Trees and Shrubs with Great Fall Color

Care and How-To

Cooler temperatures, crisp breezes, and beautiful fall foliage are some of the many reasons so many people love autumn.  Tree with great fall colorThe yellows, oranges, reds, and purples seen on many deciduous trees and shrubs in fall come from compounds present in the leaves earlier in the growing season but masked by the green chlorophyll in the leaves.  When the chlorophyll dies in fall, the yellow and orange carotenoids present in the leaves throughout the growing season, as well as the red and purple anthocyanins that are produced in the leaf in late summer and early fall, are revealed.

Not every tree or shrub species produces carotenoids or anthocyanins in quantities that lead to a dramatic color display. Because the weather is different each year, the amount of these pigments will also vary – causing the fall color display to change in intensity from year to year.  Good growing conditions during the spring and summer followed by cool, dry nights in fall usually produce the most brilliant fall color.

When selecting plants for the home landscape, consider those with excellent fall foliage.  Some of the best fall color is produced by the trees and shrubs listed below.

Trees and Shrubs with Good Fall Color 


Shade Trees  |  Small Trees  |  Shrubs  |  Vines


Shade Trees with Good Fall Color (Listed by Height)

Common and Scientific Name

Fall Leaf Color

Height/Width

Nativity

Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)

yellow to orange to red

30-40'/25-30'

Eastern North America

Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra)

yellow to reddish orange

30-40'/30-40'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)

yellow to purple to red

30-60'/25-40'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)

yellow

35-40'/40-45'

Eastern United States, including Iowa

Red maple (Acer rubrum)

orange to red

40-50'/30-40'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)

yellow to apricot

40-50'/35-40'

China, Japan

Freeman maple (Acer ×freemanii)

red

40-50'/40'

Hybrid of two species native to Eastern North America

Norway maple (Acer platanoides)

yellow

40-50'/40-50'

Europe

Black maple (Acer nigrum)

yellow to orange

50'/50'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis)

yellow

50'/50'

North America, including Iowa

Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)

brownish orange

50-60'/30-35'

Eastern United States

Larch (Larix spp.)

yellow

50-60'/30-40'

Some species native to Northeastern North America

American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

yellow to red to purple

50-60'/40-50'

Eastern United States

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)

yellow to orange

50-60'/50'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Ginkgo (Gingko biloba)

yellow

50-80'/30-40'

Eastern China

Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata)

yellow

60'/40-45'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

American elm (Ulmus americana)

yellow

60-70'/60-70'

North America, including Iowa

Red oak (Quercus rubra)

wine red

60-70'/60-70'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

White oak (Quercus alba)

wine red

60-70'/60-70'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)

yellow

60-80'/40-55'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Small Trees with Good Fall Color (Listed by Height)

Common and Scientific Name

Fall Leaf Color

Height/Width

Nativity

Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum)

yellow to orange to red

15-25'/15-25'

Korea, China, Manchuria 

Japanese Dogwood (Cornus kousa)

red to purple

15-30'/15-30'

Japan, Korea, China

Serviceberry (Amelanchier ×grandiflora)

yellow to orange to red

20-25'/20-25'

Hybrid of two species native to North America

Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

yellow

20-25'/25-30'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)

red

20-50'/10-25'

Eastern United States

Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

yellow

20-50'/10-30'

North America

American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)

yellow to orange to red

25-30'/25-30'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Shrubs with Good Fall Color (Listed by Height)

Common and Scientific Name

Fall Leaf Color

Height/Width

Nativity

Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)

yellow to orange to red

1.5-3'/2-4'

Southeastern United States

Birchleaf Spirea (Spiraea betulifolia)

orange to red to purple

2-3'/2-3'

Korea, Japan, Siberia

Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)

orange to red to purple

2-6'/6-10'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)

red to orange to yellow

3-5'/3-5'

Southeastern United States

Koreanspice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)

red

4-6'/4-7'

Korea

Smooth witherod (Viburnum nudum)

red to purple

5-12'/5-12'

Eastern North America

Witherod Viburnum (Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides)

orange to red to purple

5-12'/5-12'

Eastern North America

Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

red

6-10'/3-6'

Eastern North America

Fothergilla (Fothergilla major)

yellow to orange to red

6-10'/5-9'

Southeastern United States

Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

yellow to orange to red

6-10'/6-10'

Eastern United States, including Iowa

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

yellow

6-12'/6-12'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

red

6-8'/6-8'

Southeastern United States

Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

red to orange

6-9'/7-10'

North America, including Iowa

American Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum opulus var. americanum)

red to purple

8-12'/8-12'

North America, including Iowa

Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)

yellow

8-12'/8-15'

Eastern United States

European Cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus)

red to purple

8-15'/10-15'

Europe, Northern Asia

Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria)

yellow to orange to purple

10-15'/10-15'

Southern Europe to Central China

Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)

red to purple

12-15'/6-12'

Eastern United States, including Iowa

Nannyberry Viburnum (Viburnum lentago)

yellow to red to purple

14-16'/6-12'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

yellow

15-20'/15-20'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)*

red

15-20'/8-12'

Asia

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

yellow to orange to red

15-25'/20-30'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Vines with Good Fall Color

Common and Scientific Name

Fall Leaf Color

Height/Width

Nativity

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

red to purple

30-50'/5-10'

Eastern North America, including Iowa

Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)

red to purple

30-50'/5-10'

Japan and Central China

* This species can become weedy and invasive in woodland settings.  Consider the invasive potential before planting.


More Information

Authors: 

Aaron Steil Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist

Aaron Steil is the consumer horticulture extension specialist at Iowa State University where he works with county Extension offices across the state to answer home gardening questions for all Iowans.  This includes information related to trees, shrubs, vegetables, fruits, herbs, perennials, ...

Last Reviewed: 
October, 2023