Trees and Shrubs for Fall Color

Amur Maple Another top-notch maple for fall color, Amur maple is a small tree or large shrub (depending how you prune it) that bears bright red leaves in fall. Name: Acer ginnala Growing Conditions: Sun and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 25 feet tall Zones: 3-7 Native to North America: No

Bald Cypress A "fooled-you" plant come autumn, bald cypress looks like an evergreen conifer. But in fall, the needles turn russet-red before dropping from the tree, revealing the tree's dramatic architectural shape that you can enjoy all winter. Name: Taxodium distichum Growing Conditions: Sun and moist or wet soil Size: Up to 120 feet tall Zones: 5-10 Native to North America: Yes

Burning Bush This tough shrub earned its common name because of its autumn hues: In fall, the foliage turns glowing shades of red and pink. It's a knock-your-socks-off plant! Name: Euonymus alatus Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: Up to 20 feet tall Zones: 4-8 Native to North America: No Note: This plant can be an invasive pest in some areas. Check local restrictions before planting it.

Chokeberry A wonderful shrub in several seasons, chokeberry offers white flowers that look like apple blossoms in spring; rich red fruits in late summer and autumn; and brilliant orange-red fall foliage. Name: Aronia arbutifolia Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist, but well-drained soil Size: Up to 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide Zones: 4-9 Native to North America: Yes

Dogwood Dogwoods look great just about any time of year. They're most loved for their white or pink springtime flowers, but don't overlook the gorgeous purple-red tones they'll bring to your fall landscape. Name: Cornus kousa Growing Conditions: Sun to shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 25 feet tall Zones: 5-8 Native to North America: No

Fothergilla A wonderful but underused shade-loving shrub, fothergilla offers blue-green foliage in spring and summer. Its leaves reveal warm shades of gold and orange in fall. And fothergilla has honey-scented springtime flowers to boot. Name: Fothergilla major Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 feet tall Zones: 5-8 Native to North America: Yes

Ginkgo Slow-growing ginkgo adds grace to the landscape; its fan-shaped leaves are among the most elegant of any tree. In autumn, they show breathtaking shades of luminous, golden-yellow. After the leaves drop, you'll be waiting for next fall. Name: Ginkgo biloba Growing Conditions: Sun to shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 100 feet tall Zones: 4-9 Native to North America: No

Japanese Maple One of the best-known plants for an autumn show, Japanese maple turns on their glowing shades of red, orange, or yellow at season's end. Name: Acer palmatum Growing Conditions: Shade to part shade and moist, but well-drained soil Size: Up to 25 feet tall Zones: 6-9 Native to North America: No

Oakleaf Hydrangea One of our favorite shrubs for shade, oakleaf hydrangea offers beautiful clusters of white blooms in summer, then wonderful burgundy fall foliage. Name: Hydrangea quericifolia Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 feet tall Zones: 5-9 Native to North America: Yes

Serviceberry A plant for season-long beauty, we adore serviceberry for its display of white springtime flowers, delicious summer fruits, and amazing orange and red fall foliage. Name: Amelanchier canadensis Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 20 feet tall Zones: 3-7 Native to North America: Yes

Smokebush Loved as much for its summer purple or gold foliage and plumes of soft, shimmery flowers, smokebush also offers great fall color --- often in bold shades of orange and pink. Name: Cotinus coggygria Growing Conditions: Shade to part shade and moist, but well-drained soil Size: Up to 15 feet tall and wide Zones: 5-8 Native to North America: No

Stewartia This top-notch tree looks beautiful throughout the year. Its dark green leaves make a nice foil for the late-summer, white camellia-shape flowers. In fall, the leaves turn festive shades of orange, yellow, and red. Name: Stewartia pseudocamellia Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 70 feet tall Zones: 5-8 Native to North America: No

Sugar Maple A great, extra-reliable tree that makes a big statement in fall, sugar maple offers gorgeous red, orange, or yellow end-of-the-season leaves. Name: Acer saccharum Growing Conditions: Sun to shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 70 feet tall Zones: 4-8 Native to North America: Yes

Sumac An incredibly tough shrub, sumac provides some of the brightest red color you'll see in autumn. One note, though: While extra-tough and beautiful, sumac is a fast spreader and is not a great choice for small-space landscapes. Name: Rhus typhina Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: Up to 15 feet tall Zones: 3-8 Native to North America: Yes

Sweet Birch A beautiful tree, we love sweet birch for its cinnamon-colored peeling bark and triangular dark green leaves that turn beautiful golden-yellow in fall. Name: Betula lenta Growing Conditions: Sun to shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 50 feet tall Zones: 3-7 Native to North America: Yes

Sweet Gum Sweet gum's star-shape leaves turn a kaleidoscope of colors -- including red, orange, and burgundy -- giving the landscape a carnival feel at season's end. Name: Liquidambar styraciflua Growing Conditions: Sun to shade and well-drained soil Size: Up to 80 feet tall Zones: 6-9 Native to North America: Yes

Viburnum This rounded shrub offers beautiful clusters of white flowers in spring, then bright foliage in warm shades of red come autumn. Those eye-catching leaves are accented by ruby-red fruits. Name: Viburnum trilobum Growing Conditions: Sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 15 feet tall Zones: 2-7 Native to North America: Yes

Virginia Sweetspire Enjoy this great shrub for months. In summer, it offers fragrant white flowers. Then in autumn, it develops rich purple-red leaf color. Plus, it's very easy to grow. Name: Itea virginica Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 10 feet tall Zones: 5-9 Native to North America: Yes

Witch Hazel A true plant for autumn, witch hazel leaves turn golden-yellow in fall. As they drop, they're joined by delightful spidery yellow flowers. Name: Hamamelis virginiana Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 12 feet tall Zones: 3-8 Native to North America: Yes