Autumn is my favorite time of year. The cooling weather, mingled with the excitement of upcoming holidays, football games, tailgates, and children reconnecting with their schoolmates, are all wonderful aspects of fall. If you love the season like I do, the changing colors of fall leaves on the trees are a welcome sight.
It is this time of year when so many deciduous trees burst into (figurative) flames, brightening the landscape as they offer one final blaze of glory before entering their winter dormancy. The warm colors of fall- reds, golds, oranges, and purples, appear on trees with a vibrance reserved especially for this time of year.
Fall leaves don’t change color so much as show us the beauty they have been hiding all along. Deciduous trees produce less and less chlorophyll as the number of daylight hours shortens. As the green begins to fade, the glorious colors that lie beneath start to show through.
If you’re looking for a tree to add some brilliant fall color to your landscape, some excellent specimens grow in just about every climate in the United States. Even for those living in states farther south, there are a handful of trees with fall color that look stunning in the garden. Here are 21 trees with absolutely wonderful fall colors.
American Beech
This slow-growing but majestic shade tree thrives in multiple soil types but is sensitive to drought.
 | botanical name Fagus grandifolia |
|---|---|
 | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
 | height 50’-70’ |
 | hardiness zones 4-9 |
If you have the space to spare and the time to wait for it to grow, American beech is a stunning shade tree that also brings beauty to the yard. This large tree can reach heights of up to 70’ but only grows about one to two feet per year, so it takes time to reach its full height. This is a tree that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
American beech is tolerant of different soil compositions, but it is very drought-sensitive. Full sun will give you the greatest amount of growth. The broad, dense canopy changes to a stunning golden bronze in the fall. The sheer size of this tree means that it will light up the landscape with a luminous fall color.
Amur Maple
Amur maple offers spring flowers, summer foliage, and striking fall colors for year-round interest.
| | botanical name Acer ginnala |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 20’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
This maple provides a lot of interest throughout the year, with small, fragrant flowers in spring and shiny green foliage complemented by red, winged fruits in summertime. It is fall when Amur maple looks its best, though. The attractive, tri-lobed leaves burst into flaming oranges and reds, lighting up the landscape with the glowing colors of sunset.
Amur maple is typically grown as a small tree or large shrub, reaching about 20’ tall at maturity. This native to Asia makes a good windbreak or focal point in the yard. It has thin, branching roots, so it won’t interfere terribly with other plants nearby.
Note: Amur maple is considered invasive in some parts of the United States. It should only be planted in spaces where the seedlings will be eradicated, either by mowing or other means.
Apple Serviceberry
It’s a smaller, slow-growing tree with an attractive growth habit and smooth grey bark, making it a great landscaping option.
| | botanical name Amelanchier x grandiflora |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 20’-25’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Apple Serviceberry is a member of the Rose family with wonderful four-season interest, making it a fabulous landscaping choice. In spring, it boasts a plethora of small white blossoms, which give way to attractive blue-green leaves and reddish-purple berries in the summer.
The leaves turn brilliant reddish-orange, lighting up the garden. If you are looking for a pretty tree that won’t take over or cast too large a shadow on your garden, apple serviceberry is a wonderful choice. It’s an ideal addition to your edible and ornamental landscape.
It has an upright, vase-shaped growth habit and tops 20-25’ tall with a spread of about eight to ten feet. It is a slow grower that can be kept smaller if desired. Smooth grey bark makes this tree visually appealing even after the leaves fall.
Bald Cyprus
Their remarkable fall colors can even be seen in warm climates, with shades of gold, orange, and rusty brown.
| | botanical name Taxodium distichum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height up to 120’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-10 |
Cypress trees are often considered swamp plants, as this is where you are most likely to see large groupings of the trees. Their knobby knees protrude from the water’s surface among the wide trunk bases. These trees can handle standing water like nobody’s business.
Interestingly enough, bald cypress trees don’t need this swampy environment to thrive. It just happens to be where they multiply best. They actually make very nice backyard trees, and their fall color is remarkable.
A wonderful thing about these trees is that they will bring fall colors even to warm climates that don’t typically see this phenomenon. Even in Florida, bald cypress will show off shades of gold and orange, gradually turning to a rusty brown.
