Double file viburnums have great seasonal interest in the fall with intense red to purple leaves. Their overall architecture can't be beat, with scaffold branching that produce a profuse amount of white umbels of flowers in the spring that stand up above the foliage. A favorite is 'Mariesii' which grows 8 to 12 feet tall and wide and requires well-drained, moist soil. It will not tolerate heavy clay soils with poor drainage. It also needs to be kept well watered in hot, dry spells. For best flowering, plant it in full sun. Deciduous. Hardy to -20 degrees (F).

Euonymous alatus 'Compactus':
This burning bush cultivar is a deciduous shrub which is not all that "compact" since it typically grows in a mound to 10' tall with a slightly larger spread, though it can easily be kept shorter by pruning. It features elliptic to obovate, dark green leaves which turn bright red in fall (sometimes more pinkish in shade). Fall color can be spectacular and gives rise to the common name. Small, yellowish-green flowers appear in May but are not showy. Small fruits (1/3" red capsules) appear in fall, but are usually hidden by the foliage. Corky bark ridges on the branches give rise to the additional common name of dwarf winged euonymus. However, the corky ridges are often absent or very reduced in size on the stems of 'Compactus'. The variety 'Monstrosa' has truly large "wings," or for a truly compact burning bush, chose Euonymus alatus 'Rudy Haag' which typically grows from 3-5' tall. Plant in full sun to part shade. Hardy to -30 degree (F).

Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion':
'Profusion' beautyberry is a rounded, deciduous shrub that typically grows 6' tall and wide with upright slender branching. 'Profusion' is noted for its abundant fruit production for a fall show. Clusters (cymes) of small, lavender flowers bloom in the leaf axils along the stems in summer. Flowers are followed by large clusters of bright, glossy, violet-purple fruits which ripen in September and put on their best show through October. Fruits persist beyond the point of leaf drop but not very far into winter. Elliptic to ovate-elliptic leaves with acuminate tips emerge bronze purple in spring, mature to dull dark green and turn purplish in fall. Plant in full sun to part shade. Hardy to -10 degrees.

Oak leaf hydrangea, is an upright, broad-rounded, colonizing, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically grows 4-6' (less frequently to 8') tall. It is native to bluffs, moist woods, ravines and stream banks from Georgia to Florida to Louisiana. It is noted for producing pyramidal panicles of white flowers in summer on exfoliating branches clad with large, 3-7 lobed, oak-like, dark green leaves. Intense fall colors range from bright red to deep maroon.  Easily grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Thrives in moist soils, and appreciates a summer mulch which helps retain soil moisture. Bloom occurs on old wood. Prune if needed immediately after flowering (little pruning is usually needed). For a smaller variety, try 'Ruby Slippers' which grows 3-4' tall and can take more shade. Hardy to -20 degrees (F).