Planting trees is one of the best investments you can make for your landscape.
Whether you want to enhance your curb appeal, provide shade, or attract wildlife, planting in fall is the ideal time to ensure strong root development before the next growing season.
Fall planting gives trees a head start, allowing them to establish roots before winter dormancy and flourish in spring.
If you’re looking for the best trees to plant in autumn, we’ve compiled a list of 10 amazing trees that will bring beauty and benefits to your garden for years to come!
Why Plant Trees in Fall? 🍂🌳
Fall is considered one of the best seasons for planting trees for several reasons:
✔ Cooler Temperatures: Reduces heat stress on newly planted trees.
✔ Moist Soil Conditions: Autumn rainfall helps roots establish.
✔ Root Growth Before Winter: While top growth slows, roots continue developing underground.
✔ Less Pest & Disease Pressure: Fewer insects and fungal diseases affect young trees.
Now that you know why fall is an optimal planting time, let’s explore the 10 best trees you can plant this season!
1. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) 🍁
Why Plant It? The sugar maple is famous for its brilliant fall foliage, turning shades of orange, red, and gold.
It’s a long-living tree that provides excellent shade and adds beauty to any yard.
Growing Conditions:
✔ Height: 60–75 feet
✔ Sun: Full sun to partial shade
✔ Soil: Well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral
✔ Best For: Large landscapes, shade, and stunning autumn color
💡 Tip: Sugar maples are great for syrup production, so if you love homemade maple syrup, this tree is a perfect choice!
2. Red Oak (Quercus rubra) 🌳
Why Plant It? The red oak is a fast-growing shade tree with beautiful red leaves in fall. It’s highly adaptable and thrives in a variety of soil types.
Growing Conditions:
✔ Height: 50–75 feet
✔ Sun: Full sun
✔ Soil: Well-drained, acidic to slightly alkaline
✔ Best For: Shade, urban landscapes, and wildlife habitat
💡 Tip: Red oaks support pollinators and birds by providing acorns as a natural food source!
3. Dogwood (Cornus florida) 🌸
Why Plant It? The dogwood tree is an ornamental favorite, producing gorgeous white, pink, or red blossoms in spring and stunning purple-red leaves in fall.
Growing Conditions:
✔ Height: 15–30 feet
✔ Sun: Full sun to partial shade
✔ Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic
✔ Best For: Small gardens, decorative landscapes, and wildlife
💡 Tip: Dogwoods are low-maintenance and attract butterflies, bees, and birds!
4. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) 🍂
Why Plant It? The ginkgo tree is an ancient species with unique fan-shaped leaves that turn golden yellow in fall. It’s extremely resistant to pollution, making it perfect for urban areas.
Growing Conditions:
✔ Height: 50–80 feet
✔ Sun: Full sun
✔ Soil: Well-drained, adaptable
✔ Best For: City landscapes, pollution tolerance, and unique foliage
💡 Tip: Ginkgo trees are disease-resistant and can live for hundreds of years!
5. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) 💜
Why Plant It? The Eastern redbud is a small, flowering tree that produces gorgeous pink or purple blossoms in early spring. It also has heart-shaped leaves that turn golden in fall.
Growing Conditions:
✔ Height: 20–30 feet
✔ Sun: Full sun to partial shade
✔ Soil: Well-drained, loamy
✔ Best For: Small yards, pollinator gardens, and decorative accents
💡 Tip: Redbuds are bee-friendly and help early-season pollinators!
6. Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) 🌲
Why Plant It? Unlike most conifers, the bald cypress is deciduous, meaning it sheds its feathery leaves in fall, turning a beautiful copper-bronze color before dropping.
Growing Conditions:
✔ Height: 50–70 feet
✔ Sun: Full sun
✔ Soil: Prefers wet or swampy conditions but adapts to drier soils
✔ Best For: Water gardens, flood-prone areas, and landscapes needing vertical height
💡 Tip: This tree is extremely hardy and can withstand droughts and wet soils!
7. River Birch (Betula nigra) 🏞️
Why Plant It? The river birch is known for its peeling bark and vibrant yellow fall leaves. It’s fast-growing, making it an excellent choice for shade and erosion control.
Growing Conditions:
✔ Height: 40–70 feet
✔ Sun: Full sun to partial shade
✔ Soil: Moist, acidic, well-draining
✔ Best For: Riverbanks, erosion control, and ornamental beauty
💡 Tip: River birches are highly resistant to pests and diseases!
8. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) 🍂
Why Plant It? Japanese maples are prized for their striking fall foliage, which comes in shades of red, orange, and purple. They make gorgeous focal points in any landscape.
Growing Conditions:
✔ Height: 10–25 feet
✔ Sun: Partial shade to full sun
✔ Soil: Well-drained, rich, slightly acidic
✔ Best For: Small gardens, ornamental landscapes, and autumn color
💡 Tip: Japanese maples do well in containers, making them perfect for patios!
9. White Oak (Quercus alba) 🌳
Why Plant It? The white oak is a majestic, long-lived tree that provides amazing fall color and acorns for wildlife. It’s highly drought-resistant once established.
Growing Conditions:
✔ Height: 50–80 feet
✔ Sun: Full sun
✔ Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic
✔ Best For: Shade, large yards, and wildlife
💡 Tip: White oaks live for hundreds of years, making them a legacy tree for future generations!
10. American Holly (Ilex opaca) 🎄
Why Plant It? American holly is a beautiful evergreen tree that produces bright red berries in fall and winter, adding color when most trees are bare.
Growing Conditions:
✔ Height: 30–50 feet
✔ Sun: Full sun to partial shade
✔ Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic
✔ Best For: Privacy screens, holiday décor, and bird-friendly landscapes
💡 Tip: Holly berries attract songbirds like robins and cedar waxwings!
Final Thoughts: Choose the Right Tree for Your Fall Planting!
Fall is the perfect season to plant trees, and these 10 amazing options will enhance your landscape with vibrant fall colors, shade, wildlife benefits, and seasonal interest.
Whether you prefer the majestic oak, the delicate Japanese maple, or the hardy river birch, planting now will ensure strong root development and a flourishing tree next spring.
