Our Favourite Autumn Trees to Add Colour and Charm to Your Garden

Autumn is the season that trees truly shine — fiery reds, glowing oranges, and golden yellows bring instant impact to any landscape. At Urban Tree Growers, we love this time of year. It’s when our trees show their full personality, and we get to help gardeners and landscapers choose varieties that transform spaces with seasonal beauty.

Here are three of our all-time favourite autumn trees, each offering something special — and yes, one might just surprise you!

Ornamental Pear (Pyrus varieties)

Fiery foliage with year-round structure

Ornamental pears are hard to beat for reliable autumn colour. Their foliage turns from glossy green to shades of crimson, orange, and burgundy, often holding their colour well into winter.

Why we love them:

• Stunning columnar or rounded forms depending on variety
• White spring blossom adds seasonal interest
• Tolerant of a wide range of soils and conditions
• Low maintenance and great for formal or informal plantings

Best varieties for autumn colour:

• Capital – perfect for narrow spaces and avenues
• Cleveland Select – neat shape and brilliant red-orange leaves
• Winter Glow – holds its rich foliage colour longer into the season

Tip: Pair them with evergreen backdrops to make their autumn display pop.

Autumn Blaze Maple (Acer × freemanii ‘Jeffersred’)

Fast-growing and fiery

As the name suggests, Autumn Blaze puts on a blazing display of bright red to orange-red foliage — often one of the first to colour up in the season. It’s a hybrid of silver and red maple, combining the best traits of both.

Why it’s a standout:

• Rapid growth makes it ideal for new gardens
• Upright shape with strong branch structure
• Tolerates heat, clay soil, and urban conditions
• Reliable autumn performer, even in warmer areas

Use it as:
A statement feature tree or in avenue plantings for symmetrical impact.

Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

The surprise stunner

Best known for their summer flowers, Crepe Myrtles are an unexpected autumn hero. As the blooms fade, the leaves turn rich shades of amber, orange, and crimson — a double bonus!

Why we keep recommending them:

• Long-lasting summer flowers (pink, white, purple or red)
• Vibrant autumn foliage adds another layer of beauty
• Smooth, sculptural bark for winter interest
• Compact sizes available — great for smaller spaces

Our favourite varieties for autumn colour:

Natchez (white flowers, orange-red leaves)

Tuscarora (coral pink flowers, vibrant red autumn tones)

Ready to plant your autumn showpiece?

Whether you’re after a formal avenue of ornamental pears, a bold feature maple, or a multi-season crepe myrtle, now is the perfect time to plant. Trees establish best while dormant, so get them in before spring and let the roots settle over winter.

Visit us by appointment or get in touch to chat about the best autumn trees for your space.