Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Lights up in autumn, rose-magenta, for a long late-season show, for clay, rocky, and loam ground and hardy in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Georgia · Zones 6–9
Native Plants for Fall Color in Georgia
Native trees, shrubs, and grasses that set the autumn garden alight with red, orange, copper, and gold. Every species here is genuinely native to Georgia and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–9 — proven performers for Georgia's humid subtropical climate across Piedmont, Blue Ridge & Coastal Plain, not a generic list. Local standouts include Eastern Redbud and Arrowwood Viburnum. The natives behind New England's famous foliage will do the same work in your yard, and the show lasts far longer than the flowers did. Sugars trapped in the leaves on cool, sunny fall days drive the brightest color, so plant these in full sun for the most intense display. Pair fiery shrubs with the copper and amber of warm-season grasses for a season finale that rivals any flower bed.
The plants
14 native species for Georgia
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–9 · see this collection in other states.
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Sets the autumn garden alight — creamy white — for clay and loam ground and reaching 6–10 ft.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
Fall color that lasts — white cones, reaching 4–8 ft and for loam ground.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Fall color that lasts — white spring lace, reaching 15–25 ft and cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Lights up in autumn, cotton-candy pink, for a long late-season show, reaching 2–3 ft and good through zone 10.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Turns white bracts in fall, long after the flowers are gone; 15–25 ft wide and good through zone 9.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Turns chartreuse-gold in fall, long after the flowers are gone; for clay and loam ground and 6–12 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Turns white to pink in fall, long after the flowers are gone; happy in clay, rocky, and loam soil and white to pink flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Fall color that lasts — yellow catkins, 2–6 ft tall and 5–10 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Fall color that lasts — inconspicuous green, for clay, rocky, and loam ground and good through zone 9.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Fall color that lasts — bronze-purple seed heads, for sand, clay, and loam ground and hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Fall color that lasts — blue-green to copper, 2–4 ft tall and spreading 1.5–2 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Lights up in autumn, airy pink-gold panicles, for a long late-season show, 2–3 ft wide and for sand, clay, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Fall color that lasts — bronze-gold plumes, spreading 2–3 ft and good through zone 9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Georgia
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.