20 Things to Plant for Fall Color

Fall is almost here, and few things are better than all the vibrant and natural color that the cooler fall weather brings. Many people hit the road looking for spectacular fall colors. But when you plant for fall color in mind you can skip the trip and get front-row access to a kaleidoscope of autumnal beauty. There truly is nothing better than walking out of your back door and having an explosion of fall color that’s all your own. 

Need some inspiration for what plants will add some fall-time pizazz to your yard? Here are some of our fall-time faves:

The Best Trees for Fall Color

There are many trees that will light up your landscape with wonderful color in the fall. From the weird and wonderful to the traditional, there are plenty to choose from as you plan your fall color display.

1 American Sweetgum (Zones 6-9)

Dark green foliage in the summer will turn to yellow, red and burgundy in the fall. They grow up to 90 feet in height, so they will provide you with plenty of summer shade. They will do well in full or partial sun as long as they have rich, moist soil under them.

2 Crab Apple (Zones 4-8)

With beautiful blossoms in the fall and colorful foliage in the fall, few trees provide more color than the crab apple. There is a large selection of varieties, so you can pick the colors you want for your fall landscape–from yellow to red to burgundy. The blossoms will draw pollinators in the spring and the fruit will bring wildlife in the fall. They do their best in full sun with rich, well-drained soil.

3 Dogwood  (Zones 5-8)

Plenty of white to pink blossoms in the fall, followed by reddish-purple foliage in the fall. There are many varieties of dogwood to pick from, so find one that will work with your fall color plans. You won’t be disappointed. Just make sure that it gets full to partial sun and has moist, well-drained soil beneath it.

4 Ginko (Zones 4-9)

The ginkgo, growing up to 100 feet tall, will be covered with golden yellow leaves in the fall. But enjoy the view while it is there because they have a tendency to drop their leaves quickly. Sun or shade, it doesn’t matter, just make sure that it can sink its roots into rich, moist soil.

5 Honey Locust (Zones 4-9)

If you are looking for a nice yellow to mix in with your landscaping, take a long look at a honey locust. As the weather cools in the fall, the deep green leaves will turn to a golden yellow. They do well along the road because they are resistant to salt. Plant them in rich well-drained soil where they will get plenty of sun.

6 Maples (Zones 4-8)

Japanese, Red, or Sugar maple–all will give you plenty of bright yellow to orange to red to almost purple foliage once the cool fall weather hits. They will reward you year after year with some of the most colorful leaves you could ask for. They like rich, well-drained soil and are happy with full to partial sun.

7 Nandinas (Zones 6-9)

Also known as heavenly bamboo, nandinas are a tough shrub that will require little help from you. You will love the brilliant red foliage in the fall as the weather starts to turn. Transplant it to a place where it will enjoy full sun to partial shade and the soil is well drained, and you will have a colorful addition to your fall landscape

8 Oakleaf Hydrangeas (Zones 5-9)

This is a small shrub that will give your yard clusters of brilliant white blossoms during the summer months and foliage that will turn a rich deep red to burgundy in the fall. It usually grows to less than 6 feet in height and can be used in many ways around your yard. Plant it in the shade where the soil is moist and well drained.

9 Sumac (Zones 3-8)

Common in the wild, Sumac is easy to grow and will add plenty of orange and red to your fall landscape. Birds love their red berries, so you can add colorful plumage to the colorful foliage. They are not fussy about the amount of sun they get and they prefer well-drained soil.

10 Witch Hazel (Zones 3-8)

Witch hazel is a hardy, small tree that will fill your yard with golden yellow leaves in the fall. Its fragrant flowers, unlike most plants, form in the fall. It contrasts well with the deep green of your grass. Place it in full to partial sun in rich, well-drained soil. 

Plants for Fall Color

While trees can give you plenty of fall color, don’t overlook the hues that flowering plants can add to your landscape. These you can plant as borders and beds to move your eye from one feature of your yard to the next.

1 Asters (Zones 4 to 8)

This showy flower will give you plenty of daisy-like blossoms, with a yellow center and a pink to violet petals. They will bloom in late summer through early fall. The two inch in diameter blossoms will produce plenty of seeds, so you just might have aster popping up in the spring without any help from you. To keep them happy, plant them in well-drained soil where they can get plenty of sun.

2 Cockscomb (Zones 2-11)

These annuals will be happy in whatever zone you might live in. The frilly blossoms range from orange to burgundy and will fill your yard with color from July through the first frost in the fall. Give them plenty of sun and rich, moist soil, and they will be happy bloomers.

3 Goldenrod (Zones 3-8)

You won’t lack color when the clusters of yellow blossoms start to form in mid-summer. When the blooms fade, break them off to encourage others to form and you will have color well into the fall. Plant them in full sun and well-drained soil to keep them happy and healthy.

4 Joe Pye Weed (Zones 4-9)

This perennial will give your yard plenty of white to lilac-colored clusters of fragrant blooms. You will enjoy the aroma as much as local pollinators will. Cut them back in late fall, and they will pop up again in the spring. For healthy plants, find a place in full to partial sun with moist, well-drained soil.

5 Mums (Zones 5-9)

Yellow, orange, white, red, purple, take your pick. You can find a mum of about any color you would like. Plant them in full sun in rich, well-drained soil, then wait patiently for them to burst into color as the weather begins to cool in the fall.

6 Red Salvia (Zones 10 to 11) 

Red salvia will give you plenty of bright red blossoms against dark green foliage from mid-summer to the first frost. If you fall in love with them, transplant them into pots and enjoy them over the winter. Plant them in full to partial sun in well-drained soil.

7 Russian Sage (Zones 3-9)

Russian sage will add a wealth of small, sky-blue blossoms that will provide a nice contrast to the burgundies, reds, oranges, and yellows of many of your other fall plants. They are sun-loving flowers and like soil that is sandy and well drained.

8 Snap Dragons (Zones 7-10)

Snapdragons have a blossom you will easily recognize. They come in every color of the rainbow, and can be either grown as an annual or perennial. They might look like they are struggling in the summer heat, but as the fall weather cools, they will pop back up and produce more stunning blooms. They like full sun and rich, well-drained soil.

9 Sweet Alyssum(Zones 5-9)

If you want a beautiful, white carpet of blooms, try sweet alyssum. You can plant it in late summer so it is fresh for the fall, or you can plant it in the spring, cut it back during the hot, dry months, then it will bloom again as the weather cools. It will do well in full or partial sun and well-drained soil.

10 Virginia Creeper (Zones 3-9)

Virginia creeper is a vine that makes a wonderful ground cover. In the fall, it turns bright red to burgundy which will add plenty of color to your yard. They will do their best in full sun and planted in well-drained soil.

Prepare for Autumnal Color

When it comes to color, there are few times as fantastic as fall. With a bit of planning and the right plants, you will dazzle your family and neighbors with some of the brightest, most vivid fall colors. And don’t forget to post photos to share the lively excitement with friend and followers near and far.