Best Trees To Plant For Fall Colors In Florida

Looking for the best trees to plant for fall colors in Florida?

The Sunshine State really does see some autumn colors. I’m not talking about the vivid fall color like you’ll see in New England or along the Blue Ridge Parkway. But in central and northern regions of the state especially, you can plant many trees that will turn yellow, orange, red, or purple in the fall.

I know this because my wife and I have planted trees and other foliage in our Florida yard that boast rustic fall color in October, November, and early December.

Believe it or not, there are many trees that love the Florida heat and humidity. Yet, come fall, they will dazzle with autumn color before dropping their leaves.

So what kind of trees do you need to plant if you want fall color in your Florida landscape?

My wife and I have experience in building a landscape that provides our Florida yard with some nice autumn color. But I wanted to get some perspective from an expert. So, I reached out to Tia Silvasy. She’s the residential horticulture and master gardener volunteer coordinator at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for information on the best trees to plant for fall colors in Florida.

“Central Florida doesn’t get the skyline of color like the landscapes up north, but we can get a little color in our fall landscape using select plants,” Silvasy says.

“Some recommended Florida-friendly plants for fall color would include red maple, sweet gum, Shumard oak, our native sumac, cypress trees turn brown, muhly grass turns bright pink and is a real showstopper, [and] there are also hollies that have bright red berries and the beautyberry with purple berries.”

These maples, sweetgums, and bald cypress along with other trees don their fall colors in a parking lot just northwest of Tampa, Florida.

Other trees that Floridians may choose for the best chance of enjoying real fall color in their landscapes? Here’s a list that I created based on my own experience:

Bald cypress
Black gum / tupelo
Sassafras
Crepe myrtle
Correl
Sourwood

As always, stick to native trees when you can. You’ll find them at a local garden nursery near you in Florida.

Those that aren’t native but thrive in Florida and are non-invasive may make decent second choices. But whatever you do, make sure the trees you plant are suitable for your yard!

Planning A Fall Foliage Landscape In Your Yard

You’re going to need to consider how each of the best trees for fall colors will grow in your yard. Situate them according to their size, soil and moisture needs, and how they will interact with your home and other structures in your yard.

Remember the principles of right plant, right place! Some people trying to introduce fall color in their Florida yard might think they’ll optimize their chances of getting autumn colors if they plant trees suited for northern climates. But this won’t necessarily work.

Trees designed for northern climates won’t fare well in the many months of consecutive heat Florida sees. They will likely need more chill hours to thrive than anywhere in Florida provides. These trees may also need much cooler temperatures at night in the late summer and early autumn to prompt the chemical changes in the leaves that lead to fall colors.

Just stick to native plants… This is better for Mother Nature anyway. It’ll also be easier for you to grow and maintain trees that are naturally inclined to thrive in your area.

When my wife and I were planning our landscape, we decided to plant some of the best native trees for autumn colors in Florida.

One of our favorite choices? This red maple we planted in our front yard.

This red maple is turning yellow-orange in our front yard.

Where Can You See Fall Colors In Florida Anyway?

Again, you’re not going to see the fireworks show of fall color in Florida like you might if you’re heading up to the mountains of North Carolina or the hills of Vermont. But there are many wonderful parks my wife and I visit when looking for fall foliage in Florida.

They include:

Torreya State Park in Bristol, Florida
Falling Waters State Park in Chipley, Florida
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Micanopy, Florida
Withlacoochie State Forest in Brooksville, Florida

Fall colors were setting in on my wife's and my late September trip to Falling Waters State Park in Chipley, Florida, a few years ago.

We like visiting these places just to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. But we also glean ideas on the best trees for fall colors in Florida there. We’ll find out which trees go well in our yard. Then we set out to plant them when and where appropriate.

Other places where you’ll find the best trees for fall colors in Florida? Almost anywhere near lakes and ponds around much of the state. Though it gets tough to find much if any fall color at all south of the I-4 corridor. That being said, the sweetgums, maples, and bald cypress surrounding wetlands and ponds visible along the famous intrastate highway tease leaf peepers with little splashes of fall color.

Another favorite spot of mine is among the rolling hills of Pasco County, Hernando County, and Sumter County north of Tampa. The trek along I-75 between Exit 293 and Exit 309 is scenic with patches of fall color in autumn.

However, hands down the best place for autumn hues in the Sunshine State is in the Panhandle. That’s where the best trees for fall colors in Florida shine in all of their rustic glory!