Trees and Shrubs that Have Brilliant Fall Foliage

Soon, trees and shrubs will be showing off their fall foliage in Middle Tennessee. There are so many plants in our region that feature beautiful autumnal color! Today, we're focusing on deciduous trees and shrubs to look for at the nursery to add fall color to your landscape.

How do leaves change color in fall?  

Leaves change color in fall due to the breakdown of chlorophyll (which is what makes leaves green). As chlorophyll breaks down, it allows other pigments of color within the leaves to become visible. Reduced light (as the days shorten), cooler temperatures, less water, and a lack of nutrients in plants are all a natural part of fall's arrival. These changes signal to the plant to slow down and then stop producing chlorophyll.

• Carotenoids are the yellows, oranges, and in some cases, browns that we see in fall. These foliage colors are actually present all year but aren't visible due to the chlorophyll (which makes the leaves green). Carotenoids help protect against too much light and also help with photosynthesis.

• Anthocyanins, which are the reds, purples, and dark oranges, are usually new colors that show up in fall due to sugars trapped in the foliage. We often see these colors show up more brilliantly when we have sunny autumn days and cool, but not freezing, nights.

Deciduous trees that provide excellent fall color in Middle Tennessee

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

• 'Red Sunset'

• 'Autumn Flame'

• 'Brandywine'

• 'October Glory'

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

• 'Green Mountain'

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

• 'Autumn Gold'

• 'Princeton Sentry'

Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)

• 'Sioux'

• 'Catawba'

• 'Dynamite'

Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)

• 'Ogon'

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

• 'Bloodgood'

• 'Crimson Queen'

• 'Fireglow'

• 'Sango Kaku'

Deciduous shrubs that give beautiful fall color in our region

Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)

• 'Compactus'

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)

• 'Lady in Red'

Yellow and/or Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus alba/ Cornus sericea)

• 'Budd's Yellow' (yellow)

• 'Baileyi' (red)

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

• 'Ruby Slippers'

• 'Snow Queen'

• 'Pee Wee'

• 'Alice'

Fothergilla (Fothergilla major)

• 'Mt. Airy'

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginia)

• 'Henry's Garnet'

• 'Merlot'

Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

• 'Brilliantissima'

Smokebush (Cotinus)

• 'Grace'

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By adding a few of these or a mass planting of one in your landscape, you will add color during the autumn months.

Want to add perennials that give fall interest, too? Be sure to check out this blog post >> 12 Perennials that Add Color and Interest in Early Fall