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North Carolina Native Shrubs for Fall Color

About 25 percent of the plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

Native Plants, Native Deciduous Shrubs, North Carolina Native Shrubs, Fall Color

From the Atlantic Coastal Plain to the Piedmont region, and to the Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina’s landscape is carpeted with a rich array of wildflowers and native plants. It is home to many species of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. Noted for its short, mild winters and sultry summers, North Carolina can also support many non-native species which are beginning to make their way across the landscape. Regrettably, some of these exotic immigrants are invasive and are threatening the native flora and ecology of the state.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species, and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants.

  • First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers, and pesticides or use less water.
  • Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats.
  • Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.

Here is a list of North Carolina native shrubs that produce brilliant fall foliage.

  • Never collect native plants from the wild as it will deplete natural ecosystems. 
  • When possible, plant species grown straight from local seed sources. These native originals are the best choice, as they co-evolved with specific wildlife, which supports migration, breeding, and other seasonal interdependencies.

 

Guide Information

Plant Type Shrubs
Season of Interest Fall
Native Plants United States, Southeast, North Carolina

Recommended North Carolina Native Shrubs for Fall Color

Amelanchier stolonifera (Running Serviceberry)
Aronia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry)
Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry)
Callicarpa americana (American Beautyberry)
Calycanthus floridus (Carolina Allspice)
Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet)
Corylus americana (American Hazelnut)
Corylus cornuta (Beaked Hazelnut)
Euonymus atropurpureus (Eastern Wahoo)
Fothergilla gardenii (Dwarf Fothergilla)
Gaylussacia baccata (Black Huckleberry)
Hydrangea arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea)
Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Hypericum densiflorum (Bushy St. John’s Wort)
Ilex decidua (Possumhaw)
Ilex verticillata (Winterberry)
Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire)
Lindera benzoin (Spice Bush)
Physocarpus opulifolius (Common Ninebark)
Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac)
Rhus glabra (Smooth Sumac)
Vaccinium corymbosum (Highbush Blueberry)
Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum)
Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw)

Discover Helpful North Carolina Guides for Further Reading

Great Pollinator Plants for North Carolina
Monarch Nectar Plants for North Carolina
North Carolina Native Shrubs that Attract Wildlife
Native Grasses for North Carolina
50 Native Wildflowers for North Carolina
Native Groundcovers for North Carolina
36 North Carolina Wildflowers for Sunny Gardens
33 North Carolina Wildflowers for the Shade Garden
North Carolina Native Trees for Dry Sites
Invasive Plant Species in North Carolina
North Carolina Native Trees that Attract Wildlife
North Carolina Native Trees with Showy Flowers or Fruits
North Carolina Native Shrubs with Showy Flowers or Fruits
Sun-Loving Native Shrubs for North Carolina
North Carolina Native Shrubs for Dry Sites
Native Deciduous Trees for North Carolina
Native Vines for North Carolina
Native Ferns for North Carolina

Discover more beautiful North Carolina native plants

North Carolina native plants

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Plant Type Shrubs
Season of Interest Fall
Native Plants United States, Southeast, North Carolina
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Middle South Lower South

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