Top Trees for Fall Foliage 

Choosing a tree with attractive autumn foliage can add seasonal interest to the landscape, and there are a wide range of trees with yellow, orange, red, purple, and russet foliage. Planning ahead and visiting a local nursery in the fall can help homeowners identify trees with the color they want and select a species suited to their yard.

Horticulturist Joellen Dimond has a list of her favorite trees for fall color:

• Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) – Ginkgo trees produce brilliant yellow fall foliage that stands out in the landscape. They are well suited to urban conditions and can tolerate city pollution. Ginkgos are slow-growing and long-lived. When selecting one, choose a male clone, since female trees produce fruit with an unpleasant odor.
• Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) – This native tree is known for its attractive red fall foliage. Flowering dogwood also provides seasonal interest earlier in the year and is a familiar landscape tree throughout most of the eastern United States.
• Red maple – Maples are among the most dependable choices for fall color, and red maple can provide brilliant foliage. Cultivars such as ‘Autumn Blaze’ and ‘Autumn Glory’ are popular choices. Red maples can be susceptible to ambrosia beetles, so keeping trees healthy is important. They can also benefit from some afternoon shade in the hot sun of the southeast.
• Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) – Sweet gum can display several colors on the same tree, including red, purple, and yellow. It is a hardy tree with relatively few pest and disease problems. Some cultivars have been selected to produce fewer or no seed capsules, commonly called gumballs, which can be an advantage where the capsules would be a nuisance.
• Black gum or black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) – This slow-growing native tree can develop brilliant fall color, and improved varieties offer especially striking foliage. Its slow growth and attractive appearance make it a good choice for a home landscape.
• Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) – Sourwood is a smaller tree that can work well where space is limited. It produces attractive fall foliage and also blooms in spring. It performs best in full sun.
• Oak trees – Several oaks can provide good autumn color. Scarlet oak and northern red oak are two options with strong red fall foliage. Northern red oak, like red maple, can benefit from some afternoon shade in the heat of summer in the southeast.
• Sassafras – Sassafras is a smaller tree that can produce a range of fall colors, including yellow, orange, and red. Its distinctive mitten-shaped leaves also make it an interesting tree for the landscape.
• Bald cypress – Although often associated with wet locations, bald cypress can also make an attractive landscape tree. Its soft, feathery foliage turns a distinctive russet color in fall before dropping, providing a different autumn effect from trees with red or yellow leaves.
• Japanese katsura tree – Near the southern edge of its range in Tennessee, the katsura tree can still provide attractive fall foliage in shades of yellow, red, and orange. It is a less commonly considered choice for the landscape.
• Witch hazel (Hamamelis) – Chinese witch hazel is a smaller tree that can fit into many residential landscapes. It produces attractive yellow fall foliage while remaining relatively compact.
• Persian ironwood – This lesser-known tree is well suited to the eastern United States and offers several useful characteristics. It is hardy, tolerates drought, produces yellow fall foliage, and also has spring blooms.
• Chinese pistache – Chinese pistache can become a fairly large tree, so it needs adequate space. Its red and orange fall foliage makes it a strong choice when there is room for a larger shade tree.

With so many options available, fall color does not have to come from the same familiar trees. From the brilliant yellow of ginkgo to the reds and oranges of maples, oaks, and Chinese pistache, there are trees for a variety of landscape sizes and conditions. Planning during the dormant season and selecting the right tree can provide years of fall color in the landscape.

Related Videos:
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Related Resources:
Fall Foliage Tree List
Changing Colors of Leaves
Top Fall Trees in United States