The Best of Fall Colored Foliage

Nature Hills Nursery | February 14, 2026

Spooky Jack-O-Lanterns, a cup of fresh, hot apple cider, and a few fuzzy scarves are all signs that the fall season has officially arrived in your neighborhood. But the most admired favorites are the burnt orange, light brown, and velvet-red foliage that engulf the crisp fall leaves.

Whether it was raking up a pile of leaves just to cannonball into them, or hearing the soft crunch underneath your shoes while trick-or-treating, the fall-colored trees have had your back by providing fond memories of the leaves slowly changing.

Our Trees Are (Fall)ing For You
Planting Trees 101
Benefits of Planting Trees in the Fall
Proper Care

Fully embrace the fall season by keeping the tradition of a calming, colorful landscape alive in your own backyard. Plant a tree here and there to admire the elegant hues we have all grown up to love.

Our Trees Are (Fall)ing For You

Knowing Your Fall Colors

If you're the person who enjoys a Halloween and fall season packed full of oranges and yellows, then you'll want to pick trees that complement your wishes.

Vibrant colors are a must-have in tree foliage, we know. Orange and yellow lovers will want to show off:

A Paper Birch Tree's cream-white bark is offset with the pop of golden hues overtaking the once-green leaves, which is why it's prized for ornamental features. Definitely makes you want a pumpkin-spiced latte in your hands at all times.

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry has a spectacular blend of orange and red that is displayed over a long period of time, leading to a full season of vibrant foliage. Not to mention, a few carved pumpkins at the base create the ideal fall feel.

Ginkgo Trees are the ones you are fascinated by every year when the wind edges more toward brisk. Their showy display of saturated, yellow leaves eventually makes its way to the ground, leaving your yard with a fresh, new blanket overnight.

For those of you who admire the reds and purples when driving through a thick forest, your love for darker hues brings you to:

Bald Cypress
Red Maple Trees
Purple Pony Flowering Plum

The cinnamon-red shade of a Bald Cypress is hard to beat and goes great with a couple of warm, apple donuts softly coated in cinnamon. This tree loves to be the center of attention when fall comes around.

One large Red Maple produces piles upon piles of scarlet leaves to jump into day after day. Enjoy illuminating this tree with the spookiest Halloween decorations you can find.

Bring in a dark shade of purple to the fall-season party with a Purple Pony Plum Tree in your backyard. Since its color actually never fades, this showstopper will have you wishing for a caramel apple in the middle of June.

The Best Fall-Colored Trees for Your Region

Thanks to the New England maple forests, the Northeast is covered with various shades of red. It is only right that if you live here, you take part in the fun and plant some of your own crimson hues.

Maples are the fan favorite for showing off cardinal tones. Here are the top performers:

Sugar Maples
October Glory Maple
Red Sunset Maple

Sugar Maples are known for their orange and red shades and the ability to produce sweet-tasting syrup. It's almost as if hundreds of bright, candy apples are growing upon its limbs.

October Glory and Red Sunset Maples separate themselves from the crowd by producing deep-red leaves. Both are reliable performers even in mild climates.

The Upper Midwest is a lover of Aspens and Birch Trees.

Quaking Aspens
River Birch

Quaking Aspens tower above their fellow tree friends, catching the eyes of all those passing by. The vibrant, clear yellow makes the heart-shaped leaves ten times better.

After looking at a River Birch, you'll want to settle down with a bag of buttery-yellow popcorn while watching Hocus Pocus for the third time this week. This ornamental tree completes the full autumn landscape you have been dreaming of.

Planting Trees 101

Benefits of Planting Trees in the Fall

Lots of individuals don't realize that you can plant all the way up to the point where the ground freezes. In fact, it is almost better to plant in the fall rather than any other season.

Trees, in particular, are deemed most successful when planted later in the year. The cooler temperatures and light rain allow for roots to become fully established. This is essential for allowing adjustment to extreme heat in the summer.

You may think that trees tend to struggle during the harsh winter months, but they actually go dormant. We like to call it hibernation, almost exactly like a bear.

