Its lustrous, dark green leaves change to glossy red and reddish-purple.

When deciding where to plant late-fall- and winter-blooming shrubs, consider their location in relation to windows or doorways. This way, you can see their flowers while gazing out or while coming and going.

Many winter-blooming shrubs are fragrant, so place these plants where you can enjoy the perfume. The spicy aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg are seemingly synonymous with this change in the seasons. Outside we associate fall primarily with the changing colors of the leaves, the ripening of berries and the harvesting of pumpkins and gourds, but we are also intrinsically aware that there is a change in the air.

A show-off in fall, fothergilla is hardy in zones 5 to 8 and blooms in mid-spring. Mix in a partially shaded border with hostas, ferns, viburnum and foam flower.

Look for dwarf variety ‘Mount Airy,’ a winner for its fall color. Fothergilla is a three season shrub with bright.