Beyond Maples: Six Fall Color Trees That Bring Autumn Home

Subtle grainy texture on a transparent background.

Sunlight shining through golden-orange maple leaves in autumn.

Seasons change, but few wrap us in comfort quite like autumn. Picture warm cider on a cool morning, fragrant with cinnamon and orange; the same spiced palette echoed in the fall color trees around us. Leaves rustle overhead, then drift to the damp ground.

Can you feel it? The cool air, the warm cup in your hands. Can you smell the leaves and hear them settle? Now, which tree do you picture?

For most of us, it’s a sugar maple or red maple. Their cranberry reds, honeyed yellows, and cider-warm oranges have brought tremendous color and shade to our St. Louis landscapes.

While maples may get most of the attention, they’re far from the only trees that can create that warm autumn feeling. These six trees range from clear gold to fiery scarlet, with shapes and sizes suited to everything from tight spaces to tough urban conditions. For the right fit for your landscape and your love of all things fall, here are six of our favorite fall color trees.

Six Fall Color Trees Worth Considering

Green Gable™ Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica ‘NSUHH’)

Bright red, glossy fall leaves of Green Gable™ black gum. — Green Gable™ black gum develops glossy, brilliant red foliage in fall. Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

Mature size: 40–50 ft. tall × about 25 ft. wide

Fall color: Fiery orange-red to brilliant scarlet

Soil needs: Prefers moist, acidic soil but tolerates briefly wet or dry conditions once established.

Green Gable™ black gum brings the same glowing red fall color people love in a maple, but with a more tailored silhouette. Its glossy foliage and uniform branching create a graceful pyramidal shape that feels equally at home flanking a formal driveway or settling into a relaxed backyard. Its 20- to 25-foot spread makes it especially useful as a front-lawn specimen where a broad shade tree would overwhelm the space.

Green Gable™ black gum trees lining a walkway bordered by goldenrod beneath a bright blue sky. — Green Gable™ black gums bring an orderly, upright form to a walkway framed by goldenrod and other perennials. Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

Black gum trees are usually either male or female, though some may also produce a few flowers with both male and female parts. Green Gable™ is a male clone, so it typically doesn’t produce fruit, although an occasional fruit may appear.

Before you plant: Give it a permanent home. Black gum develops a deep taproot and can be difficult to move once established.

Autumn Gold Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’)

Close-up of golden, fan-shaped leaves on an ‘Autumn Gold’ ginkgo tree. — The distinctive fan-shaped leaves of ‘Autumn Gold’ ginkgo turn a clear, luminous yellow in fall. Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

Mature size: 40–50 ft. tall × 25–35 ft. wide

Fall color: Clear, glowing gold

Soil needs: Adaptable, but performs best in moist, well-drained soil; tolerates clay and acidic or alkaline conditions.

Few trees create a fall moment quite like a ginkgo. The fan-shaped leaves of ‘Autumn Gold’ turn luminous yellow, then drop within a brief window, creating a golden carpet beneath the tree.

Young ‘Autumn Gold’ ginkgo trees in full golden fall color outside a building. — A grouping of approximately 3-inch-caliper ‘Autumn Gold’ ginkgo trees creates a bright golden display. Photo by Jason M. C., Han, via Wikimedia Commons; licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

‘Autumn Gold’ is often narrow while young, but don’t let that slim shape fool you. With age, it opens into a broad, glowing crown. Because it is a male clone, it doesn’t produce the messy, foul-smelling fruit associated with female ginkgo trees.

Before you plant: ‘Autumn Gold’ ginkgo are highly tolerant of heat and road salt; making it the perfect tree for urban environments.

Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)

Close-up of glossy garnet-red scarlet oak leaves in autumn. — Scarlet oak leaves deepen to glossy shades of garnet and scarlet in fall. Photo by David J. Stang, via Wikimedia Commons; licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Mature size: 50–70 ft. tall × 45–60 ft. wide

Fall color: Deep, flaming scarlet-red

Soil needs: Dry to moderately moist, acidic soil with excellent drainage.

If your fall color cravings lean toward deep, saturated red and your landscape has room for a true shade tree, scarlet oak delivers. Its deeply lobed leaves shift to rich scarlet later in the season. Some may linger into early winter, extending the tree’s presence after many others have gone bare.

Established scarlet oak with a broad green crown in a park-like setting beneath a blue sky. — An established scarlet oak displays the broad, rounded crown it develops with age. Photo by James St. John, via Wikimedia Commons; licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Young trees begin with a tidy pyramidal shape, then broaden into a rounded crown with age. The mature canopy casts dappled shade rather than a heavy, dark ceiling, creating a cool, comfortable backyard retreat.

Scarlet oak also provides substantial wildlife value: its foliage supports caterpillars and birds, while its acorns feed wild turkeys, deer, songbirds, and small mammals.

Before you plant: This is a large oak, so give it plenty of room to develop.

