Plant this Fall. Gain a Spring.

Spring gets most of the attention, but experienced growers and landscape professionals know that fall can be one of the best times to plant woody plants.

As air temperatures cool, soils often remain warm enough to support root activity. Newly planted trees and shrubs face less heat stress and typically lose less moisture through their leaves, so more of the plant's energy goes where it matters most: establishing roots.

That head start matters. A plant installed this fall can spend weeks settling in before winter dormancy, then resume root growth as conditions allow. When spring arrives, it is already in place — ready to respond to warming soils rather than waiting to be planted.

For landscape architects, contractors, municipalities, restoration teams, and property owners, fall planting can also extend the working season and move projects forward before the spring rush.

The opportunity: Don't think of fall as the end of the growing season. 
Think of it as the beginning of next year's.

Demand for native plants — and the knowledge behind successful native landscapes — continues to grow. For nearly 80 years, Forrest Keeling Nursery has grown plants with a purpose: native trees, shrubs and perennials that restore habitat, strengthen landscapes, manage water, support wildlife and create places that perform for decades.

Now we're building the team for Forrest Keeling's next era.

We're seeking exceptional people who want more than a job: curious, capable, collaborative professionals ready to help expand Forrest Keeling's impact and its business — and to help shape what comes next.

Possumhaw llex decidua

The leaves are only half the story.

Also called deciduous holly, this native shrub or small tree brings interest to the landscape, bridging the seasons from fall into winter.

As autumn progresses, the foliage gives way to clusters of colorful fruit on female plants. After the leaves drop, the fruit becomes even more visible against bare branches, extending interest into the winter landscape and providing value for wildlife.

Possumhaw works well where designers want a native plant with a naturalistic character, seasonal interest, and a strong late-season presence. It can be especially effective at woodland edges, in habitat plantings, rain gardens or naturalized settings, and in larger residential landscapes.

Important design note: Possumhaw is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Include a male pollinator nearby so the female plants reward you with the abundant fruit that makes this native such a standout from fall well into winter.

Establish roots now for a great spring

Fall at the nursery is not a winding-down season. It's a transition season — planting, collecting seeds and fruit, evaluating crops, preparing plants for dormancy, and watching the year's growth reveal what worked and what comes next.

Fall is not the finish line. It's an opportunity — to establish roots, advance projects, and prepare for what comes next.

Download our new catalog or view current availability to starting planning for 2027.

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