Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Turns rose-magenta in fall, long after the flowers are gone; spreading 15–25 ft and for clay, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Maine · Zones 3–6
Native Plants for Fall Color in Maine
Native trees, shrubs, and grasses that set the autumn garden alight with red, orange, copper, and gold. Every species here is genuinely native to Maine and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for Maine's cool, short summers climate across Acadian forest & coastal lowlands, not a generic list. Local standouts include Eastern Redbud and Flowering Dogwood. 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
13 native species for Maine
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Sets the autumn garden alight — white bracts — 15–25 ft tall and 15–25 ft wide.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Sets the autumn garden alight — white spring lace — 15–25 ft tall and 10–20 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Lights up in autumn, creamy white, for a long late-season show, for clay and loam ground and creamy white flowers.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Sets the autumn garden alight — inconspicuous green — cold-hardy to zone 3 and happy in clay, rocky, and loam soil.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Sets the autumn garden alight — yellow catkins — yellow catkins flowers and happy in sand, clay, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Lights up in autumn, white to pink, for a long late-season show, spreading 5–10 ft and white to pink flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Turns chartreuse-gold in fall, long after the flowers are gone; hardy in zones 4–9 and spreading 6–12 ft.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Lights up in autumn, bronze-gold plumes, for a long late-season show, reaching 4–7 ft and happy in sand, clay, and loam soil.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Sets the autumn garden alight — blue-green to copper — spreading 1.5–2 ft and for sand, clay, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Lights up in autumn, fine emerald to amber, for a long late-season show, 2–3 ft tall and spreading 2–3 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Turns airy pink-gold panicles in fall, long after the flowers are gone; 2–3 ft wide and hardy in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Fall color that lasts — bronze-purple seed heads, for sand, clay, and loam ground and reaching 4–7 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Maine
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.