Ten fall favorites
![Ten fall favorites Fothergilla](https://www.christensensplantcenter.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/731_7631_400-150x150.jpg)
...and I don't mean cider or donuts. No, it's COLOR TIME!
Mums. Burning bush. Maple trees! You can probably name a dozen fall color plants without even thinking about it. But what about choosing from some of the lesser-known plants that also shine every autumn? Here are my top ten favorite fall color plants that may not be on your radar.
![IMG_3683_683 Hydrangea quercifolia](http://www.christensensplantcenter.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_3683_683.jpg)
Oakleaf Hydrangea
- Hydrangea quercifolia and cultivars: The large, rough-textured leaves are especially striking as they turn shades of red and purple every fall.
- Viburnum x juddii: Beloved for it's sweetly-scented spring flowers, this medium-sized shrub has great burgundy-purple fall color accented by blue to black berries.
![IMG_9501_683 Itea](http://www.christensensplantcenter.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_9501_683.jpg)
Itea
- Itea virginica cultivars: This medium-sized native shrub deserves to be planted more often. The orange, red and burgundy fall color is outstanding and is extremely long lasting.
- Epimedium cultivars: An underused perennial tolerant of dry shade that gets brilliant red to purple fall colors.
- Amsonia hubrectii: This North American native perennial grows to about 3x3'. The fine, feathery foliage turns a striking golden-yellow in the fall.
- Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’: Usually planted for the amazingly fragrant flower spikes in mid-to-late summer, this smallish shrub turns a gorgeous golden yellow each fall.
![IMG_9575_683 Fothergilla](http://www.christensensplantcenter.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_9575_683.jpg)
Fothergilla
- Fothergilla ‘Mount Airy’: This is a handsome 3-5’ shrub that gets wonderful fall color in hues of red-purple, orange and yellow.
- Amelanchier: OK, so this one is not that obscure but it has to be in my top ten.
- Vaccinium hybrids: These ericaceous shrubs (best known are blueberries) will surprise you with their beautiful red-orange fall color.
- Panicum virgatum cultivars: ‘Shenandoah’ and ‘Hot Rod’ are two that turn beautiful red or burgundy.
![728_0534_683 Panicum](http://www.christensensplantcenter.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/728_0534_683.jpg)
Panicum
![roth Kim Roth](http://www.christensensplantcenter.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/roth1.png)