For lustrous foliage, look to native trees.

JESSICA DAMIANO

If you’re looking for new trees, consider planting native trees. They generally require less care than exotic species, require less water, fertilizers and pesticides, and often cost less.

Native trees also support our native wildlife that evolved with them, so consider them food. The same cannot be said for many introduced trees. And exotic trees that are recognized by insects may not have the correct shaped flowers to fit their mouthparts. Others might provide us with food, but not the nutrients our native animals need.

These are some of my favorite native trees, sorted by fall color to make your landscape dreams come true.

FOR RED

Let’s start with oaks, which are considered a keystone species of North America. They are vital components of the ecosystem. Oak trees provide habitat for hundreds of species of native insects that feed, lay eggs, and shelter on and under their leaves.

Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) grows best in full sun, reaching 50 to 70 feet tall, and displays blazing red foliage in fall in garden zones 5 to 9. Red oak (Quercus rubra) has similar properties, while white oak (Quercus alba) can withstand cooler temperatures so is suitable for zones 3-9 and can grow 10 feet taller.

All native serviceberry berries have nice fall color, but Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’, a hybrid of A. arborea and A. laevis native to the eastern United States, really turns heads with its bright, shiny orange-red foliage. Small white flowers bloom in spring and edible purple-black berries appear in summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade in zones 4–9.

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a single- or multi-stemmed tree with white or pink spring flowers and red fall foliage, growing 20 to 40 feet tall for partial sun in zones 2-10.

Also note: red maple (Acer rubrum), which maintains color year-round, with red buds in winter and red flowers in spring, completely blocking the sun in zones 3-9; and American mountain ash (Sorbus americana) in full sun in zones 3-6.

FOR YELLOW

The tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), a cousin of the magnolia, is absolutely stunning in the spring when its fragrant, tulip-shaped flowers bloom, and just as beautiful in the fall when its leaves turn a bright gold. These fast-growing trees reach 60 to 80 feet tall in zones 4 to 9, but they have shallow roots and top-heaviness, so they can topple if planted in soggy soil.

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) produces yellow fruits that taste like bananas and papaya. The trees, with bright yellow-gold foliage in fall, grow to about 25 feet in zones 5-8, but in the right conditions (protected from winter winds in the north and scorching heat in the south) can grow well in zones 4 and 9.

American persimmon (Diospyros Virginiana) turns greenish-yellow in the fall. Grow it completely out of sun in zones 5 to 9, where it can grow up to 100 feet tall in rich, moist soil (it can grow shorter in less than ideal conditions). In addition, you will also receive fruits.

Also consider: pecan (Carya illinoinensis) in zones 5–9 in full sun; American aspen (Populus tremuloides) in zones 2-8 in full sun; American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) in zones 3–9, in full sun or shade; and regional redbud cultivars (Cercis).

FOR ORANGE

Black gum tree, also known as black tupelo tree (Nyssa sylvatica), will absolutely delight you with red, orange, yellow and burgundy leaves on the tree right away. Plant it fully to position the sun in acidic soil and expect it to reach a height of 30-50 feet in zones 4-9.

The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is the state tree of New York, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Vermont, and maples in general are the national tree of Canada—and for good reason. Not only do they attract attention with fall shades of orange, then yellow and finally red in zones 3-9, reaching heights of 40-75 feet in full sun, but in about 40 years they will also produce maple syrup. .

Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a thin-coniferous tree that looks like an evergreen. But in the fall, the needles of this conifer turn brown and orange and then fall off, which is how it got its common name. It can handle wet, even swampy soil, as well as dry and salty soil. Plant it in full sun to partially shade zones 4-9 and expect it to reach 50-70 feet tall.

Also consider: sassafras (Sassafras albidum) in zones 5-9 in full sun to partial shade and Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) in zones 3-7 in full sun to partial shade.

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for AP and publishes the award-winning weekly newsletter Dirt. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and tricks.

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