Best Trees and Shrubs for Fall Color

Fall is one of the best times of year in Nebraska. As temperatures cool and the leaves begin to change, a well-planned landscape can take on an entirely new look with shades of red, orange, yellow and burgundy.

While many homeowners think about flowers when adding color to their landscape, trees and shrubs can provide some of the biggest impact, especially in the fall. Choosing the right varieties can give your yard beautiful seasonal color year after year.

If you're looking to add more fall interest to your landscape, here are some of our favorite trees and shrubs to consider.

Maple Trees

It's hard to talk about fall color without starting with maples. Depending on the variety, maple trees can produce brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red and burgundy.

Maples also make excellent shade trees, making them a great option when you want a tree that provides both function and seasonal beauty. Because different varieties vary considerably in mature size, growth rate and site requirements, choosing the right maple for the location is important.

Serviceberry

Serviceberry is a great choice for homeowners who want multiple seasons of interest from one plant. It produces white flowers in the spring, berries in the summer and colorful foliage in the fall.

Depending on the variety and growing conditions, its leaves can turn shades of yellow, orange and red. Serviceberry can work well as a specimen plant or as part of a larger landscape bed.

Oak Trees

Oaks are known for their strength and longevity, but several varieties also provide beautiful fall color. Their foliage can range from golden brown and orange to deep red and burgundy.

An oak can eventually become a major focal point and shade tree, so it's important to give it enough room to reach its mature size.

Viburnum

Viburnums are versatile shrubs that offer more than just fall color. Many varieties feature spring flowers, attractive berries and foliage that turns red, purple or burgundy as temperatures cool.

They can work well in foundation plantings, shrub borders and areas where you want to add some height and structure without planting a full-size tree.

Sumac

If you're looking for bold fall color, sumac is hard to beat. Its foliage can turn brilliant shades of orange, scarlet and deep red.

Sumac can also bring a more natural look to a landscape and works particularly well in larger areas where it has room to spread. Proper placement is important since some varieties can form colonies over time.

Dogwood

Several types of dogwood offer great seasonal interest. In addition to spring flowers, many develop attractive fall foliage in shades of red and purple.

Some varieties also have colorful stems that remain noticeable after the leaves drop, giving the landscape interest well into winter.

Ninebark

Ninebark is a hardy shrub that works well in Nebraska landscapes and comes in varieties with foliage ranging from green and gold to deep burgundy.

While it isn't strictly a "fall color" plant, darker-leaved varieties provide great contrast against the yellows, oranges and reds of surrounding plants. Its peeling bark also adds texture during the winter months.

Don't Forget Ornamental Grasses

They're not trees or shrubs, but ornamental grasses are worth including when planning a landscape for fall.

Many varieties turn beautiful shades of gold, bronze or reddish brown in the fall. Their seed heads add texture and movement, and leaving grasses standing through winter can keep landscape beds from looking bare once the leaves have fallen.

Plan for More Than One Season

One of the keys to a great landscape is choosing plants that don't all peak at the same time. A landscape can look completely different from spring to summer, fall and winter when plants are selected with each season in mind.

Consider spring flowers, summer foliage, fall color, berries, bark, evergreens and ornamental grasses together. The result is a landscape that continues to have something interesting to look at throughout the year.

Fall is also an excellent time to take a look around your property and notice where you're missing color. If your landscape seems to fade once summer flowers are finished, adding a few carefully selected trees and shrubs can make a dramatic difference.

Thinking about adding more color to your landscape? The team at Priority Landscape can help you select trees, shrubs and other plants that complement your property, fit the available space and provide beautiful interest throughout the seasons.