As exciting as it is to see young leaves burst from their buds in the springtime, there’s nothing more spectacular than the splendor of fall foliage. It’s no wonder people all over the world seek out top destinations for viewing vistas ablaze with autumn’s brilliant oranges, saturated reds, and flaming golds.
Enhancing your landscape with the beauty of fall is simple. The timing and vibrancy of fall foliage depend on factors like leaf pigments, night length, and weather conditions. But don’t worry, we’ve taken all of those things into consideration when selecting the best trees for fall foliage.
If you’re looking for trees that will not only show off in the autumn, but provide beauty, privacy, and other benefits during the spring and summer, here are some varieties to consider.
Table of Contents
Ginkgo
Have you noticed the distinctive, splaying shape of the ginkgo leaves? They are quite the sight to see when they transition from green to gold each autumn. And these trees are hearty. They can withstand pollution, heat, cramped spaces, and other urban conditions (a higher tolerance than some humans). This probably explains how the ginkgo tree has been around so long—about 200 million years. Fun fact: ginkgo trees are coniferous!
Sumac
If the first thing you think of when you hear the word “sumac” is poison sumac, you’re not alone. Don’t worry – we’re not trying to poison you! The good news is poison sumac is just one variety, and certainly not the one we’re suggesting. Consider Staghorn or Winged Sumac.
Sumac grows stems of fern-like leaves and can reach heights up to 30 feet tall.
Not only are sumac plants helpful for erosion control, windbreaks, and deterring leaf eaters, but their leaves also change from green to gold to red—often with leaves of all three colors occurring on the same stem as they make the transition. In the winter, their berries are food sources for robins, bluebirds, and other species. Think of those picturesque scenes with branches covered in snow, bright red berries and happy birds.
Sweetgum
From a distance, the American sweetgum tree might be admired for its abundant shade and aesthetically pleasing shape that tapers at the top. A closer look reveals its star-shaped leaves (tree stars anyone?), winged bark, and thorny fruit. Its spreading canopy makes it a winner for large spaces, as it can grow to a spread of up to 50 feet. What makes the sweetgum a stunner in the fall foliage sector are the vibrant shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple.
Black Tupelo
A tried-and-true tree for fall color, the black tupelo is an excellent choice to add to your landscape for many reasons. Also called black gum, it provides springtime greenish-white blossoms for the bees and summertime bluish-black fruits that attract birds and other wildlife. During the summer, the black tupelo boasts dark green high-gloss leaves that turn yellow, orange, bright red, scarlet, and purple during the fall months.
As the bark of the tree matures, it turns dark gray and develops deep grooves. If any tree deserves recognition as one with great fall foliage, then the black tupelo surely takes the cake.
What’s with all the talk of sweets here? Sensing a theme.
Sugar Maple
Where would a “best of” list for fall color be without at least one maple tree? Nowhere and unimportant.
The sugar maple is a quintessential beauty. It’s been chosen as the state tree by more states than any other arbor (New York, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin). Not only does it provide shade with its impressive mature height of up to 75 feet and spread of up to 50 feet, but it’s also planted commercially for syrup and lumber and loved for its prominent display of oranges and reds in the autumn.
Red Maple
Unlike the sugar maple, the red maple boasts serrated leaves and more of a distinctive, singular color. The red maple has the perfect name – why? It features its namesake color every season. Very on the nose. It buds red in the winter that blooms into ruby in the spring. Red stalks support the green leaves in the summer that turn into burning crimson in the fall.
Squirrels and other rodents feed off the fruits while rabbits and deer eat the shoots and leaves.
Shumard Oak
This hearty oak tree is a favorite among homeowners and wildlife, alike. Offering an impressive canopy, the Shumard oak gives significant shade with a spread of up to 60 feet (think of how many picnic blankets could fit there).
A show-stopper with its fall foliage, the leaves burst into brilliant red to red-orange. Every two to four years, it produces acorns that the squirrels, deer, and other birds and small mammals enjoy. Watch your head.
Fall foliage offers a spectacular display you can achieve right at home. If you’re considering adding trees to enhance the fall colors in your landscaping, consult the team of professionals at Front Range Arborists. Our certified arborists will help you select the trees that will work best in your environment and provide the fall color you desire.
Find out more about how Front Range Arborists can help provide services to residential, commercial, and municipal institutions with all of our Tree Services:
