What pairs well with burning bush falls into three groups. Evergreen shrubs make the fall color pop. Ornamental grasses bring texture and motion to your yard. And perennials fill the gaps during summer when your burning bush is just a plain green blob.
I designed a mixed border in my front yard a few years back with burning bush as the fall star. Two boxwood globes sat at the base. Three Karl Foerster grasses stood behind it. A sweep of hostas covered the ground in front. During summer the grasses and hostas carried the show. Come October, the burning bush lit up in scarlet against the dark green boxwood. In winter, the boxwood and dried grass kept your eye on the bed. Every season had something worth looking at.
The idea behind good burning bush companion plants is simple. You want to contrast texture and stagger your seasonal peaks. Pair it with plants that peak at different times so your bed never has a dead month. Summer bloomers carry your garden from June through September. Burning bush takes over in October. Evergreens hold it all together through winter.
Evergreen Backdrop Plants
- Boxwood gives you dense dark green foliage that makes your burning bush fall color look even more vivid by contrast.
- Arborvitae adds tall structure behind shorter burning bushes and screens your views while staying green through every season.
- Juniper offers blue-green tones and a spreading habit that fills gaps at the base of your garden bed without fighting for attention.
Ornamental Grasses
- Karl Foerster grass sends up 5-foot golden plumes that sway behind your burning bush and last through winter for year-round texture.
- Switchgrass turns golden yellow in fall. That warm tone works great next to the red burning bush foliage in your yard.
- Blue fescue works as a low border grass. Its silver-blue blades contrast against both the green summer and red fall foliage you enjoy.
Perennial Groundcovers
- Hostas fill the base with bold leaves from spring through fall. They die back just as your burning bush takes the spotlight.
- Daylilies bloom in summer with bright colors that give your bed a focus during the months when burning bush is plain green.
- Sedum offers late blooms in pink and red that overlap with early fall color. This extends your garden's peak display by weeks.
Good burning bush landscape design starts with spacing. Leave at least 3 feet of open space between your burning bush edge and any partner plants. Your shrub needs air flow around it to stay free of fungal problems. I tested close spacing one year and ended up with mildew on everything. Pick companions that grow well in the same light and soil your burning bush sits in.
Put tall grasses behind your burning bush where they won't block its shape. Set mid-height flowers to the sides. Low groundcovers go along the front edge. This layered setup creates depth and keeps every plant visible from where you stand. Your bed will look put-together through all four seasons instead of just one flashy month in fall.
Read the full article: Burning Bush Shrub Care and Facts
