Add pops of autumn color with native shrubs

Do you have a yard that goes from summer green to boring brown to winter gray? Color it up with shrubs.

“The right ones can really light up a yard in autumn, and they don’t take as long to grow up as a large shade tree,” said Spencer Campbell, manager of the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

Look for shrubs that are not only handsome but useful. “If you choose native shrubs or small trees, you won’t just get brightly colored foliage,” he said. “You’ll also be providing food and creating habitat for native birds and other wildlife.”

This autumn, think about places that could use a touch of red, orange and gold. Over the winter, you can research which shrubs you might plant in those spots in spring.

Here are a few suggestions from the Plant Clinic for shrubs and small trees