Gardening 101: Shrubs for fall blooms in the Bay Area

September 8, 5:57 PMSF Gardening ExaminerChris McLaughlin

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Photo by mauroguanansis

Bay Area gardeners don't have to give up the beautiful blooms just because it's fall. One of the best reasons for living and growing plants in the San Francisco Bay Area is the extended growing season. Bay Area gardeners not only begin planting everything a little earlier than most, but they end up hanging on to flowers longer than most, too.

When creating a foundation planting for a home, most gardeners like to use shrubs to anchor the entire look of the landscape. Other gardeners like planting herbs for crafts or culinary use. Whatever the case is, planting for fall blooms can be overlooked as most people think of the blooming seasons as spring and summer.

Photo by Sassy Gardener

But there are many shrubs that either begin or continue blooming well into the fall and early winter. Below is a list of shrubs that will not only keep a yard or garden in color but encourage wildlife such as hummingbirds to continue visiting as well. Don't forget to plant them where their specific watering needs will be met.

Shrubs that Bloom in the Fall

• Hebe 'Autumn Glory' - This evergreen shrub also has variegated leaf varieties. It needs full sun to partial shade and regular water. It has purple and blue flowers. H. x andersonii 'Varigata' blooms in light violet.
• California Fuscia (Zauschneria spp.) - A California native plant that has some excellent varieties. Very well-behaved plant that's drought-tolerant even in full sun. It blooms well into fall being an October bloomer.
• Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) - Likes to be planted in the sun or light shade and prefers regular watering. It blooms in early fall leaving lovely copper colored bracts for even more color for the rest of autumn.

Photo by Traveling Mermaid

• Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) - Plant the Rose-of-Sharon in full sun or light afternoon shade. She likes regular watering and is easily shaped.
• Butterfly Bush (Buddleia spp.) - Plant this beautiful shrub in the full sun and give it moderate to regular watering. The butterflies will be around as long as they are able.
• Big Leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) - Plant these old-fashioned ladies in part shade and give them regular water.
• Roses - There are many modern roses that'll bloom all the way to December in the Bay Area. The dainty shrub rose 'Ballerina' is one of them. But local nurseries offer many more.
• English Lavender (Lavendula augustifolia) and French Lavender (Lavendula dentata) - like a full sun position and moderate watering. The English lavender is the one mostly credited with the sweet scent in sachets and the French lavender has the flowers that look like they have rabbit ears.
• Royal Robe Potato Shrub (Solanum rantonnetti) - Likes to be planted in the sun or partial shade with moderate to regular watering. It has deep-purple flowers.