One of the great pleasures of autumn is watching tree leaves turn different shades of yellow, orange and red. But here in Austin, the changes in color are less dramatic than they are in more northerly climates.
That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the best show of the season. Texas has several native trees that do color highly during this time of year. With a little planning, you can create a vivid autumn spectacle for your landscape.
1. Bigtooth Maple
This tree, which sometimes looks more like a shrub, matures at 15 feet or taller on good soils. During the fall, the leaves turn a beautiful bright red and gold.
2. Flowering Dogwood
Though most noted for the white flowers it produces in the spring, the leaves on this tree – which can grow as high as 40 feet and requires acidic soil – produces gorgeous scarlet red leaves in the fall.
3. Texas Red Oak
This species of oak grows up to 30 feet high and has foliage that turns a bright orange-red when the weather cools. It tolerates poor and rocky soils and is also resistant to Oak Wilt.
4. Eastern Black Cherry/Escarpment Black Cherry
These two trees are native to Texas Hill Country and can grow to 25 feet and sometimes taller. Both have pendulous branches and leaves that turn a lovely shade of yellow in the fall.
5. Carolina Buckthorn
The Carolina Buckthorn is a multi-stemmed understory tree growing 15-20 feet tall and wide. In autumn, its leaves turn yellow. Red berries provide additional interest and color.
