The Best Shrubs to Color Fall Leaves

Vernal Witch Hazel

Vernal witch hazel, Hamamelis vernalis, provides a bright spot of yellow foliage in fall. This large shrub, which grows eight to 10 feet tall and wide, also provides cover for birds and has some of the earliest flowers in late winter. You’ll often smell the pleasantly scented flowers before you see them.

Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zones 5 through 8, vernal witch hazel does best in well-drained soil and full sun or partial shade. It really pops in the landscape when planted where evergreens or a dark-colored building contrast with its foliage.

Two other great features of this large shrub? Deer usually leave it alone, and it’s native to the United States.