During hibernation, trees slow down energy consumption, growth, and metabolism. This ensures that no extra care is needed, which keeps you nice and warm next to a lit fireplace.

Proper Care

In a tree's first year of life, it is extremely important to take good care of it. Start by surrounding the tree with rings of mulch without piling it upon the trunk.

Trees quickly appreciate the benefits of mulch, maintaining even moisture and allowing for more root development late into the fall season.

Also, don't keep your tree bone-dry directly after planting. Even if it's chilly out, you'll need to water it properly. Test out the soil with your finger to see if it's moist. If not, your tree is kindly telling you that it needs some water.

So, be prepared for the next fall season by adding a couple of trees to your landscape. Not only will new piles of leaves to jump in build up, but excellently carved pumpkins will be easily sheltered on Halloween night.

Admire your new fall foliage view from the comfort of your own home while sipping on a morning hot coffee in a snuggly, cream-colored cardigan.

Happy Planting!

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Browse the features and specs side-by-side to find the best fit for your garden.

A table comparing the facets of 4 products
Facet	Bald Cypress Tree View details	Sugar Maple Tree View details	October Glory® Red Maple Tree View details	Quaking Aspen Tree View details
Rating
Rating	(2)	(4)	(6)	-
Type
Type	Tree	Tree	Tree	Tree
By
By	Nature Hills Nursery	Nature Hills Nursery	Nature Hills Nursery	Nature Hills Nursery
Flower Color
Flower Color	-	Yellow	Red	-
Growing Zone Range
Growing Zone Range	4-10	3-8	4-9	2-6
Mature Height
Mature Height	50-65 ft	50-70 ft	40-50 ft	40-60 ft
Width
Width	20-30 ft	30-45 ft	30-40 ft	20-30 ft
Price
Price	Sale price $83⁶² Regular price $92⁹¹	Regular price $97⁹⁰	Regular price $69⁰⁰	Regular price From $110²²

Frequently Asked Questions

Which trees and shrubs consistently produce the most vivid fall foliage colors in home landscapes?

For consistently vivid fall color in home landscapes, Red Maple, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, and Ginkgo are top performers, delivering saturated scarlets, orange-red blends, and rich yellows season after season. Bald Cypress offers a striking cinnamon-red that few trees can match, while Paper Birch provides golden tones that contrast beautifully against its signature white bark. Visit naturehills.com to browse these proven performers and filter by your hardiness zone to find the best fit for your specific region.

How do I choose between trees that turn red versus orange versus yellow in fall so my yard has a coordinated seasonal display?

Start by identifying your preferred color palette, then select species that peak at similar times for a cohesive display. For warm oranges and yellows, consider Paper Birch, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, or Ginkgo, while Red Maple and Bald Cypress deliver rich reds and cinnamons. Layering two or three complementary species, such as a golden Ginkgo alongside a scarlet Red Maple, creates depth without visual chaos. Visit naturehills.com to filter by foliage color and match selections to your hardiness zone before planting this fall.

Which fall foliage trees and shrubs perform well in smaller home gardens or tight spaces?

For smaller gardens and tight spaces, the Purple Pony Flowering Plum is an excellent compact choice, typically reaching only 8 to 10 feet tall and wide while delivering rich burgundy-purple foliage throughout the season. Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry is another strong option for limited areas, growing as a multi-stem shrub or small tree in the 15 to 25 foot range with outstanding orange-red fall color across a wide hardiness range of zones 4 through 9. Paper Birch can also be managed effectively in tighter landscapes when given proper siting and pruning. Visit Nature Hills to filter trees by mature size and hardiness zone to find the best fit for your specific space.

Which perennials and ornamental grasses add fall color beyond just trees and shrubs?

While the article focuses on trees for fall color, perennials like Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) and Sedum Autumn Joy deliver rich golds and rusty reds well into October across a wide range of zones. Ornamental grasses such as Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass and Miscanthus turn warm shades of tan and copper in fall, with plumes that persist through winter and reach 4 to 6 feet tall. Visit naturehills.com to browse our full selection of fall-interest perennials and grasses and filter by your growing zone to find the best options for your region.