Black Tupelo
In autumn, their deep green leaves transform into a vibrant array of purple, red, orange, yellow, and scarlet colors.
| | botanical name Nyssa sylvatica |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 30’-50’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Famous for the honey made from their flowers, black tupelo trees highlight the landscape with attractive foliage and uniquely furrowed bark on mature trees. They are moderate growers and can be quite tall at maturity, although it may take 20 years to reach maturity. In spring, the flowers bloom in shades of white and green and mature into purple fruits in late summer.
If the soil is too alkaline, leaves can take on a chlorotic appearance, so give black tupelo trees plenty of acidic, organic material. In fall, a thick layer of pine bark mulch will keep the foliage looking its best.
Speaking of the foliage, the deep green, glossy leaves light up the garden in fall with a rainbow of colors. Leaves can turn purple, red, orange, yellow, and scarlet, sometimes all on the same branch.
Crape Myrtle
Plant a crape myrtle tree in full sun for stunning summer flowers and colorful autumn foliage.
| | botanical name Lagerstroemia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height up to 25’ |
| | hardiness zones 7-10 |
For true year-round interest, consider adding a crape myrtle tree to your garden—plant one of these flashy trees in full sun for the most color in summer and fall. The most spectacular season for crape myrtles is summer, with large panicles of brightly colored flowers hanging from long, flexible branches that take on a weeping quality when in bloom from the sheer weight of the flowers.
Once the flowers fall and the days begin to shorten, crape myrtle trees show off once again. You can expect a myrtle with white flowers to show off yellow leaves as temperatures cool, while trees that bloom in shades of pink, red, or purple will have orange and red fall foliage. The bark will take on a lovely peeling habit as this tree matures, making this plant a beauty year-round.
Dogwood
This tree dazzles in spring with its white blossoms.
| | botanical name Cornus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height up to 40’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-10 |
In spring, dogwood trees are a marvel with their soft, white, four-petaled blossoms. These wonderful ornamental trees are a cloud of flowers before they leaf out in late spring. In cooler climates, dogwood trees can tolerate full sun, but they will grow best in partial shade farther south. You can even grow it in a full-shade garden.
One thing dogwood trees won’t tolerate is dry soil. These trees will do best in climates where rainfall is regular and consistent. The fall season allows dogwood trees to show off, outdoing most trees in the landscape as their leaves blush a deep vermillion.
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis shifts from crimson to green leaves in summer, then turns golden in fall.
| | botanical name Cercis canadensis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 20’-30’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Eastern redbud is a stunner from the time it enters its growth period until the last leaf falls in autumn. In spring, it blooms profusely with rose-pink flowers. The leaves start out crimson, changing to deep green in summer before fading to glowing gold.
This medium-sized tree has a moderate growth rate, making it a perfect shade tree in the front or backyard. In warmer climates, a bit of shade in the afternoon will keep the Eastern redbud looking its freshest. Cooler climates can see this plant in full sun for the best flowering.
Eastern redbud is not picky about soil but doesn’t like to dry out. Drought tolerance is not on the list of this tree’s qualities. However, it grows in a wonderful, rounded shape, and its flowers and seeds are a valuable food source for pollinators and birds.
Honeylocust
This large, long-lived deciduous tree has an open canopy with delicate leaves.
| | botanical name Gleditsia triacanthos |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 30’-70’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
This large deciduous tree is a long-lived member of the legume family. Long seed pods mature in late summer, providing a good food source for overwintering wildlife. Some varieties have thorns, but thornless varieties make excellent landscape trees. This is a hardy tree with an open canopy and small, delicate leaves that allow sunlight to come through so it won’t overshadow your lawn or other garden plants.
In terms of the environment, Honeylocust trees are very hardy. Soil composition is not problematic as this tree can tolerate most soil types, including those with a high salt content, and is quite drought tolerant. In autumn, the attractive foliage fades from green to yellow. The arrangement and size of the leaves add a nice textural element to the landscape.
Japanese Stewartia
This beautiful tree has beautiful white summer blooms and displays vibrant red foliage in autumn.
| | botanical name Stewartia pseudocamellia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 20’-40’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-8 |
Japanese stewartia gets its Japanese name, Natsu Tsubaki, meaning “summer camellia,” from the appearance of its flowers. Both are members of the Theaceae (tea) family, but while camellias typically bloom in winter, stewartia’s pretty white flowers bloom in midsummer. This is another tree with attractive peeling bark, creating interest throughout the winter when the tree is dormant.
