13 Native Trees For Fall Color

1. Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) – large 60-80 feet tall tree whose fall color is a brilliant mixture of yellows, oranges, purples and reds. Zones (5b)6-9).

‘October Glory’ red maple

2. Black gum, tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) – large 50-50 feet tall tree produces spectacular scarlet fall color. Lots of good cultivars including Green Gable®, ‘Wildfire’ and Red Rage® (Zones 3-9).

3. Red maple (Acer rubrum) – large 40 -60 feet tall shade maple known for fast growth rate. ‘October Glory’, ‘Red Sunset’, and others have superior red fall color. (Zones 3-9).

4. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) – major contributor of fall color in the eastern and Midwest U.S. and Canada (Zones 3-7).

5. Red oak (Quercus rubra) – up to Up to 75 feet shade and forest tree Leaves turn crimson, orange, and russet in fall. (Zones 3-7).

6. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) – 30-50 foot tree that from central U.S., particularly the Rocky Mountain states; its circular-shaped glossy green leaves shimmer in the slightest breeze and turn gold to orange. (Zones 1-6).

Sweetgum fal color

7. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) – this eastern U.S. native dogwood displays vivid fall colors; leaves turn red purple; birds are attracted by the glossy red berries. (Zones 6-9).

8. Vine maple (Acer circinatum) – small 25-35 feet tall maple native to the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. In fall the leaves turn orange scarlet or yellow. (Zones 6-9).

9. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) – lobed or mitten-shaped leaves; 35-50 feet tall displays fall color (purple, red, orange and yellow), highly variable from one region to another. (Zones 4-9)

10. Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa) – large tap-rooted 50-60 feet tall woodland tree in the eastern and Midwest U.S. exhibits above average golden yellow-brown fall color; not commonly sold at nurseries (Zones 4-9).

11. Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) – 25-50 feet tree that consistently excellent crimson red fall color; creamy 4-8 inch long finger-like white flower panicles remain through fall. (Zones 5-9)

Sourwood (Oxydendrum)

12. American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) – large 50- 60 feet tall tree with yellow green fall leaf color in northern U.S. and yellow to reddish purple in the South (Zones 4-9).

13. Franklin tree (Franklinia alatamaha) – native to southeast Georgia, this small 12-20 feet tall tree produces white camellia-like flowers in late summer; variable orange-red fall foliage. (Zones 6-8).

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3 Responses to “13 Native Trees For Fall Color”

  1. Lois Hershberger says:

    The Autumn Glory maple is often touted to have amazing color and grows well in our zone (8a) but after 10 years, we have never yet had color remotely like any of the pictures or alleged possibilities on the tree we planted in good faith hoping for color. Very disappointing, lots of fallen leaves with little brilliant color. It simply doesn’t get cold enough early enough. People should be told this and not left to assume that because it grows well in this zone, brilliant color is guaranteed. We have a tint of orange, some years more than others, but mostly shades of yellow with plenty of brown leaves that fall quickly.

    • Hugh says:

      I know of no red maple cultivar called ‘Autumn Glory’. The cultivar ‘October Glory’ reliably colors late every fall, usually early November in Tennessee. The cultivar ‘Autumn Flame’ colors best further south in Atlanta GA, but colors poorly in my area (TN, VA, and western NC)…Hugh

    • Hugh says:

      It should read ‘Autumn Flame’ maple, and it does color well in the Southeast U.S…Hugh