Plant the trees discussed here and you can enjoy colorful autumn foliage in your own yard. In addition, all of the specimens below offer at least one other interesting feature beyond their outstanding autumn foliage.
Ginkgo Biloba: Ancient Past, Delicate Autumn Foliage
Ginkgo bilobas are said to be the oldest trees in the world. But if you're new to this landscape tree, you may be more interested in the autumn foliage afforded by its delicate leaves. Shaped like little fans, the leaves of ginkgo biloba trees are enjoyable in spring and summer, too.
Tulip Trees: Spring Flowers, Autumn Foliage
Tulip trees receive their name from the tulip-shaped flowers they bear in spring. But it is their leaves that I find more interesting. Their unique leaf-shape makes them easy to identify throughout the growing season: the concavity at the tips of the foliage (or where one would expect a typical tip) suggests that someone came along and took a bite out of them! The autumn foliage of tulip trees ranges from yellow to gold.
Hickory Trees: Edible Nuts, Exfoliating Bark, Autumn Foliage
Shagbark hickory is a "triple threat" tree, offering:
- Golden autumn foliage
- A novel bark for winter interest
- A tasty -- if tough to access -- nut
Sweetgum Trees: When Less is More
Sweetgum trees, too, offer more than just colorful fall foliage. Problem is, one thing most of them have to offer is something that many people could do without: the gumballs. These seed pods can be a nuisance to pick up; so in this article on sweetgum trees, I discuss a variety that won't put out those messy gumballs; it's a variety that still does, however, bear exceptional autumn foliage and a leaf shape enjoyable throughout the growing season.
Are you looking for more pictures of autumn foliage? If so, please view my photo gallery of autumn foliage pictures, featuring that quintessential specimen, the maple.