This is not an especially tolerant tree, but it is lovely if you can meet its environmental needs. Moist soil that is well-drained and organically rich is best. Rocky, clay, and dry soils are not right for this tree, and these are not drought-tolerant either. The leaves blush from the outside inward, turning bright red in the fall, making this tree a focal point in the landscape.
Quaking Aspen
This remarkable tree thrives in full to partial sun and displays golden leaves.
| | botanical name Populus tremuloides |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 40’-50’ |
| | hardiness zones 1-7 |
Quaking aspen is a fascinating tree with many interesting characteristics to boast. For one thing, it has the largest range of any tree in North America. It also grows in clones, is the largest living organism known to man, and is one of the oldest, about 8,000 years old! It is a large tree and a fast grower to boot.
Full to partial sun is best for this aspen. It is not picky about soil but needs moisture to thrive. The name is derived from the pleasant sound made by the gentle swaying of the tree in the wind. Quaking aspen will be one of the first trees to re-emerge after a forest fire. In autumn, the leaves atop this tall, thin tree are a glowing golden shade.
Red Maple
Red maple is a colorful tree with bright red, yellow, and orange hues when temperatures cool.
| | botanical name Acer rubrum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 40’-60’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
The name says it all in terms of color, and red maple isn’t just pretty in autumn. New branches, flowers, and leaves are both bright red in spring, and leaves gradually take on more of a green tone in summer. In the fall, leaves turn back to their bright red with some yellow and orange tones as well. This large maple with a moderate to fast growth rate makes an excellent shade tree.
Red maple is tolerant of poorly drained soil and compacted soil. It does prefer soil that is quite acidic. Alkaline soil will result in manganese deficiency, which can be easily identified by yellowing leaves with darker green veining. These trees are salt-sensitive, so they are not well suited to coastal areas.
River Birch
This tree tolerates poor drainage, flooding, and salt, offering papery peeling bark as it ages.
| | botanical name Betula nigra |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 40’-70’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
As its name implies, river birch is a water-loving tree. Tolerant of poorly draining soil, this tree can often grow on river banks. It stands up well to occasional flooding and doesn’t mind salt. The peeling, papery bark of the rover birch is another element of interest in the landscape. As the tree ages, the peeling intensifies, revealing warm cinnamon brown beneath the aging silver bark.
River birch is appreciated for its moderate to fast growth rate. At maturity, it is a large tree with native roots in North American flood plains and swamps. This is a great tree for yard areas with less-than-ideal drainage situations. The fall foliage is stunning shades of golden yellow and remains on the tree until late fall to early winter.
Sassafras
This charming medium-sized tree boasts fast growth and distinctive tri-lobed leaves.
| | botanical name Sassafras |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 30’-60’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
If the name alone doesn’t tickle your fancy, the tree definitely will. Sassafras is a lovely medium-sized tree with a fast growth rate and unique, tri-lobed leaves. It is known to have a host of medicinal and health-related benefits, and perhaps its most famous use as the root in root beer!
Sassafras prefers acidic soil that is moist and organically rich. Clusters of yellow flowers in spring give way to blue fruits. This tree grows in a rounded shape as a single-trunked tree or a shrub. On one tree, it will wow in autumn with foliage that is yellow, orange, red, and purple hues!
Shagbark Hickory
This tree attracts various wildlife and bats in its native environment.
| | botanical name Carya ovata |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 60’-80’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
Shagbark hickory is a distinctive tree because of its bark, which has a shaggy appearance, as its name suggests. The bark is loosely layered and appears to peel upwards in long strips. Many animals like to call these trees home, including bats, which love to eat mosquitoes! They are relatively slow growers, taking about 40 years to mature.
Hickory nuts are edible for humans and animals. When eaten fresh, they taste buttery, similar to a pecan. A shagbark hickory grown in full sun will have an orange tint in fall, gradually fading to a wonderful golden yellow. This is a wonderfully beautiful tree with a long lifespan of 200-300 years.
Shumard Oak
This large tree thrives in urban and suburban settings, displaying stunning fiery red-orange leaves.
| | botanical name Quercus shumardii |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 40’-60’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-10 |
Shumard oak is a delightful medium to large tree with wonderful versatility. It is tolerant of urban pollution and compacted soil, making it ideal for urban and suburban areas. It has a decently fast growth rate, creating a nice shade canopy early on, with the lower branches being predominantly horizontal.
