Top 5 Trees for Fall Color in California
Bring a glorious sight to the landscape this autumn with one of these beauties that thrive in mild climates
Like the myths that everyone in Silicon Valley is an entrepreneur and every server in Los Angeles is an actor, people say that California has no seasons — and no autumn foliage. But look around in fall. A number of great garden trees that dependably brighten neighborhoods and public spaces with brilliant autumn foliage put that myth to rest.
Ginkgo, or Maidenhair Tree
(Ginkgo biloba)
A rugged and dependable big tree, ginkgo puts on a dramatic show in late fall — in California, often closer to Christmas than Halloween. Green leaves (shaped like a maidenhair fern) turn buttery yellow or golden all at once, and after a week or two they drop in unison, creating a golden carpet on the ground or lawn.
A handsome tree all year, ginkgo generally is tall and stately, although some varieties are more compact and spreading. Don't be scared off by the size of towering street trees you see around. This is a slow-growing tree. You can create a minigrove of three or four slender young trees spaced 8 or 10 feet apart; they won't reach intimidating stature for a decade or so.
USDA zones: 5 to 9 (find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 35 to 50 feet high (can be taller) and 15 to 40 feet wide, depending on variety
Growing tip: Unnamed trees grown from seeds may be female and produce a mess of stinky fruit. Make sure you choose a named variety, such as ‘Autumn Gold’, ‘Saratoga’, or 'Pendula' (shown here and in the previous photo).
Read more about ginko biloba
(Ginkgo biloba)
A rugged and dependable big tree, ginkgo puts on a dramatic show in late fall — in California, often closer to Christmas than Halloween. Green leaves (shaped like a maidenhair fern) turn buttery yellow or golden all at once, and after a week or two they drop in unison, creating a golden carpet on the ground or lawn.
A handsome tree all year, ginkgo generally is tall and stately, although some varieties are more compact and spreading. Don't be scared off by the size of towering street trees you see around. This is a slow-growing tree. You can create a minigrove of three or four slender young trees spaced 8 or 10 feet apart; they won't reach intimidating stature for a decade or so.
USDA zones: 5 to 9 (find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 35 to 50 feet high (can be taller) and 15 to 40 feet wide, depending on variety
Growing tip: Unnamed trees grown from seeds may be female and produce a mess of stinky fruit. Make sure you choose a named variety, such as ‘Autumn Gold’, ‘Saratoga’, or 'Pendula' (shown here and in the previous photo).
Read more about ginko biloba
Chinese Pistache
(Pistacia chinensis)
This is a very reliable, easygoing tree with one true gift — sort of a Susan Boyle of the arboreal world. That gift is brilliant fall color: orange, red, sometimes yellow. For most of the year, Chinese pistache is so understated and well behaved (no messy fruit, broken branches, leaf drop) that no one notices it. It’s a medium-size, deciduous tree, generally with a roundish top.
You can grow pistache in a variety of situations: on a lawn, as a small patio tree, in a parking strip, in a grove of three or more. A mature tree can serve as a substantial shade tree.
USDA zones: 6 to 9
Water requirement: Moderate, but the tree is flexible enough to accept light to heavy watering
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 30 to 60 feet high and 30 to 40 feet wide
Growing tips: It's not fussy about soil or water, but fall color usually is more pronounced in drier conditions. Pistache is a bit slow to get started; start with a larger nursery tree if you’re in a hurry.
(Pistacia chinensis)
This is a very reliable, easygoing tree with one true gift — sort of a Susan Boyle of the arboreal world. That gift is brilliant fall color: orange, red, sometimes yellow. For most of the year, Chinese pistache is so understated and well behaved (no messy fruit, broken branches, leaf drop) that no one notices it. It’s a medium-size, deciduous tree, generally with a roundish top.
You can grow pistache in a variety of situations: on a lawn, as a small patio tree, in a parking strip, in a grove of three or more. A mature tree can serve as a substantial shade tree.
USDA zones: 6 to 9
Water requirement: Moderate, but the tree is flexible enough to accept light to heavy watering
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 30 to 60 feet high and 30 to 40 feet wide
Growing tips: It's not fussy about soil or water, but fall color usually is more pronounced in drier conditions. Pistache is a bit slow to get started; start with a larger nursery tree if you’re in a hurry.
Sweetgum
(Liquidambar styraciflua)
Native to forests of the American East and Southeast, liquidambar has made itself at home in the West as one of the most popular street trees. Many of the most widely planted varieties originated in California, such as ‘Palo Alto’, known for its bright red or orange-red fall color.
The tree's tall and upright form will fit into a garden’s background. It will grow on a lawn, but surface roots can create annoying bumps. Mature specimens, pruned to spread (this photo), make nice shade trees. Plant several together to form a grove or in rows for a screen.
USDA zones: 7 to 9
Water requirement: Moderate or more
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 30 to 60 feet high and 15 to 30 feet wide (generally on the slender side)
Growing tips: Liquidambar is easy to grow, but you’ll need to prune it early in life to develop a strong upright shape; pinch back the side branches. For more of a round top, remove the lower branches. Don’t plant it close to the pavement, as the roots can lift it up. Be prepared to rake up spiny balls of seeds through much of the year.
