Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Turns rose-magenta in fall, long after the flowers are gone; 20–30 ft tall and 15–25 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Delaware · Zone 7
Native Plants for Fall Color in Delaware
Native trees, shrubs, and grasses that set the autumn garden alight with red, orange, copper, and gold. Every species here is genuinely native to Delaware and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zone 7 — proven performers for Delaware's mild, humid climate across Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens & Piedmont, 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
15 native species for Delaware
Each one native to your region and hardy in zone 7 · see this collection in other states.
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Fall color that lasts — creamy white, spreading 6–10 ft and 6–10 ft tall.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Sets the autumn garden alight — cotton-candy pink — 2–3 ft wide and 2–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Fall color that lasts — white spring lace, 10–20 ft wide and for clay and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
Lights up in autumn, white cones, for a long late-season show, hardy in zones 5–9 and 4–8 ft wide.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Fall color that lasts — white bracts, white bracts flowers and 15–25 ft wide.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Lights up in autumn, inconspicuous green, for a long late-season show, happy in clay, rocky, and loam soil and inconspicuous green flowers.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Lights up in autumn, white to pink, for a long late-season show, for clay, rocky, and loam ground and reaching 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Turns yellow catkins in fall, long after the flowers are gone; yellow catkins flowers and for sand, clay, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Turns chartreuse-gold in fall, long after the flowers are gone; spreading 6–12 ft and cold-hardy to zone 4.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Lights up in autumn, airy pink-gold panicles, for a long late-season show, 2–3 ft wide and happy in sand, clay, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Turns bronze-purple seed heads in fall, long after the flowers are gone; happy in sand, clay, and loam soil and 4–7 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Turns bronze-gold plumes in fall, long after the flowers are gone; 4–7 ft tall and happy in sand, clay, and loam soil.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Fall color that lasts — fine emerald to amber, good through zone 8 and spreading 2–3 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Turns blue-green to copper in fall, long after the flowers are gone; hardy in zones 3–9 and for sand, clay, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Delaware
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.