Cooler temperatures, crisp breezes, and beautiful fall foliage are some of the many reasons so many people love autumn. 
The 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.
