Small Trees with Excellent Fall Foliage

Japanese Maple - Acer Palmatum

Japanese Maple is an ornamental tree known for its palmate leaves that turn shades of green and yellow in the fall, contributing to a graceful and vibrant garden landscape. It is a stunning and versatile ornamental with numerous landscaping benefits. Its unique characteristics and aesthetic appeal make it popular for enhancing outdoor spaces like gardens, parks, and residential yards. It is a type of woody plant of Asian origin. In Japan, it is called "Iroha Momiji." The tree is famous for its refined ornamental qualities and variety of colorful cultivars. Japanese Maples Natural Habitat Iroha Momiji is native to Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia, and Russia and naturalized in parts of North America. This deciduous plant typically reaches 20'–35' when it grows in the understory of shady woodland. Many iroha Momiji trees grow in the wild, and seedlings from the same ancestor can be of different colors, shapes, and sizes. Japanese Maple Has Many Sizes  Japanese Maple has thousands of beautiful forms and sizes ranging from 1 1⁄2' to 52' tall. Their small, finely-textured palmate leaves range from 1 1⁄2"–4 3⁄4" long and display five, seven, or nine long, pointed lobes. The leaves are famed for their fantastic colors, from deep green and chartreuse to orange, red, and deep purple. Some cultivars have variegated leaves with pink or white patterns. In the fall, the leaves typically brighten and display brilliant yellow, red, and orange. The tree typically has gnarled, twisting, compound trunks with gray bark that join close to the ground. Iroha Momiji cultivars have many forms, from upright to dome- and vase-shaped to weeping, cascading, and more. In the United States, Iroha Momiji cultivars are often planted in Japanese gardens. Their compact size and adaptability make them good ornamental accent trees for paths, borders, and patios. The plant is also popular as a bonsai, and many varieties can be grown in pots or planters. Iroha Momiji trees shelter various small animals Within their delicate canopies. Songbirds use the branches as nesting sites and feast on their seeds, while squirrels and chipmunks are said to enjoy the trees' bark. In spring, hummingbirds and bees fly to the trees' flowers and feed on their nectar. Try Japanese Maple In Your Garden Planting Japanese Maple in your garden is a great way to add creative flair to your landscape and enjoy its refined beauty all year.

Staghorn Sumac

Staghorn Sumac is a deciduous shrub or small tree known for its pinnately compound leaves and distinctive upright clusters of fuzzy, red, or white berries. It is often found in various habitats and appreciated for its ornamental and ecological value. This excellent deciduous plant is known for its unique beauty, beautiful leaves, and fall color. With its unique and highly harmonious form, it is a must-have for any lover or gardener. Staghorn Sumac is generally safe for humans and most animals to interact with. It can be grown outdoors to add color to your yard or kept indoors as an ornamental piece. Let's take a closer look at the physical attributes of this deciduous shrub and the benefits of owning it. What Does the Shrub Look Like This item will grow to about 16 feet tall and about 20 feet in diameter. It has yellowish flowers and a series of green leaves during the spring and summer and various colors during the fall. The primary leaves are about 10 inches long, while the flowers are two to four inches wide. Many people say that the leaves feel like the velvet of a deer's antlers, which is partially how the tree got its name. Staghorn Sumac Reproduces in Multiple Ways This plant can reproduce through seeds spread by wind or animals such as squirrels or rabbits. However, they can also create clones of themselves in which younger shoots will sprout near more mature ones. This means that you can quickly get more of these plants on your property within a matter of months. Staghorn Sumac Produces Food for Wildlife Several birds and other creatures that stick around for the winter will eat the fruit they provide. The fruit will typically remain on the tree from the late spring months until they are consumed or fall off before the start of the following spring. Therefore, you will always have something to look at, no matter what the calendar says. You can put Staghorn Sumac in your front yard to break up what might otherwise be a monotonous space. They can also be used as part of a garden or indoors to add a touch of color to your home office or other sufficiently large spaces where a plant can add charm and character.

Sourwood Tree

The Sourwood Tree is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States. It is notable for its long panicles of fragrant, white, urn-shaped flowers and vibrant red fall foliage. Among garden trees, the Sourwood Tree fits the bill. It grows around 25 feet tall, and its branches generally spread to 10 feet. It will become a stalwart focal point in any garden. These plants are stately enough to please the eye yet small enough not to overpower any perennials planted around them. Another name for this plant is the sorrel. Sourwood Tree Has Beautiful Blooms They say, "Good things come to those who wait." That is true of this plant. Beginning with its fifth season after being planted, it will sprout gorgeous white flowers throughout June and July every year. These bell-shaped flowers grow on panicles in a flowing, attractive fashion that has led them to be called "angel fingers." The flowers are also sweet-smelling, producing so much nectar during their blooming that it drips from the branches at the slightest shake. The Leaves of Sourwood Tree Are Rich and Colorful The leaves will turn brilliant colors in the fall, notably red and deep purple. The bark is reddish brown and is attractively furrowed, matching the hues of the changing leaves. The leaves are pleasantly aromatic, reminiscent of the smell of honey from the tree's nectar. The wonderful aroma is balanced between astringency, which gives the plant its name, and the sweetness of anise. The leaves are oblong and finely tapered, and the surface is glossy enough to reflect sunlight attractively. After the blooms fade at the beginning of August, pretty silvery capsules form along the branches. The color of these capsules meshes nicely with the changing leaves and the furrowed bark into winter. Because the sorrel is a slow-growing plant, its wood and bark are solid and sturdy, providing a beautiful sight in all four seasons. Attract Pollinators With Sourwood Tree Pollinators, especially bees, love the flowers of Sourwood Tree, the sweet-and-sour nectar that produces the world's most excellent honey. Birds will also fly among the branches for a snack as autumn turns to winter. As the sorrel is mainly unaffected by pests or disease, it will likely remain a pleasing focal point in any garden for many years.