Autumn Colour Trees
- Steve Cook
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Why trees change colour — and some of my favourites for spectacular autumn displays.
What causes trees to turn those wonderful autumn colours?Well, the colours are always there — they’re just hidden during the summer. While trees are in full growth, they produce chlorophyll, the green pigment that masks the reds, oranges and yellows.
As daylight hours shorten, chlorophyll production slows and eventually stops. This reveals the other pigments still present in the leaves. I’ve skimmed over the science here — there’s a lot going on in that process. Maybe a blog for another day.
Most people think first of Japanese maples (Acers), and they are a fantastic choice with an incredible range of varieties. But there are many other species that are just as colourful, and often bring qualities that maples don’t have.
Here are a few trees I’ve used in various landscaping projects — and planted in my own gardens.
Flowering Cherries (Prunus)
A good place to start. Like maples, cherries come in a huge range of varieties, so I’ll highlight just a few that I plant regularly. There will be a cherry to suit almost any garden.
And before the autumn colour arrives, you get fantastic spring blossom — from pure white through to deep pink, often scented, with colourful bark that looks great in winter.
Prunus Serrulata ‘Kanzan’
A medium-sized tree with masses of scented pink flowers in spring. Once mature it’s striking, but needs a bit of space — best planted in a lawn area. Leaves emerge brown/copper, turn green in summer, then caramel, orange and yellow in autumn.
Prunus ‘Taihaku’ — The Great White Cherry
A fast-growing, medium-sized tree with masses of pure white scented blossom. It can grow quite wide, so if space is limited go for a high standard (crown lifted to about 6–7ft), which also allows for under-planting.Leaves start bronze, turn green, then take on yellow and orange autumn tones. The copper-red bark is beautiful. An award-winning cherry and a lovely specimen tree.
Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ — The Flagpole Cherry
Great for smaller gardens. Grows upright in a columnar shape to around 4m. Produces very pale pink, almost white, scented flowers. Autumn colour runs from caramel to orange. Architectural shape makes it excellent for avenues or at the back of mixed borders.Cherries grow well in most well-drained soils and can be shaped if needed.
Liquidambar Styraciflua — American Sweetgum
A large tree (up to 20m) with a five-pointed leaf similar to a maple. Summer foliage is mid- to dark-green.Autumn colour begins deep purple, gradually shifting to orange and yellow. The yellow tends to start inside the canopy and move outward over time. A striking tree in full autumn display.
For smaller gardens, Liquidambar ‘Slender Silhouette’ has the same leaf and colour but grows in a tall, narrow column. Both varieties can be shaped but look best left to their natural form.
Ginkgo Biloba — Maidenhair Tree
One of the oldest tree species on Earth, dating back to the Jurassic — around 290 million years.A large, slow-growing tree reaching up to 25m. Fan-shaped, fleshy leaves turn a brilliant gold in autumn. Mature specimens develop unusual, characterful bark.
For smaller gardens, Ginkgo ‘Fastigiata Blagon’ is a compact, columnar form with the same stunning autumn colour.
Sorbus — Mountain Ash / Rowan
A wide group of smaller to medium-sized trees with late spring to early summer flowers, followed by berries and good autumn colour. Lots of varieties to choose from.
Sorbus Ulleungensis ‘Olympic Flame’ — Scarlet Rowan
One of my favourites. A smaller tree with a columnar habit that can also be grown as a multi-stem. Larger leaves than most sorbus varieties. Produces large flat clusters of white flowers, followed by vibrant red foliage and big red berries in autumn.Ideal for smaller gardens; prefers well-drained soil.
Nyssa Sylvatica — Black Tupelo
A medium to large tree (20–25m), quite slow growing with attractive bark on mature specimens.One of the best autumn colour trees: light purple/pink, then tangerine/orange, then yellow and gold before dropping.Prefers moisture-retentive soil but not waterlogged conditions.Best for larger gardens, though a multi-stem version works beautifully in smaller spaces. Absolutely worth seeking out.
Robinia Pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’ — False Acacia
One of my favourites. A medium-sized tree with lime-green summer foliage that becomes more pendulous with age, swaying beautifully in the wind. Leaves shift from green to gold as late summer moves into autumn.
Robinia is fast-growing. When buying one, I usually recommend choosing a smaller tree (around 6ft) — they establish quickly and can reach 15ft in 2½–3 years.
Young trees can be vulnerable to wind, with a large crown on a relatively small frame. I normally recommend thinning and reducing the crown in the second or third year, depending on growth and position.
I reduce the canopy in late summer if it looks heavy, to protect against autumn winds. Always check the shape again once the leaves drop — and mind the thorns!After 3–4 years they’re usually strong enough to look after themselves. A bit of faff at first, but worth it.Looks even more impressive with a green backdrop to make the golden leaves stand out.
A superb tree to have in the garden.
I could easily make this list much longer — Dawn Redwood, Swamp Cypress (for wet ground), Claret Ash, Shagbark Hickory, Golden Ash, Callery Pear (for November/December colour)… maybe for another day.
Remember:
“The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago.The second best time is now.”
Happy tree planting.