Every year at this time, dozens of people flock to their local nurseries in search of “one of those bushes that turn RED”. Burning bushes are one of the most commonly known shrubs sold. These easy care bushes are worthy of their fanfare. They are a nice size with medium green leaves that do indeed turn bright red in the fall. As I take these shoppers to our section of Burning bushes, I also like to point out other choices that I think are even more impressive and go “Beyond the Burning Bush”.

One section of the nursery that is stocked up heavily for fall is our selection of hydrangeas. They are a showstopper this time of year. There has been a surge of new development in this category as breeders and growers are coming up with some awesome new cultivars. Most of these are much better performers that the old “Pee Gee” hydrangea whose branches tend to flop down with the weight of the flowers. Proven Winners has introduced “Quickfire” which is a new earlier blooming variety. It shoots up its tall bloom spikes in early August. They start out creamy white and quickly turn shades of pink and rose. “Limelight” has beautiful, creamy lime colored blooms that emerge in late summer and fade to creamy white and then to shades of pink and mauve in the fall. The tall, upright branches are great for cutting!

Other shrubs that strut their stuff in the fall include Cotoneaster, Viburnum, Barberry, and Chokecherry.

Cotoneaster was the very first shrub I ever grew. I got it at the end of season sale at some big box store. I planted it and hoped that the pathetic thing would do something. The following year I watched with amazement as it put on beautiful glossy green leaves, and then bloomed its delicate white blooms. I watched the blooms turn into berries that in the season turned red and gorgeous against the dark green leaves. In fall the leaves began to change a multitude of colors. The branches soon were shades of orange and red and full of red berries. I had a new appreciation for the importance of shrubs that have more than one season of interest. Cotoneaster became my new favorite!

Viburnums are another shrub that does more than just turn colors in the fall. There are many, many varieties. “Doublefile” Viburnums have beautiful horizontal branches that bloom a lace-cap type bloom in summer and then turn shades of red and burgundy in fall.
“Carlessi” and “Judii” varieties have blooms that are intoxicatingly fragrant! They will knock you over as you walk by them, and then they will proceed to turn beautiful colors in the fall as well.

Barberries are great for seasonal interest, and are deer-resistant, too! They come in a variety of colors to choose from. There are red leaved ones, gold leaves, green leaves, and a beautiful variegated one, called “Rosey Glow”. This one gets berries and gets an orange red tinge to the leave in fall. The green and gold leaved ones also turn orange and red and look spectacular in fall.

Chokecherry is a hardy bush that gets berries that are nice to look at when the plant looses its leaves in the winter and wildlife love to eat them. The shade of orange and red of this plant is hard to match.

Fall is a magical season. It is a time of beautiful change and a cause for celebration. On your next trip to the nursery, look at all of the choices that are available for you to “color your world” throughout the year.