As fall descends upon St. Louis, the green canopy transforms into a canvas of warm hues. A breathtaking tapestry of warm amber and fiery tangerine intermingled with crimson reds. Shades which captivate the eye and capture the essence of fall’s ephemeral beauty.
Your landscape can showcase nature’s vibrancy by choosing the right selection of trees, shrubs, and perennials. From fiery arborvitaes to golden perennials, we’ll help you choose the best plants for fall color. Let’s explore how to bring the magic of fall to your St. Louis landscape.
Enhancing Your St. Louis Landscape with Fall Color
Plants with vibrant fall colors make your landscape beautiful all year round. They add beauty to your property and show off the changing seasons in your area.
This creates a landscape that looks great in fall and fits well with the local environment.
Here are seven of our favorite plants to brighten St. Louis’ fall color palette.
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora)
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry is a small tree or large shrub that looks great all year. It has white flowers in spring, purple berries in summer, and bright red-orange leaves in fall.
- Height: 15 to 25 feet
- Spread: 15 to 25 feet
- Light Needs: Full Sun to Part Shade (best color in full sun)
This tree is perfect for small yards or city gardens. In the landscape, plant this tree on its own as a specimen or used in privacy screens as it grows well under the canopy of other trees.
Autumn Brilliance is easy to care for and doesn’t need much attention. It handles Missouri weather well, can survive dry spells once established, and attracts wildlife with its berries.
Fire Chief Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Fire Chief’)
Fire Chief Arborvitae is a compact, rounded evergreen shrub. It transforms from light green in spring to yellow-green in summer. During fall and winter, its color changes to a striking bronze-orange—a hue far more vibrant than many other evergreens.
- Height: 3 to 4 feet
- Spread: 3 to 4 feet
- Light Needs: Full Sun to Part Shade (best color in full sun)
Fire Chief is an effortless cultivar to grow and is drought-tolerant once established. The size and natural shape of Fire Chief make it perfect for foundation plantings and low-growing hedges.
Firepower Nandina (Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’)
Firepower Nandina is a small evergreen shrub that changes color with the seasons. Spring begins with bright green foliage that turns yellowish-green in summer, followed by a fiery red in fall and winter.
- Height: 2 to 3 feet
- Spread: 2 to 3 feet
- Light Needs: Full Sun to Part Shade (best color in full sun)
This shrub is great for planting along foundations and borders. Its small size makes it perfect for planting in large groups, creating enormous swaths of fall color.
Firepower Nandina doesn’t produce berries, reducing its invasive potential. It’s evergreen, but may lose some leaves during cold St. Louis winters.
Scentlandia Itea (Itea virginica ‘Scentlandia’)
Scentlandia Itea is a compact shrub with fragrant flowers in the spring. In fall, the foliage transforms into stunning shades of red and orange.
- Height: 3 to 4 feet
- Spread: 3 to 4 feet
- Light Needs: Full Sun to Part Shade (best color in full sun)
This native plant offers multi-season interest, making it an excellent choice for landscapes with smaller spaces or wet areas.
Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’)
Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea is a compact hydrangea known for its large oakleaf-shaped leaves. It has beautiful white blooms in early summer that fade to pink. Fall brings deep burgundy and red foliage.
- Height: 3 to 4 feet
- Spread: 3 to 4 feet
- Light Needs: Full Sun to Part Shade (best color in full sun)
This hydrangea is suitable for foundation plantings, mixed borders, as an accent plant, or in group plantings. It provides winter interest with its dried flower heads, peeling bark, and unique branch structure.
String Theory Amsonia (Amsonia hubrichtii ‘String Theory’)
String Theory Amsonia is a native plant offers delicate pale blue spring flowers, feathery summer foliage, and a stunning golden-yellow fall display.
- Height: 15 to 18 inches
- Spread: 18 to 24 inches
- Light Needs: Full Sun to Part Shade (best color in full sun)
Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller landscapes and perennial borders. The soft texture and fall color make this perennial great for mass plantings.
Prairie Blues Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Prairie Blues’)
Prairie Blues Little Bluestem offers blue-green foliage in spring and summer. In fall, this grass transforms into vibrant copper, orange, red, and purple hues.
- Height: 2 to 3 feet
- Spread: 1.5 to 2 feet
- Light Needs: Full Sun
This low-maintenance grass is a North American native that is drought tolerant and deer-resistant. It is excellent for native gardens or prairie-style landscapes.
How to Choose the Right Plants for Your Fall Garden
Ensure a visually appealing landscape by layering plants. Consider factors such as mature size, light requirements, and texture when selecting the best plants for fall landscapes in St. Louis.
The canopy of Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry provides a stunning kaleidoscopic canopy of fall leaves.
Scentlandia Itea and Ruby Slippers offer breathtaking blends of reds, oranges, and yellows at eye level. While, Fire Chief Arborvitae and Firepower Nandina carry the color into winter.
Low-growing String Theory Amsonia and Prairie Blues Little Bluestem add texture and hues that warm the palette.
Incorporating these seven stunning plants into your St. Louis landscape will create a vibrant fall display that captures the essence of the season. Each selection offers unique features, contributing to a dynamic fall garden that showcases the breathtaking hues of fall’s beauty.
Ready to transform your St. Louis landscape into a breathtaking fall showcase? Let our expert team bring these stunning fall color plants to life in your outdoor space. Our professional landscape design and installation services will help you create a vibrant, low-maintenance garden that celebrates the beauty of every season. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and start planning your perfect fall landscape!