When summer flowers fade, North Carolina gardens can still burst with color thanks to fall-blooming shrubs. These hardy plants thrive in our state’s climate and provide a spectacular show just when most gardens start looking tired.
Adding these beauties to your landscape ensures your outdoor space remains vibrant even as the days grow shorter.
1. Camellia Sasanqua
Elegant blooms appear on these evergreen shrubs from October through December, defying the approaching winter with pink, white, or red flowers. Native to Japan but perfectly at home in North Carolina, sasanquas grow 6-10 feet tall.
Unlike their spring-blooming cousins, these camellias handle sun better and develop a more open, graceful form. Their glossy leaves create a perfect backdrop for their rose-like flowers, which often carry a subtle, sweet fragrance.
2. American Beautyberry
Stunning purple berries steal the show on this native shrub in autumn. After modest summer flowers fade, clusters of vibrant purple berries emerge, clinging tightly to branches even after leaves drop.
Growing 3-5 feet tall, beautyberry thrives in partial shade to full sun throughout North Carolina. Birds adore the berries, making this plant wildlife-friendly. The arching branches loaded with purple jewel-like clusters create a magical display in woodland garden edges.
3. Oakleaf Hydrangea
Dramatic fall color transforms this native woodland shrub into a garden standout. Large, oak-shaped leaves turn brilliant burgundy, purple, and crimson as temperatures drop, creating a fiery display that lasts for weeks.
Summer’s white flower panicles mature to rusty pink in autumn, adding another dimension of interest. Growing 4-8 feet tall and wide, oakleaf hydrangeas appreciate morning sun with afternoon shade. Their peeling cinnamon-colored bark provides winter interest after leaves drop.
4. Tea Olive (Osmanthus)
Intoxicating fragrance wafts from these evergreen shrubs in September and October. The tiny white flowers might seem insignificant until their sweet perfume stops you in your tracks – reminiscent of apricots, gardenias, and jasmine all mingled together.
Growing 8-15 feet tall, tea olives make excellent hedges or specimen plants. Their glossy, dark green foliage looks attractive year-round in North Carolina gardens. Plant them near patios or windows where their heavenly scent can be fully appreciated.
5. Summersweet (Clethra)
Golden fall foliage makes this native shrub twice as nice in the garden. After summer’s fragrant white flower spikes fade, the leaves turn a gorgeous butter yellow that brightens shady spots.
Perfect for North Carolina’s wet areas, summersweet grows 3-8 feet tall depending on the variety. Butterflies flock to its summer blooms, while the seedheads provide winter interest. This adaptable shrub thrives in sun or shade and tolerates clay soil better than most flowering plants.
6. Witch Hazel
Spider-like yellow flowers appear on bare branches in late fall and winter on this unusual native shrub. When most plants have gone dormant, witch hazel puts on a show with fragrant, ribbon-like petals that seem to dance in the winter light.
Growing 10-15 feet tall, these shrubs appreciate moist, well-drained soil and partial shade. The fall leaf color ranges from golden yellow to orange-red before dropping to reveal the unique flowers. Native varieties perform beautifully throughout North Carolina.
7. Beautyberry ‘Pearl Glam’
Purple foliage and hot pink berries make this newer beautyberry variety a showstopper. Unlike the green-leaved American beautyberry, ‘Pearl Glam’ offers dark purple-tinged foliage all growing season, creating dramatic contrast with its vibrant berries.
Reaching 4-5 feet tall, this compact shrub thrives in full sun to part shade. The berries persist well into winter, long after the leaves drop. This low-maintenance beauty requires minimal pruning and performs well in average North Carolina garden soils.
8. Bottlebrush Buckeye
Spectacular yellow fall color transforms this native woodland shrub into autumn gold. Growing 8-12 feet tall and twice as wide, bottlebrush buckeye creates a bold presence in larger landscapes.
Summer’s white flower spikes give way to interesting buckeye fruits before the foliage turns brilliant yellow in fall. This slow-growing shrub prefers partial shade and moist soil. Its wide-spreading habit makes it perfect for naturalizing woodland edges throughout North Carolina.
9. Seven-Son Flower
Peeling bark and unusual late-season flowers make this rare shrub a collector’s favorite. White fragrant blossoms appear in late summer, followed by showy reddish-pink sepals that persist into fall, creating the illusion of a second flowering.
Growing 15-20 feet tall, seven-son flower can be trained as a small tree or multi-stemmed shrub. The exfoliating bark adds winter interest after leaves drop. This adaptable plant handles North Carolina’s heat and humidity with ease while attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.
10. Winterberry Holly
Brilliant red berries light up the landscape after leaves drop on this deciduous holly. Unlike evergreen hollies, winterberry loses its foliage in fall, allowing the spectacular berry display to take center stage against winter’s backdrop.
Growing 6-10 feet tall, winterberry thrives in moist areas but adapts to average garden conditions. Remember to plant male pollinator varieties nearby to ensure good berry production. The berries persist well into winter unless discovered by hungry birds.
11. Virginia Sweetspire
Ruby-red fall color makes this native shrub a knockout in autumn gardens. The slender leaves transform from green to vibrant crimson, creating weeks of fiery color that seems to glow in the landscape.
Growing 3-5 feet tall with a graceful arching habit, sweetspire thrives in sun or shade. Summer’s fragrant white flower spikes attract butterflies before the fall show begins. This adaptable shrub handles wet spots and clay soil with ease, making it perfect for challenging North Carolina garden areas.