The most beautiful trees and shrubs for bright autumn colors

Autumn is the time of year when nature once again presents a real firework of colors. The leaves of the trees and bushes turn into the most beautiful tones of red, orange and yellow and transform gardens, parks and forests into an impressive spectacle.

The “Indian Summer” – A worldwide phenomenon

When you think of autumn colors, “Indian Summer” quickly comes to mind, the famous natural spectacle of the deciduous forests in the New England states of the USA and Canada. There, longer high pressure areas ensure dry and warm weather after the first night frosts, which leads to particularly intense foliage coloring. The vegetation of the deciduous forests in these regions, with maples, oaks and other trees, offers the ideal conditions for this colorful phenomenon. Every year, these bright colors attract numerous people from all over the world who want to admire this natural spectacle.

But in Germany we can also enjoy the splendor of autumn colors. In this country, Indian summer often brings autumnal bursts of warmth, which make the leaves of our local deciduous trees shine in captivating colors. The low autumn sun bathes these colors in a warm, golden light that appeals to the soul and draws us into nature.

The right choice of location for optimal autumn color

The choice of location plays a crucial role in ensuring that your garden shines in bright colors in autumn. For maximum autumn color, the plants should be in a sunny, dry and wind-protected place. Such a location ensures that the plants are kept drier, which intensifies the foliage coloring. However, a cool and rainy autumn can cause the leaves to turn brown.

The most beautiful trees for a riot of colors in autumn

Choosing the right trees is crucial when it comes to impressive fall color. Here are some of the best trees that can transform your garden into a sea of ​​autumn colors:

• Swamp oak (Quercus palustris): A stately tree that grows up to 20 to 25 meters high. In autumn its leaves turn a bright scarlet red.
• Red maple (Acer rubrum): The classic of the "Indian Summer", with intense autumn colors in yellow, orange and red. It reaches a height of up to 12 meters and thrives best on pH-neutral to slightly acidic soils.
• Amber tree (Liquidambar styraciflua): In autumn, the amber tree shows a color spectrum from yellow, orange, red to brown-violet and grows up to 12 meters high.
• Japanese maple (Acer palmatum): An excellent tree for small gardens, whose delicate leaves turn from red to deep purple in autumn.

Shrubs that shine particularly brightly in autumn

Not only trees, but also shrubs make a decisive contribution to the design of an autumn garden. Here are some particularly colorful representatives:

• Japanese Japanese maple (Acer palmatum): One of the most popular garden plants in Germany, which shines bright red in autumn.
• Japanese flower dogwood (Cornus kousa): This shrub shows bright yellow to glowing red colors in autumn and reaches a height of up to 7 meters.
• Winged Pfaffenhütchen (Euonymus alatus): With its red to pink bright leaves and a height of up to 3 meters, this shrub is a real eye-catcher in autumn.

Tips for caring for bright autumn colors

With the right selection of trees and shrubs as well as careful care, you can also experience the autumnal play of colors of an "Indian Summer" in your garden. The combination of large deciduous trees such as swamp oak and red maple and smaller shrubs such as Japanese maple and flowering dogwood creates a harmonious interplay that lets autumn shine in all its splendor.