While there are numerous trees that offer wonderful yellow fall foliage, some make extraordinary specimens in residential and park landscapes. Enjoy the beautiful yellow and gold tones on a crisp fall day. Caveat: the quality of fall color may vary from year to year.
Big-leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) – this West Coast Native grows 60-75 feet tall tree with huge leaves that turn a rich shade of yellow in autumn, many times with a hint of orange. Zone 5-9.
Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) – small- to medium-sized tree produces yellow fall foliage, but the leaves sometimes are red or orange, depending on weather conditions. Zones 3-7.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora) – small, showy spring flowering native with variable yellow to orange-red fall color. Zones 4-9
Pignut hickory (C.arya glabra) –this tap-rooted large 50-60 feet tall woodland tree in the eastern and Midwest U.S. exhibits above average golden yellow-brown fall color. Zones 4-8.
Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) –shagbark hickory’s colorful foliage that turns from yellow to brown as autumn progresses; known for its shaggy bark and flavorful nuts. Zones 4-8.
Katsura tree (Cerciphyllum japonicum) – large 50-60 feet tall, rounded tree that produces purple, heart-shaped leaves in spring with apricot-yellow fall foliage. Zones 5-8.
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) – native spring flowering famous favored for its rose-purple flowers and attractive, greenish-yellow fall foliage. Zones 4-8
Green ash (Fraxinus pensylvania) – pinnately compound foliage turns yellow in fall, with quality of the fall color often varying considerably from year to year. (Zones 3-9).
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) – aka maidenhair tree, develops an attractive, fan-shaped foliage that turns bright yellow in autumn. Zones 3-8.
Larch (Larix spp.) – Available in a range of sizes and forms, larchis a deciduous evergreen tree that grows in cold, mountainous regions. Fall foliage is a shade of brilliant, golden-yellow. Zones 2-6.
Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) – aka yellow poplar, this huge, tall tree is actually a member of the magnolia family. It is one of the prettiest, most majestic trees with yellow fall leaves. Zones 4-9.
Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) – small to medium tree that produces a range of sunset colors, including variable orange, red and yellow fall foliage. Zones 4-8.
False larch (Pseudolarix amabilis) – this deciduous conifer from China is rarely seen in U.S. landscape; grows 30-60 feet tall and never fails to provide a wow! golden to bronze leaf color in October, often lasting 2+ weeks. (Zones 4-7).