Selecting Trees for their Fall Color

October is a glorious month. Trees create an entire rainbow of color: reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and plums. The spectrum is breathtaking.

Tree leaves make fall just as flowers make summer. It is one of the beautiful pleasures of Ohio's seasons. You can capture that canvas this season in your own yard by planting trees known for their exceptional fall color.

Fall foliage can be highlighted in one of two ways. Several varieties of trees planted side by side can create a blend of different colors, or trees of the same kind can be grouped together to produce one large color statement.

Choose the sugar maple for brilliant orange foliage. In nature, the sugar maple makes the forest appear to be on fire. Smaller trees such as the Washington hawthorn and serviceberry also turn orange in the fall.

For beautiful red color, the red maple is a very popular selection. It should not be confused with some of the Norway maple varieties which have wine colored leaves throughout the growing season.

Some selected varieties of oaks are also known for their red fall color. Your local nurseryman, landscape professional, or garden center can help you make a selection. Most varieties of dogwood also have beautiful red fall foliage in addition to their white and pink spring blossoms.

For golden hues, consider the linden, Norway maple, honey locus, or witch hazel. Trees with yellow fall foliage make a nice contrast against the more vibrant orange and red hues of other trees.

Two varieties of ash are known for their deep purple fall foliage. One is the Autumn Applause and the other is Autumn Purple. The Callery pear varieties also have beautiful plum foliage as does the 'Crimson King' maple, which has wine colored leaves throughout the entire growing season.

Another popular tree known for its unusual fall color is the sweet gum. All the fall colors can appear on this tree at the same time. The sweet gum generally follows a progression of yellow color followed by yellow/orange, then orange/red, red, and then deep purple. With its broad limbs at the bottom rising to a point at the top, the combination of shape and color makes the sweet gum appear like a match aflame.

A sample combination of trees that would make a nice blend of color would be the sweet gum with a variety of colors, a red maple, and the serviceberry for orange foliage.

Watching the leaves change each fall is a colorful event in Ohio. Witness the wonder in your own yard by planting trees this fall.