciduous climate.

10. Goldflame Spirea

The goldflame spirea has a lot to live up to with its showy name, but in the autumn months, it delivers on its golden promise. The leaves turn to a copperish and almost metallic color in the fall.

What makes this plant truly noteworthy, however, is that it has three distinct colors throughout the seasons. In the summer months, the goldflame spirea has green leaves with hints of yellow. When the leaves emerge in early spring, however, they are red with a tint of bronze. It’s a great choice for those who like to witness the change of seasons visually.

11. Virginia Sweetspire

One fall foliage staple throughout many seasonal wetland areas and even into the northeast is the Virginia sweetspire. Also called the Virginia willow, this shrub has long white flower clusters in the spring and summer.

It grows four to six feet tall, making it great for privacy. In the fall, it bursts with color. The leaves change from golden yellow to orange, to a jaw-dropping red. This makes it a great option for those who live in slightly warmer areas and want to enjoy a taste of fall foliage.

Summing Up Top Bushes And Hedges With Vibrant Fall Colors

Seeing leaves change color is one of the most wholesome and natural ways to enjoy the changing seasons. One way to insert a lot of fall foliage into your home’s landscape is to add bushes or hedges that change colors in the fall. Blueberry, burning bush, and fragrant sumac all showcase dramatic fall colors. If you want a plant that has both beautiful flowers and colorful foliage, opt for the oakleaf hydrangea, Virginia sweetspire, beautyberry, or deciduous viburnum.

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