Want your garden to glow in fall? These trees, shrubs, and perennials bring brilliant color, texture, and interest to your landscape in zone 7 just when most plants are winding down. Your knowledgeable friends at B.B. Barns are happy to help you with this quick and easy guide!
Trees with Fall Color in Asheville, NC
- Maples (Acer rubrum, Acer saccharum, Japanese Maple) — Fiery red, orange, and yellow foliage
- Dogwood (Cornus florida) — Red leaves and bright red berries for birds
- Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) — Brilliant golden yellow leaves
- Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) — Deep reds, oranges, and purples
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) — Soft yellow to orange foliage, plus berries for wildlife
- River Birch (Betula nigra) — Yellow leaves and peeling bark adds texture
Shrubs with Fall Interest in Asheville, NC
- Fothergilla — Bright orange, yellow, and red foliage; pollinator-friendly
- Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) — Burgundy and bronze leaves, peeling bark
- Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) — Long-lasting crimson foliage
- Viburnum — Colorful leaves plus berries for birds
- Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) — Clusters of vibrant purple berries
- Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) — Rich foliage colors, peeling bark, and fall texture
- Camellias (fall-blooming or sansanqua types) — Evergreen with flowers that brighten up fall and winter
Perennials with Fall Flair in Asheville, NC
- Asters (Symphyotrichum) — Purple, pink, or white blooms; pollinator magnet
- Goldenrod (Solidago) — Golden yellow blooms for late-season pollinators
- Sedum (Autumn Joy and others) — Succulent foliage with pink to bronze flower heads
- Ornamental Grasses (Panicum, Muhlenbergia, Miscanthus) — Feathery plumes, movement, and texture
- Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) — Gold flowers with dark centers; long bloom time
- Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis) — Elegant pink or white blooms through fall
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea) — Seed heads provide winter food for birds
Seed Heads & Grasses Offer Bold Texture
Leave ornamental grasses, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and other seed heads standing. They provide beauty, winter structure, and food for birds.
Plant in Fall, Enjoy for Years
All of these fall show-offs can be planted to enjoy color in the fall season and for years to come. Fall planting builds strong roots, giving your garden a head start on next year’s growth.
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