Every fall, as landscapes across Texas start glowing with reds, ambers, burgundies, and golds, the questions roll in:
“How do I get more fall color in my yard?”

And every year, the answer is the same:
If you want vibrant fall color next year, the time to start paying attention is right now!

Fall color is not luck it is planning. The plants lighting up parks and neighborhoods today are the very ones you should be scouting for your own landscape. Take note of what catches your eye, because this is your best chance to see these plants at their peak.

Below, we highlight some of the most reliable, Texas-tough fall color plants and why they deserve a place in your garden.

 

Featured Plants with Outstanding Fall Color

 

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Why We Love It

Oakleaf Hydrangea brings four seasons of interest, but fall is when it truly shines. Its large, textured leaves shift into deep wine reds, plums, and rusty bronzes often holding color longer than many deciduous shrubs. Plus, its peeling cinnamon-colored bark adds winter appeal.

Best Use

• Shaded beds
• Woodland gardens
• Pairing with evergreens for contrast

Texas Notes

Prefers morning sun with afternoon shade in North Texas.

 

 

 

Sumac (Rhus species)

Standout Varieties

• Flameleaf Sumac (Rhus lanceolata)
• Aromatic Sumac (Rhus aromatica)

Why We Love It

Few natives can compete with sumac when it comes to firecracker fall color. Flameleaf Sumac lives up to its name with brilliant scarlet foliage, while Aromatic Sumac delivers oranges, ambers, and bronzes that glow at sunset.

These plants are drought-tough, adaptable, and provide excellent wildlife value.

Best Use

• Naturalistic plantings
• Slopes and tough sites
• Pollinator and wildlife gardens

Texas Notes

One of the most dependable fall color plants in the state with virtually no pampering needed.

 

 

 

 

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

Why We Love It

Japanese Maples offer some of the most dramatic and luminous fall color available. Depending on the cultivar, expect shades of scarlet, coral, apricot, gold, orange, or burgundy.

Each variety has its own unique growth habit, leaf shape, and fall transition making it worth scouting in person this time of year.

Best Use

• Shady courtyards
• Entry gardens
• Focal points beneath tall trees

Texas Notes

Thrives best with protection from hot afternoon sun. Requires soil that drains well

 

 

Evergreens With Surprising Winter Color

Fall is just the start. Many evergreen plants develop rich purples and plums as temperatures drop. These subtle but striking color shifts keep your winter garden alive and interesting.

 

Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)

Why We Love It

Yes, Crossvine is known for its orange spring blooms, but in winter its foliage transforms into deep bronze and purplish tones. It is one of the best vines for multi-season color.

Texas Notes

Heat and drought tolerant. Flourishes in full sun to shade and handles harsh conditions with ease.

 

Rose Creek Abelia (Abelia × grandiflora ‘Rose Creek’)

Why We Love It

Rose Creek Abelia is a landscape workhorse, but it is cold-season display is its secret superpower. As temps drop, the foliage shifts into warm pink-plum hues that last through winter.

Texas Notes

Performs well in sun or part shade. Great low-maintenance shrub for landscapes.

 

Plan Now, Enjoy the Color Next Year

If you want a landscape that explodes with color every fall, the secret is not a magic fertilizer or a last-minute plant purchase it’s observation.

Walk your neighborhood. Visit public gardens. Notice what draws your eye.
Because the plants lighting up the landscape today are the ones that should shape your planting list for tomorrow.

If you want help selecting the right plants for your yard—or putting together a fall color design we are here to help. Just let us know, and we will help you build a landscape worth celebrating every single autumn.