Trees and Shrubs with Great Fall Color

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 NameFall Leaf ColorHeight/WidthNativity
Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)yellow to orange to red30-40'/25-30'Eastern North America
Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra)yellow to reddish orange30-40'/30-40'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)yellow to purple to red30-60'/25-40'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)yellow35-40'/40-45'Eastern United States, including Iowa
Red maple (Acer rubrum)orange to red40-50'/30-40'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)yellow to apricot40-50'/35-40'China, Japan
Freeman maple (Acer ×freemanii)red40-50'/40'Hybrid of two species native to Eastern North America
Norway maple (Acer platanoides)yellow40-50'/40-50'Europe
Black maple (Acer nigrum)yellow to orange50'/50'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis)yellow50'/50'North America, including Iowa
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)brownish orange50-60'/30-35'Eastern United States
Larch (Larix spp.)yellow50-60'/30-40'Some species native to Northeastern North America
American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)yellow to red to purple50-60'/40-50'Eastern United States
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)yellow to orange50-60'/50'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Ginkgo (Gingko biloba)yellow50-80'/30-40'Eastern China
Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata)yellow60'/40-45'Eastern North America, including Iowa
American elm (Ulmus americana)yellow60-70'/60-70'North America, including Iowa
Red oak (Quercus rubra)wine red60-70'/60-70'Eastern North America, including Iowa
White oak (Quercus alba)wine red60-70'/60-70'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)yellow60-80'/40-55'Eastern North America, including Iowa

Small Trees with Good Fall Color (Listed by Height)

Common and Scientific NameFall Leaf ColorHeight/WidthNativity
Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum)yellow to orange to red15-25'/15-25'Korea, China, Manchuria 
Japanese Dogwood (Cornus kousa)red to purple15-30'/15-30'Japan, Korea, China
Serviceberry (Amelanchier ×grandiflora)yellow to orange to red20-25'/20-25'Hybrid of two species native to North America
Redbud (Cercis canadensis)yellow20-25'/25-30'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)red20-50'/10-25'Eastern United States
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)yellow20-50'/10-30'North America
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)yellow to orange to red25-30'/25-30'Eastern North America, including Iowa

Shrubs with Good Fall Color (Listed by Height)

Common and Scientific NameFall Leaf ColorHeight/WidthNativity
Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)yellow to orange to red1.5-3'/2-4'Southeastern United States
Birchleaf Spirea (Spiraea betulifolia)orange to red to purple2-3'/2-3'Korea, Japan, Siberia
Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)orange to red to purple2-6'/6-10'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)red to orange to yellow3-5'/3-5'Southeastern United States
Koreanspice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)red4-6'/4-7'Korea
Smooth witherod (Viburnum nudum)red to purple5-12'/5-12'Eastern North America
Witherod Viburnum (Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides)orange to red to purple5-12'/5-12'Eastern North America
Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)red6-10'/3-6'Eastern North America
Fothergilla (Fothergilla major)yellow to orange to red6-10'/5-9'Southeastern United States
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)yellow to orange to red6-10'/6-10'Eastern United States, including Iowa
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)yellow6-12'/6-12'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)red6-8'/6-8'Southeastern United States
Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)red to orange6-9'/7-10'North America, including Iowa
American Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum opulus var. americanum)red to purple8-12'/8-12'North America, including Iowa
Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)yellow8-12'/8-15'Eastern United States
European Cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus)red to purple8-15'/10-15'Europe, Northern Asia
Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria)yellow to orange to purple10-15'/10-15'Southern Europe to Central China
Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)red to purple12-15'/6-12'Eastern United States, including Iowa
Nannyberry Viburnum (Viburnum lentago)yellow to red to purple14-16'/6-12'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana)yellow15-20'/15-20'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)*red15-20'/8-12'Asia
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)yellow to orange to red15-25'/20-30'Eastern North America, including Iowa

Vines with Good Fall Color

Common and Scientific NameFall Leaf ColorHeight/WidthNativity
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)red to purple30-50'/5-10'Eastern North America, including Iowa
Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)red to purple30-50'/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:
Last reviewed:
October 2023