Trees for Fall Color in the Southeast
Large and Small Deciduous Specimens Contribute to Autumn Interest
Aug 31, 2009
Fall color in Southeastern deciduous trees can range from bright yellow to vivid scarlet to deep red. Used alone (as a specimen tree), or in groups, these trees can brighten the garden with their many different hues.
What Makes Fall Color in Trees?
A tree's fall color depends on several factors, including overall health, available moisture, and soil conditions. In his book Tough Plants for Southern Gardens (2003 Cool Springs Press), Felder Rushing explains how being too nice to a tree (by providing amended soil and lots of water) may be detrimental to its fall color display.
"A plant grown on the 'lean' side generally has better fall color," Rushing says. "Its nutrients - the ones used in its leaves - get used up as leaves begin to shut down for the fall and winter." Rushing goes on to say that a tree grown in ideal conditions will not be able to prepare for winter as well as one grown under tougher conditions.
Where Fall Color Comes From
Rushing says that the pigments making up fall color are always present in a tree's leaves. They're just masked by the dominant green of chlorophyll. But once photosynthesis stops, other colors start to seep through - the reds, golds, yellows, purples and scarlets.
The following eight trees present a variety of fall color options for the Southeastern garden. Selected varieties are shown, but probably there are others available.
Good Tall Trees for Fall Color
- Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) - a good shade tree, the Black Gum has vibrant fall color that starts as yellow, changes to intense scarlet, and matures to a deep purple-red. It grows from 50' to 70' with a 30' spread. May be hard to locate in nurseries, but sprouts of mature Black Gums growing in lake or woodland environments are easily transplanted. Suitable for larger gardens, but it doesn't tolerate pollution well so should not be used as a street or urban tree. Varieties: 'Miss Scarlet'; 'Forum'
- Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) - this tree has an ancient linage. Once prolific in North America, it died out due to climate change. Today's Ginkgo hails from Asia. It grows to 70' tall and 50' wide. Buy a male from a reputable nursery, as the female produces a noxious smelling fruit. A Ginkgo's fall color is an intense buttery yellow. The tree will hold those beautiful leaves till late fall, when they all fall almost as one, creating a wonderful gold "carpet". Plant only ground cover or bulbs underneath a Ginkgo. Upright shrubs will break up that carpet look. Varieties: 'Autumn Gold'.
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum) - the fiery red autumn color of Red Maple makes this a perfect specimen tree for larger spaces. It's a quick grower, and its dense shade makes it perfect for blocking the sun's rays from a house. Grows from 40' to 60', and 30' to 50' wide. Don't plant close to walks or patios, however. The close surface roots tend to buckle paving. Varieties: 'Red Sunset'; 'October Glory'.
- Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) - This spectacular tree grows up to 60' and has a beautiful fall color ranging from yellow to yellow-orange to scarlet. This is the tree best known for producing maple syrup up north. Varieties: 'Arrowhead' (yellow to orange autumn hues); 'Bonfire' (bright red fall color). There are many more available.
Smaller Trees with Great Fall Color
- Yellowwood (Cladiastis kentukea) - a 40' by 40' rounded-from tree, Yellowwood pleases the eye with bright yellow to muted soft gold fall color. Its showy white racemes in summer are a pleasant bonus, but the tree only blooms every 2nd or 3rd year. A fine small shade tree, it may need to be ordered from a specialty nursery. Best planted in full sun. Varieties: 'Rosea'
- Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) - under-appreciated in the landscape, Japanese Stewartia resembles a Camellia, with white flowers that bloom in early summer. Fall color is a vibrant, bright orange-red. Use as a specimen tree, or group several together in a large garden. Stewartia grows to 40' high and up to 40' wide. It's not drought tolerant, however, and may need supplemental watering in dry summer months.
- Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) - this is a plant of many forms, from bush like shrub forms to small open-limbed tree forms. Depending on variety, Japanese Maple can grow from 2' to 20' high, with a 4' to 20' spread. Autumn colors range from scarlet to orange to yellow. Makes a good accent or specimen plant, especially if used with a water feature. Varieties: 'Autopurpureum'; 'Bloodgood'.
- Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) - a small native deciduous tree, the Serviceberry is another underused tree perfect for the smaller garden. It's a multi-season performer, producing fragrant white flowers in spring, followed by red-purple berries in summer that are supposedly sweeter than blueberries. Vivid yellow and red leaves brighten the fall. Makes a good alternative for Bradford Pear, and has a better aroma. Use as a specimen in a small garden, or group in an understory setting at the edge of a woodland. Varieties: 'Autumn Brilliance'; 'Ballerina'; 'Princess Diana'.
These eight trees are perfect for adding fall color to the garden, either as accent specimens, woodland understory trees, or shade trees in groups or by themselves. Used correctly, they can add beauty and utility to a home garden and enhance the homeowner's outdoor living for years to come.
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