This oak has long (7”) leaves and significant acorns, which serve as food for many small animals. It is tolerant of short periods of drought and flooding, and wind won’t be an issue for this tree either. Shumard brings the drama in fall with fiery red-orange leaves that tend to be brighter at the margins.
Sugar Maple
This maple tree offers leaves transitioning from green to a spectacular yellow, orange, red, and deep violet brown spectrum.
| | botanical name Acer saccharum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 60’-75’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
Maple trees are all so lovely it is difficult to choose just one to add to the garden. Sugar maple is a medium to large maple tree with a rounded, upright growth habit that creates a wonderful shade tree. It has a slow to moderate growth rate, so it will take quite some years before it reaches maturity, but it is an attractive tree nonetheless.
Sugar maple is best known as the source of maple syrup. The syrup can be harvested from these trees in the northern climate Zones. However, in the southern range, it doesn’t get cold enough. The range of leaf color from these trees is really remarkable, as the leaves change from deep green in summer, going through almost the entire spectrum from yellow to orange to red and then a deep violet brown before falling.
Smooth Sumac
These trees are low-maintenance and adaptable to various climates, requiring weekly watering until established.
| | botanical name Rhus glabra |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 15’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-10 |
Smooth sumac trees are low-maintenance trees with a wide climate range. They should be watered once per week until new growth appears, after which time they should be quite drought-tolerant. Too much water will rot this sumac’s roots, so take care not to overwater or give additional water when there is sufficient rainfall of about one inch per week.
For most of the year, Sumac trees are visually appealing. It produces large clusters of red flowers in the spring, giving way to berry-like drupes that ripen to scarlet. The fall foliage is stunning, and the fringelike leaves turn shades of red and orange from the edges to the center of the tree.
Vine Maple
Vine maple is versatile, growing as a shrub or small to medium-sized multi-trunk tree.
| | botanical name Acer circinatum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 25’-30’ |
| | hardiness zones 6-9 |
Often grown as a large shrub, the vine maple can also be trained into a small to medium-sized tree with multiple trunks. It has an attractive, tiered growth habit and pretty, reddish-green bark. In spring, the foliage emerges bright green, then small purple and white flowers follow. The fruits that follow flowers are red and winged and are a favorite snack for many songbirds.
Because of its compact size, vine maple is an excellent alternative to some larger species like Japanese maples. It naturalizes well, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. It prefers moist, fertile soil and is not especially drought-tolerant. In the fall, the leaves turn shades of yellow, orange, and red, making this a masterpiece in the landscape,
Virginia Sweetspire
This tree offers fantastic fall color, pest resistance, and drought tolerance.
| | botanical name Itea virginica |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 5’ |
| | hardiness zones 6-9 |
Virginia sweetspire is more of a shrub than a tree, but it brings fantastic fall color. Its excellent pest resistance and drought tolerance make this a wonderful landscape element. A hedge of Sweetspire can be spectacular when in bloom and displaying its colorful fall leaves. The foliage is simple, and the arching branches have a slight weeping quality.
In spring and summer, sweetspire produces long racemes of small white flowers that are very attractive to pollinators. Its root system makes it an excellent plant for erosion control as well.
The autumn color is vibrant and endures for a long period when leaves turn shades of red, gold, and orange.
Washington Hawthorn
The red berries nourish overwintering songbirds.
| | botanical name Crataegus phaenopyrum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 20’-35’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
A member of the rose family, the Washington hawthorn is a pretty, mid-sized deciduous tree best known for its wonderfully fragrant spring flowers. The white blossoms appear in late spring and last into early summer. After the flowers fall, green berries develop and turn red. These berries are a great food source for overwintering songbirds.
Washington hawthorn can be kept somewhat low by pruning and makes a great privacy hedge in a grouping. It has dense foliage and thorny branches. In fall, the shiny, dark green foliage turns shades of orange and red, mingled with red berries that endure after the leaves fall.
Final Thoughts
If your garden needs more of the warm, cozy, and spectacular colors that come with the cooler months of autumn, there’s no need to fret. Adding any one of these incredible trees to your yard will create a huge amount of color during the fall months.
Plant them while they are dormant, as soon as the ground thaws, to give them the best start, and enjoy the colors of spring, summer, and fall with these wonderful trees. Once the leaves fall, composting them will give your lovely leaves a second life in the next year.
