When summer fades, Ohio gardens can still burst with color if you choose the right plants. Fall brings a special magic to our landscapes with fiery reds, golden yellows, and rich purples.
Adding these autumn performers to your garden extends the beauty of your outdoor space well beyond the summer months.
1. Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
The name says it all! Burning bush transforms into a spectacular crimson beacon come autumn. Native to Asia, this deciduous shrub requires minimal care while delivering maximum visual impact.
Plant in full sun for the most vivid color display. In Ohio’s climate, these shrubs thrive with little intervention, reaching heights of 15-20 feet if left unpruned. Consider dwarf varieties for smaller gardens.
2. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Nothing says autumn in Ohio quite like the sugar maple’s fiery display. A true native hero, this magnificent tree paints landscapes with oranges, reds, and yellows that seem to glow from within.
Beyond its seasonal beauty, sugar maples provide valuable shade in summer and sap for maple syrup in late winter. They prefer well-drained soil and can reach impressive heights of 60-75 feet in maturity.
3. Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Unlike its cousins that fade after summer, oakleaf hydrangea saves some drama for fall. Large, lobed leaves transform into deep burgundy and purple hues as temperatures drop. White summer flower clusters dry to an attractive rusty brown, providing winter interest.
Oakleaf hydrangeas love morning sun with afternoon shade in Ohio gardens. Their peeling cinnamon-colored bark adds another dimension to winter landscapes.
4. Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Often overlooked, staghorn sumac delivers one of autumn’s most dramatic color transformations. The compound leaves shift from deep green to blazing orange-red, creating a tropical sunset effect in your landscape.
Fuzzy red fruit clusters persist through winter, feeding birds when food becomes scarce. Sumacs colonize through suckers, making them perfect for naturalizing slopes or creating informal screens in larger Ohio properties.
5. Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
A hidden gem for Ohio gardeners, Virginia sweetspire brings reliable burgundy-red fall color even in partial shade. Fragrant white flower spires in early summer are just a prelude to the autumn show.
This native shrub handles Ohio’s occasionally wet soils with grace, making it perfect for troublesome areas where drainage isn’t ideal. Reaching just 3-5 feet tall, it fits beautifully into mixed borders or woodland edges.
6. Black Gum Tree (Nyssa sylvatica)
For reliable scarlet fall color regardless of weather conditions, black gum trees stand unmatched. Their glossy leaves transform into a spectacular display that rivals any maple. Hardy and adaptable to Ohio’s varied soils, these native trees develop beautiful horizontal branching patterns as they mature.
Small blue-black fruits attract birds in autumn. Their moderate growth rate makes them patient additions to developing landscapes.
7. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Our native witch hazel delivers a double feature of fall interest. Golden yellow leaves create a sunny glow in the autumn landscape just as spidery yellow flowers unfurl, often lasting into November. Fragrant blooms appear when most other plants have finished flowering for the year.
This understory tree thrives in Ohio’s woodland edges and brings a touch of wild charm to home gardens. The medicinal bark has been used for centuries.
8. Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)
Spring’s bottlebrush blooms might be this shrub’s namesake feature, but fothergilla saves its best performance for fall. The rounded leaves transform into a kaleidoscope of yellow, orange, and red – often all on one plant!
Compact size makes fothergilla perfect for smaller Ohio gardens or mixed borders. Plant in groups for maximum impact. This southeastern native appreciates acidic soil, similar to what rhododendrons prefer.
9. Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
Serviceberry earns its keep in every season, but autumn brings special magic as leaves turn brilliant orange-red. Also called Juneberry for its delicious blueberry-like fruits, this small native tree shines in Ohio landscapes.
White spring flowers, summer berries, fall color, and attractive silver-gray bark make serviceberry a four-season performer. Multi-stemmed or single-trunk forms are available. Birds adore the fruits, adding life to your garden.
10. Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Glossy black berries contrast dramatically with fiery red autumn foliage on this versatile native shrub. Chokeberry’s compact size fits easily into modern Ohio landscapes while delivering outsized visual impact.
White spring flowers attract pollinators, while fall’s abundant berries feed wildlife well into winter. The fruits, though astringent fresh, make excellent jams and juices high in antioxidants. Chokeberry tolerates wet soils and urban pollution with ease.
11. Amsonia (Amsonia hubrichtii)
Arkansas blue star transforms from summer’s feathery green presence to autumn’s golden fountain. This perennial’s fine-textured foliage turns a luminous yellow-gold that seems to capture sunlight. Spring brings clusters of pale blue star-shaped flowers, but fall is when amsonia truly shines.
Drought-tolerant once established, it performs beautifully in Ohio gardens with minimal care. The upright habit remains neat without staking or frequent division.