Some trees with good autumn color
It should be noted that autumn color may
vary from year to year in every respect, and even from
tree to tree of the same species. This list is by no
ACER CAMPESTRE The native field maple
turns a good yellow; A. capillipes, deep crimson;
A cappadocicum, yellow; A. circinatum, orange
and crimson; A. davidii, variable, yellow and
purple; A. ginnala, brilliant flaming scarlet;
A. griseum, orange, bronze and fiery red; A.
grosseri, also A. g. hersii, red and gold;
A. japonicum, crimson and pink; A. negundo,
clear yellow, early; A. nikoense, orange
and red; A. pennsylvanicum, clear yellow; A.
platanoides, clear yellow; A. rubrum, scarlet
and yellow; A. rufinerve, crimson.
AMELANCHIER All cultivated species turn
shades of red or russet.
BETULA Most birches turn shades of greenish
yellow, but B. papyrifera is a good bright yellow.
CARYA Species usually cultivated turn
a good yellow.
CERCIDIPHYLLUM JAPONICUM Variable, but
can be brilliant in yellow and reds.
CYDONIA OBLONGA The leaves of the common
quince turn a good yellow.
EUONYMUS SACHALINENSIS Yellow and red,
early, with crimson fruits.
FAGUS The copper color of the British
native beechwoods is glorious in autumn. FRAXINUS Most
ashes turn shades of yellow before their leaves fall
early in the season. F. oxycarpa `Raywood', however,
turns a distinctive purple.
GINKGO BILOBA The maidenhair tree turns a rich yellow.
GYMNOCLADUS DIOICUS The large leaves turn
LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA Variable, but
in good specimens can be brilliant, purple to scarlet.
LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA Leaves turn a
MALUS Apples give little autumn leaf color,
an exception being M. tschonoskii, on which the
leaves turn yellow and scarlet.
MESPILUS GERMANICA The large leaves of
the medlar turn russet color. NYSSA SYLVATICA The tupelo
turns vivid scarlet.
PARROTIA PERSICA coloring reliable, yellow
through gold to crimson.
PHELLODENDRON Species usually cultivated
turn clear yellow.
PRUNUS This genus provides a few only
species that color well, though the Japanese cultivars
mostly turn good shades of yellow; P. avium, the
gean, most years turns a flaming red; P. sargentii,
infallibly turns a brilliant red early in autumn.
QUERCUS BOREALIS The red oak is rather
a misnomer as the color is nearer to brown, but it can
be effective. Q. coccinea, the well-named scarlet
oak, retains its brilliant leaves far into the winter,
the best form being the cultivar splendens. Q. palustris,
leaves may turn scarlet, but not reliable; Q. phellos,
yellow and orange; Q. velutina, var. rubrifolia
is a good red.
RHUS TYPHINA Turns orange, red and purple.
SORBUS CASHMERIANA Pale gold, falling
early. S. discolor, brilliant red; S. `Joseph
Rock', leaves turn a rich variety of colors; S. sargentiana,
striking reds and golds; S. torminalis, the
native wild service, colors in well in yellows and golds
and sometimes scarlets.
STYRAX OBASSIA The large leaves turn a