As its name implies, Oregon Grape Holly, Mahonia aquifolium, is native to the Pacific Northwest. This shrub grows in Zones 5 through 9 in full sun to part shade, rising to three to six feet tall. A compact variety grows up to three feet tall.
As a shrub, it tends to spread and grow wider over time. Cutting off runners that emerge away from the base of the shrub keeps it to a smaller width.
The dark green foliage turns purplish and mahogany in the fall and winter, and will stay on the plant until new foliage emerges in the spring. Oregon grape holly has yellow flowers in spring and forms blue berries by late summer. The berries are tart but edible. Birds love them.
With highbush blueberries, Vaccinium corymbosum, you can have your fruit and good fall color, too, in Zones 5 through 8. Just make sure you have acidic, well-drained soil in a sunny spot.
The foliage turns an orange-red color in the fall. These shrubs will grow up to six feet tall and four feet wide.
For fruit production, plant more than one shrub. Varieties like ‘Legacy’ will self-pollinate but do better when there’s more than one shrub. Or pair it with another variety like ‘Bluecrop,‘ hardy in Zones 4 through 7 with good fall color.
Known for its red fall foliage, the Red Chokeberry, Aronia arbutifolia, is another big, native shrub that stands out when its leaves change from green to orange-red.
These shrubs, hardy in Zones 4 through 9, can grow up to 10 feet tall and five feet wide. They do well in full sun or part-shade and also tolerate wet soil. You can let them grow naturally or keep them pruned to create a privacy screen.
Red chokeberry will bring in bees when blooming and birds once the berries ripen. To ensure the best fall color, choose a named variety, like ‘Brilliantissima.‘
