Fall's Shining Stars: Great Fall Foliage Trees

Photo Courtesy of Art Today

Fall's Shining Stars: Great Fall Foliage Trees

If spring is pastel and delicately lovely, then fall is bright and boldly beautiful! One thing that can't be beat is Autumn for its gorgeous displays of colorful trees in moody purples, bright oranges and golds, rich reds and russets. You don't have to go far to enjoy beautiful views, either. Every city park, every neighborhood, and every country lane abounds with the richly-hued trees of fall.

Many of the most colorful trees of fall quietly bide their time until the weather starts to cool and the days become shorter. Then, these otherwise "quiet" trees take center stage to offer some of the most spectacular shows of the year. Gardeners everywhere should plant at least one or two of these autumn stars on their properties for fall color impact.

Some of fall's best foliage trees double as great shade trees during the year. Some grow slowly, others will make an impact in a relatively short period of time. Most of the trees listed here are reliable performers, and will give great satisfaction to those who plant a them in their yards, regardless of size:

~Trees With Fall Color Suitable For The Southern Great Lakes Region~
Tree (Scientific Name)	Tree (Common Name)	Foliage Color	Growth Rate
Cercis canadensis	Redbud	Yellow	Slow to Medium
Amelanchier	Serviceberry	Yellow-Orange	Medium
Zelkova serrata	Zelkova	Purplish-Red, Red, Browinish-Red	Medium
Nyssa sylvatica	Black Gum, Tupelo	Scarlet-Red, Purplish-Red	Slow
Gleditsia triacanthos inermis	Thornless Honey Locust: 'Moraine','Sunburst'	Yellowish-Gold	Fast
Tree (Scientific Name)	Tree (Common Name)	Foliage Color	Growth Rate
Acer saccharum	Sugar Maple	Orange, Orange-red, Scarlet	Slow to Medium
Acer rubrum	Red Maple: 'Red Sunset', 'October Glory', 'Autumn Flame'	Yellow-red Red	Fast
Acer ginnala	Amur Maple	Yellow to Red	Medium to Fast
Sassafras albidum	Sassafras	Yellow, orange, red	Medium
Cercidiphyllum japonicum	Katsura	Yellow-Apricot	Slow To Medium
Tree (Scientific Name)	Tree (Common Name)	Foliage Color	Growth Rate
Liquidambar styraciflua	Sweet Gum	yellow, orange, red, purple	Medium to Fast
Betula nigra	River Birch	Yellow	Fast
Betula platyphylla japonica: 'White Spire'	White Spire Birch	Yellow	Fast
Common Flowering Dogwood	Cornus florida	Red to Burgundy	Medium
Quercus coccinea	Red Oak, Scarlet Oak	Red, Burgundy-red, Russet	Fast

There are many more fine trees to choose from, too many to list here, in fact. But, this should give you an idea of what you would like when you go out looking for a suitable tree for your yard. This is perhaps the best time of the year to look and see just how a particular tree will look, and a good time to prowl around the nursery.

Fall is truly a splendid time! With the glory of the trees, it truly is a wonderful season!

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