One of the most delightful aspects of fall is the colorful tree foliage. Yellow is the predominate fall leaf color. However, are also oranges, reds, and purples.
The weather in early fall largely determines the intensity and duration of leaf color in those tree species capable of producing good fall color. Best fall color typically develops when days in early fall are sunny and mild and nights are cool (but remain above freezing). Long periods of cloudy, rainy weather or a hard freeze in early fall will mute fall colors.
When selecting trees for the home landscape, consider fall leaf color. The trees in the following list provide some of the best fall color in Iowa.
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Common and Scientific Name
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Fall Leaf Color
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Tree Height/Width
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Black maple (Acer nigrum)
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yellow to orange
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50'/50'
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Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
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yellow
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40-50'/40-50'
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Red maple (Acer rubrum)
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orange to red
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40-50'/30-40'
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Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
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yellow to orange
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50-60'/50'
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Freeman maple (Acer x freemanii)
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red
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40-50'/40'
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Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra)
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yellow to reddish orange
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30-40'/30-40'
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Serviceberry
(Amelanchier x grandiflora)
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yellow to orange to red
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20-25'/20-25'
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American hornbeam
(Carpinus caroliniana)
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yellow to orange to red
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25-30'/25-30'
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Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata)
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yellow
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60'/40-45'
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Katsura tree
(Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
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yellow to apricot
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40-50'/35-40'
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Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
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yellow
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20-25'/25-30'
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Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)
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yellow
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35-40'/40-45'
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Honeylocust
(Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis)
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yellow
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50'/50'
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Larch (Larix species)
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yellow
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50-60'/30-40'
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American sweetgum
(Liquidambar styraciflua)
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yellow to red to purple
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50-60'/40-50'
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Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
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yellow to orange to red
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30-40'/25-30'
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White oak (Quercus alba)
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wine red
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60-70'/60-70'
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Red oak (Quercus rubra)
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wine red
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60-70'/60-70'
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Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)
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brownish orange
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50-60'/30-35'
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American elm (Ulmus americana)
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yellow
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60-70'/60-70'
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Colorful Fall Foliage, Ledges State Park near Boone IA. 
Colorful Fall Foliage, Ledges State Park near Boone IA.
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