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Trees For Fast Fall Color Impact

© Marilyn Burns

In some ways, fall is my favorite season. Gone are the hazy days of summer, and there is a crispness in the air that renews energy and outlook alike. This is also one of the most spectacular times of the year for those who live or visit our region, rivaled perhaps only by those who live in New England!

Just as we plant trees for early spring impact, we should also plan on adding late-season focus to our yards and gardens by planting a few of the lovely trees of fall. Granted, some of these take many years to attain large proportions, but there are some relatively fast growing trees that also offer wonderful displays for fall.

Cercise canadensis, or the Redbud tree, not only offers a wonderful display of airy mauve blooms early in the spring, it is a great tree for its wonderful golden heart-shaped leaves in the fall. Coupled against a dark background of near-black bark, and the effect is stunning.

Redbuds grows best at the edge of woods or as an understory planting, so if you have a shady area, this tree might just be the ticket for that shady nook! (Hardy into zone 5).

Acer rubrum, or the Red Maple, lives up to its name in the fall. This is a relatively fast growing maple and relishes damp locations, so if your soil is a bit on the acid side and retains moisture, plant a Red Maple for visual impact. Fall colors range from yellow-orange to deep ruby red, depending on the yecultivarultivar. Three hybrids to consider are 'October Glory', 'Red Sunset', and 'Autumn Flame'. (Hardy into zone 4).

Another great maple for fall Acer ginnala, the Amur Maple. Smaller and more shrublike than many other maples, this is a great alternative to the more tender Japanese Maple for those who live a bit too north of the hardiness range for that wonderful tree. Fall color ranges from yellow to red. (Hardy into zone 2).

Liquidambar styraciflua, or the Sweet Gum tree has deeply indented, maple-like leaves. Break a branch, and enjoy the aromatic scent! This is a relatively fast growing tree, pyramidal in its youth, but attaining a rounded shape with age. There are newer, seedless cultivars, so spiny fruits can be avoided. Sweet Gums can often have many colors all at once on the tree, from clear yellows to orange to maroons and reds. The tree that I have in my yard has a different combination of colors every year, and is one of our favorite trees of fall. (Depending upon cultivar, hardy into zone 5).