How much direct sunlight do fall foliage plants need to develop their brightest seasonal color?

Most fall foliage trees perform best and develop their most vivid seasonal color with a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day, with full sun exposure of six to eight hours being ideal. Trees like Red Maple, Ginkgo, and Paper Birch will produce noticeably more saturated oranges, yellows, and reds when planted in open, unshaded locations rather than crowded understory positions. Cool overnight temperatures combined with sunny days in early to mid-fall are what trigger the chemical changes responsible for peak color, so siting your tree correctly from the start makes a significant difference. When selecting a planting location, choose a spot with southern or eastern exposure and avoid positioning trees where buildings or larger trees will cast afternoon shade during September and October.

What soil conditions encourage the most intense fall leaf color in trees, shrubs, and perennials?

Slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 tends to bring out the most vivid fall color in trees like Red Maple and Paper Birch, as it supports optimal nutrient uptake and anthocyanin production. Well-drained soil is equally important, since waterlogged roots stress the plant and dull its seasonal display. A soil test in late summer gives you time to amend with sulfur to lower pH or lime to raise it before the color season begins. Top-dress with a balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer in early fall to avoid pushing new green growth that competes with fall color development.

How should I adjust my watering routine in late summer and fall to support peak foliage color?

Reducing supplemental irrigation in late summer, typically around August, signals trees to begin their natural hardening process and can intensify fall foliage color. Aim to taper watering gradually rather than stopping abruptly, allowing the soil to dry slightly between deep waterings of roughly one inch per week. In USDA Zones 4 through 6, this transition should begin by mid-August, while gardeners in Zones 7 and 8 can wait until early September. Monitor rainfall closely and provide a final deep soaking before the ground freezes to protect roots through winter dormancy.

Should I fertilize trees and shrubs during the growing season to improve their fall color, and what type of fertilizer works best?

Fertilizing trees and shrubs during the active growing season can actually work against your fall color goals, as excess nitrogen encourages lush green growth rather than the vibrant reds, oranges, and purples you are after. If you want to feed your trees, apply a low-nitrogen, phosphorus-rich fertilizer in early spring or wait until after peak fall color display has passed, typically late October through November depending on your zone. For trees like Red Maples or Bald Cypress, a balanced slow-release fertilizer with an NPK ratio such as 10-10-10 applied in early spring at roughly 1 pound per 100 square feet of root zone is a solid starting point. Focus on healthy soil, consistent watering through summer, and avoid heavy fertilization after midsummer to let your trees shift naturally into their most brilliant fall display.

Why are my fall foliage plants turning dull brown or dropping leaves early instead of showing bright color?

Early leaf drop or dull browning in fall foliage plants is usually caused by drought stress, pest damage, or disease pressure during the growing season, since trees that struggled for water between June and September often skip their colorful display entirely. Soil pH can also mute fall color, particularly in maples and serviceberries, which perform best in slightly acidic soil around 6.0 to 6.5. Make sure your trees received at least one inch of water per week through summer, and inspect leaves for signs of fungal issues like leaf scorch or anthracnose. For next season, apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring, maintain consistent watering through dry spells, and add a two to three inch layer of mulch around the root zone to retain moisture and reduce stress.

How do I combine fall foliage plants with different peak color times to extend the seasonal display in my yard?

To extend your fall color display across the entire season, layer trees and shrubs with staggered peak times, starting with early performers like Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, which transitions in late summer into fall, followed by mid-season stars like Red Maple, and finishing with late-season showstoppers like Ginkgo, which drops its golden leaves dramatically almost overnight in late October to early November. Bald Cypress holds its cinnamon-red color deep into the season, making it an excellent anchor plant to carry color after other trees have dropped their leaves. Plan your layout so earlier-peaking specimens are visible from key sightlines early in the season, then let your eye travel toward later-peaking focal points as the weeks progress. Visit naturehills.com to browse our full selection of fall foliage trees and filter by bloom and color timing to build a personalized, season-long planting plan for your yard.