Brilliant Fall Foliage

Trees and shrubs fantastically change their colors to various shades of red, orange, yellow and purple in the fall, but these colors are always present in their leaves. They're just masked by the abundance of chlorophyll that is produced in spring and summer. If you want to add some breathtaking autumn color to your landscape, here are a few trees to consider.

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)

Renowned for its crimson, purplish-red foliage that is produced in early autumn, this hardwood can display hints of yellow as well. Its creamy yellow fruit contrasts nicely with the foliage as it changes colors.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

With fan-shaped leaves that transition from green to golden yellow all at once, this tree offers quite the spectacle in late autumn. The most popular cultivate is the fittingly-named "Autumn Gold." There is a rare stage during the transition of color where both green and yellow may be present in a banded pattern.

Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)

This deciduous tree offers some of the best and most consistent autumn color. Its leaves transition from green to purple, then to scarlet red, orange and yellow. All these colors can be found on the same branch, which makes for an even more beautiful display of foliage.