Fall often gets overlooked as a planting season, but it is one of the best times of year to add new trees, shrubs, and perennials to your landscape. Cooler air temperatures paired with soil that is still warm from summer give roots the perfect conditions to establish before winter sets in. That means less stress on the plant and a stronger, healthier start once spring arrives. If you have been thinking about refreshing a bed, filling in a bare corner of the yard, or adding some seasonal color, now is the time to get it in the ground.
Here are some of our favorite picks for fall installations across the South Shore and Cape Cod.
Encore Azalea ‘Autumn Twist’ is bred specifically to rebloom in fall on top of its spring flush, so homeowners get a second round of color just as the season turns.
Pink Double Knock Out Rose is a repeat bloomer that keeps flowering right up until the first hard frost, making it one of the lowest maintenance ways to keep color going all season.
Pugster Blue Butterfly Bush blooms continuously from summer through fall and keeps drawing pollinators the entire time, adding both color and movement to a garden.
Little Lime Hydrangea is a panicle hydrangea that stays in bloom from late summer through fall, shifting from a soft lime green to pink as the weather cools.
Garden mums are the classic fall flower for good reason, available in nearly every color and blooming straight through to frost.
New England aster is a native perennial that pollinators love late into the season, showing up with purple blooms right as many summer perennials start to fade.
Ornamental kale and cabbage bring bold color to gardens and containers alike, and unlike most flowering plants, they hold their look all the way into winter.
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is a dependable bloomer with rusty pink to bronze flower heads that last from late summer well into late fall.
Fall checks every box for getting new plants off to a strong start. Soil temperatures stay warm well after the air cools down, which keeps root systems active even as growth slows above ground. Cooler weather also means less heat stress and less watering, so new plantings settle in without the pressure summer installs face. On top of that, anything installed now gets a full season of root development before spring, giving it a real head start once the growing season kicks back in.
Autumn Blaze Maple is one of the most reliable choices for dramatic fall color. Known for its fast growth and brilliant red canopy, it settles in well when installed during the cooler months and rewards patience with a stunning show every autumn.
October Glory Red Maple offers that same bold red fall color in a slightly more compact form, making it a great fit for yards that want the impact without quite as much size.
Kousa Dogwood offers something for every season, with white summer blooms, red fall fruit, and rich burgundy foliage as temperatures drop. Its smaller size makes it a great fit for foundation plantings or as a specimen tree in a smaller yard.
River Birch ‘Heritage’ brings exfoliating, cinnamon colored bark that adds interest well beyond the growing season, on top of a graceful golden fall canopy.
Winterberry is a Cape Cod and South Shore favorite for good reason. This native shrub loses its leaves in fall but keeps its bright red berries through winter, creating a pop of color against snow and bare branches when most of the landscape has gone dormant.
Purple Pride Beautyberry brings a unique look to the fall landscape with clusters of vivid purple berries that line its branches after the leaves begin to drop. It is a standout accent shrub that pairs beautifully with evergreens.
Viburnum ‘Winterthur’ rounds out a bed with blue black fall berries and reddish foliage, offering multi season interest with very little upkeep.
Itea ‘Little Henry’ is a compact option that turns a deep red orange in fall, making it an easy way to add color to smaller beds or foundation plantings.
Many of the plants featured in this guide are currently available through Egan Wholesale Group, our own nursery based in Plymouth. Sourcing from our nursery means we can offer healthy, well established plants while keeping a close eye on quality from the ground up, all season long.
Want to see your options in person before making a decision? Stop by the nursery to browse our current availability and get a feel for size, color, and condition firsthand. Once you find what you like, our team can handle the installation from start to finish, so you walk away with a plan and a finished result instead of just a plant. Ready to get started? Reach out to our team today to talk through your fall planting options.