(Liquidambar styraciflua)
Native to forests of the American East and Southeast, liquidambar has made itself at home in the West as one of the most popular street trees. Many of the most widely planted varieties originated in California, such as ‘Palo Alto’, known for its bright red or orange-red fall color.
The tree's tall and upright form will fit into a garden’s background. It will grow on a lawn, but surface roots can create annoying bumps. Mature specimens, pruned to spread (this photo), make nice shade trees. Plant several together to form a grove or in rows for a screen.
USDA zones: 7 to 9
Water requirement: Moderate or more
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 30 to 60 feet high and 15 to 30 feet wide (generally on the slender side)
Growing tips: Liquidambar is easy to grow, but you’ll need to prune it early in life to develop a strong upright shape; pinch back the side branches. For more of a round top, remove the lower branches. Don’t plant it close to the pavement, as the roots can lift it up. Be prepared to rake up spiny balls of seeds through much of the year.
Japanese Maple
(Acer japonicum)
Fall color of this all-year performer varies from tree to tree. Shop in fall and handpick the color you like. As a rule, the common green-leaf species (Acer palmatum) tolerates more sun and heat better than varieties with fancy leaves, but it may be less colorful. Japanese maple does well in a container; move it to a prominent spot during its autumn show.
USDA zones: 5 to 8
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun in cool-summer climates; partial shade during the hottest part of the day in most areas
Mature size: 15 to 25 feet high and 10 to 25 feet wide, depending on variety
Growing tips: Provide well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Burned tips of leaves indicate sunburn (provide more shade) or damage from salts in water (flood the root zone with water).
(Acer japonicum)
Fall color of this all-year performer varies from tree to tree. Shop in fall and handpick the color you like. As a rule, the common green-leaf species (Acer palmatum) tolerates more sun and heat better than varieties with fancy leaves, but it may be less colorful. Japanese maple does well in a container; move it to a prominent spot during its autumn show.
USDA zones: 5 to 8
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun in cool-summer climates; partial shade during the hottest part of the day in most areas
Mature size: 15 to 25 feet high and 10 to 25 feet wide, depending on variety
Growing tips: Provide well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Burned tips of leaves indicate sunburn (provide more shade) or damage from salts in water (flood the root zone with water).
Japanese Persimmon
(Diospyros kaki)
The persimmon's fall beauty comes in a double dose: First the glossy, leathery leaves turn deep orange to red. After those fall, often around Thanksgiving, bare branches bend deeply as they hold dozens (hundreds?) of gleaming orange fruits well into winter. California nature/Zen poet Gary Snyder describes the magic of persimmons and the fruit’s "sweet orange goop” in “Mu Ch’i’s Persimmons”.
The tree is dependable, medium size and perfectly suited to California gardens. It needs little care compared with most other fruit trees — no pruning or spraying. It is shapely enough to stand alone as a garden’s focal point. In time it can make a decent shade tree. In a big garden, several trees can form a row in the background.
Many people like to eat the fruit fresh or use it in baking; others don’t like the fruit’s texture.
USDA zones: 7 to 10
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 30 feet high and wide
Growing tips: There are a number of varieties on the market; ‘Hachiya’ is the most familiar one. ‘Fuyu’ has smaller, flatter fruit that is nonastringent and eaten when hard. What are you going to do with the fruit? It’s going to be there, although birds or squirrels may steal some. If you don’t want it, you can probably pick ripe fruits (after they soften and lose their astringency) and give them away — or have the kids set up a lemonade-style stand. Don’t plant this tree where you don’t want the fruit to fall.
(Diospyros kaki)
The persimmon's fall beauty comes in a double dose: First the glossy, leathery leaves turn deep orange to red. After those fall, often around Thanksgiving, bare branches bend deeply as they hold dozens (hundreds?) of gleaming orange fruits well into winter. California nature/Zen poet Gary Snyder describes the magic of persimmons and the fruit’s "sweet orange goop” in “Mu Ch’i’s Persimmons”.
The tree is dependable, medium size and perfectly suited to California gardens. It needs little care compared with most other fruit trees — no pruning or spraying. It is shapely enough to stand alone as a garden’s focal point. In time it can make a decent shade tree. In a big garden, several trees can form a row in the background.
Many people like to eat the fruit fresh or use it in baking; others don’t like the fruit’s texture.
USDA zones: 7 to 10
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 30 feet high and wide
Growing tips: There are a number of varieties on the market; ‘Hachiya’ is the most familiar one. ‘Fuyu’ has smaller, flatter fruit that is nonastringent and eaten when hard. What are you going to do with the fruit? It’s going to be there, although birds or squirrels may steal some. If you don’t want it, you can probably pick ripe fruits (after they soften and lose their astringency) and give them away — or have the kids set up a lemonade-style stand. Don’t plant this tree where you don’t want the fruit to fall.