11 Trees for Spectacular Fall Color in Your Landscape

One of autumn's joys is watching leaves transform—hence the enduring popularity of leaf-peeping trips. If you're lucky, your existing trees put on a show. If you want more color, a neighborhood walk reveals local possibilities, then head to the nursery. Here are 11 popular trees known for brilliant fall color, growing across a wide range of climate zones. Some stay small; others need ample room to spread.

Local nursery personnel can guide you to trees thriving in your zone and provide planting/growing specifics. Also check planting timing—fall may be ideal in warmer climates, but if soil is freezing, wait until spring.

BAYBERRY NURSERIES

Weavers Landscape Company

Maples (Acer spp.)

Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is the maple family showstopper, but virtually every maple delivers incredible fall color. Sizes range from 3 feet to 100 feet, thriving from cold zones 3–4 to warm zones 8–9. Favorites beyond Japanese maple: bigleaf (A. macrophyllum), paperbark (A. griseum), Rocky Mountain (A. glabrum), red (A. rubrum), and sugar maple (A. saccharum).

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Oaks (Quercus spp.)

With 500+ species, finding an oak is guaranteed—but fall color narrows options. Fortunately, colorful ones are readily available, growing well in zones 3–4 through 8. Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) reaches 75 feet, fast-growing, with long lobed leaves turning red and yellow. Red oak (Q. rubra) equally tall, fast-growing, spreading to 50 feet—needs good soil and moisture but tolerates lawns and has deep roots allowing underplanting. Expect yellow-orange leaves turning pleasant brown in spring.

Monrovia

Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis)

Come fall, Chinese pistache stops you in your tracks. Foot-long leaves with narrow leaflets turn bright orange and red, even in deserts. Leaves hang on long after changing. Slow-growing, good for smaller spaces in zones 6–9. Fairly drought-tolerant but handles regular watering in lawns.

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

After first frost, Eastern redbud's brilliant fall colors impress as much as its spring blossoms. Not as large as oaks or big maples—typically 25–35 feet height and width—large enough for shade, small enough not to overwhelm. Best in zones 4–8, handles full sun to light shade. Needs regular water and good drainage.

Dogwoods (Cornus spp.)

Known for spring blossoms, dogwoods also shine in fall. Good choices: Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) with red/yellow leaves, Cherokee Sunset flowering dogwood (C. florida 'Cherokee Sunset') with red-purple leaves. Others: Cornelian cherry (C. mas) with yellow/red leaves and fall berries; Pacific/western dogwood (C. nuttallii) with yellow-red/pink foliage; Stellar dogwoods (C. Stellar series) with outstanding purplish-red shades. Grow in full sun to light shade, moderate to regular water, zones 3–9 depending on species.

The New York Botanical Garden

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

Beyond the supplement, the maidenhair tree is a longtime landscape favorite. Versatile: up to 50 feet for street trees, equally good as patio trees. Very long-lived, relatively drought-tolerant, virtually pest-free, handles pollution. Fan-shaped leaves turn bright yellow-gold in fall. Zones 3–8, full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil, regular water until established.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)

Showy summer flower clusters are memorable, but red/orange/yellow fall leaf color is another excellent reason to grow this versatile tree. Fits smaller spaces—alongside patios or entries—in zones 6–9, reaching 35 feet. Best varieties: L. indica or hybrids with better disease resistance. Full sun, moderate water once established.

Tupelo / Sour Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)

Slow to reach 50 feet, but worth the wait for a great shade tree in full sun to partial shade with shiny leaves transitioning from yellow/orange to bright red. Prefers moisture, acidic well-draining soil, dislikes pollution. Doesn't transplant well—plant in final location.

River Birch (Betula nigra)

Fast-growing and graceful to 90 feet tall and 60 feet wide—taller than white birch cousins. Yellow fall foliage plus interesting bark, with a weeping variety available. Zones 4–9, full sun, regular water.

Yardstick Landscape Services

Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

Less known than fruiting cousins, but fall color varieties range from yellow to red to near-purple. Reaches ~50 feet. Produces inedible fruit. Zones 5–9, full sun, moderate to regular water.

Japanese Persimmon (Diospyros kaki)

For warm-winter climates missing cold-climate fall color, Japanese persimmon delivers yellow/orange/red leaves matching the fruit, which hangs on after leaf drop. Generally 30 feet tall/wide—good shade tree. Zones 7–10, full sun, let soil dry between waterings.