Slender Silhouette Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’)

Close-up of multicolored fall leaves on a ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgum. — The star-shaped leaves of ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgum blend yellow, orange, red, and burgundy in fall. Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

Mature size: 50–60 ft. tall × just 5–8 ft. wide

Fall color: Yellow, orange, scarlet, and burgundy

Soil needs: Moist, well-drained, neutral to acidic soil; avoid alkaline conditions.

The glossy, star-shaped leaves of ‘Slender Silhouette’ create one of the richest fall palettes on this list. Yellow, ember-orange, scarlet, and burgundy can appear on the same tree, turning it into a tall ribbon of autumn color.

Two ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgums flanking the front steps of a two-story home in summer. — Two ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgums frame the front steps without overwhelming the home’s narrow planting space. Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

This tree offers something few large trees can: serious height with an exceptionally narrow footprint. Its columnar form slips into tight urban sites, narrow yards, and formal entries where a broad shade tree would feel overwhelming.

Before you plant: As it matures, it can produce some of the spiky “gumballs” associated with sweetgum trees, although usually fewer than the species. Its narrow canopy limits where they fall, but thoughtful placement will help keep them away from walks and gathering spaces.

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Amelanchier × grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’)

Close-up of bright red fall foliage on an ‘Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry. — ‘Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry lives up to its name with vivid red autumn foliage. Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

Mature size: 15–25 ft. tall × 15–25 ft. wide

Fall color: Vivid orange-red to brick-red

Soil needs: Prefers moist, well-drained soil but adapts to a range of soil types.

‘Autumn Brilliance’ is more than fall color. White spring blossoms give way to deep purple berries in early summer, usually claimed by birds before they reach the ground. Its elegant, matte green summer foliage shifts to cinnamon-spiced orange and brick red in autumn.

Multi-stemmed ‘Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry covered in white spring flowers in a park-like setting. — A multi-stemmed ‘Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry brings an airy canopy and abundant white flowers to the spring landscape. Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

This vase-shaped, multi-stemmed small tree softens into a rounded form as it ages. It tucks easily into smaller landscapes beside a patio, at the corner of a home, mixed into a border, or easing the transition into a wooded area.

Before you plant: This is an ornamental tree, not a large canopy tree. Place it where its smaller scale and naturally multi-stemmed form can be appreciated.

Musashino Columnar Zelkova (Zelkova serrata ‘Musashino’)

Close-up of orange, serrated fall leaves on a ‘Musashino’ zelkova. — The finely serrated leaves of ‘Musashino’ zelkova warm to burnished orange in fall. Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

Mature size: 40–45 ft. tall × 12–15 ft. wide

Fall color: Golden yellow to coppery red-orange

Soil needs: Moist, well-drained soil; adapts to acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions.

The small leaves of ‘Musashino’ turn burnished shades of gold, copper, and orange. For a narrow space that still needs height, this upright tree brings warmth without the width of a traditional shade tree. It fits neatly into side yards, grouped plantings, screening beds, and compact urban front lawns.

Green ‘Musashino’ zelkova showing its narrow, vase-shaped form in a yard during early fall. — ‘Musashino’ zelkova maintains a narrow, upright silhouette, even as its canopy begins to broaden into a vase shape. Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

The leaves are relatively small, and many blow away rather than collecting in your yard, making fall cleanup a little lighter.

Before you plant: Once established, ‘Musashino’ tolerates heat and drought well, making it a strong choice for urban yards. Water it consistently through its first few growing seasons while the roots establish.

Which Fall Color Tree Fits Your St. Louis Landscape?

For fiery red color in a moderately sized front yard: Green Gable™ black gum
For a large shade tree with wildlife value: scarlet oak
For golden color and tough urban conditions: ‘Autumn Gold’ ginkgo
For height in an exceptionally narrow space: ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgum
For a smaller, multi-season ornamental tree: ‘Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry
For a narrow tree with warm color and urban tolerance: ‘Musashino’ zelkova

The best fall color tree isn’t simply the one that glows brightest in October. It should fit the space, soil, and everyday rhythm of your landscape. That autumn color may steal your heart, but the right tree should feel at home in your yard through every season.

Trees set the canopy, but shrubs and perennials carry that color closer to eye level. For more ways to layer the season, explore our guide to seven plants for vibrant fall color in St. Louis.

Want to keep wandering through the fall palette? The Missouri Botanical Garden’s fall color guide gathers more locally useful trees, shrubs, and perennials in shades of red, orange, and gold.

Look Beyond Maples for Fall Color

Maples will always belong in St. Louis landscapes, but they don’t have to carry autumn alone. Black gums and scarlet oaks bring the deep cranberry reds. Ginkgo and zelkova cast a honeyed golden glow. Serviceberry warms smaller spaces with cinnamon orange and brick red. And sweetgum? It gathers nearly the whole autumn palette into one slender silhouette.

The goal isn’t to leave maples behind. It’s to create a richer, more layered landscape with color, scale, and character. A tree should do more than glow for a few weeks in fall; it should belong in your landscape for years to come.

Ready to bring a little more autumn home? Baxter Gardens can help you choose a fall color tree that fits your property now and at maturity.