Top 10 Native Plants for Christmas

by Mackenzie Younger

Balsam fir | Abies balsamea | Mount Washington, New Hampshire | photo: Mackenzie Younger

1. Fir tree

No Christmas is complete without the Christmas tree and there could be no better option for the holidays than the fir tree, specifically the balsam fir (Abies balsamea) or the Fraser fir (Abies fraseri).

These two iconic, native Christmas trees have a wonderful woodsy smell and an ability to hold their needles longer than other conifers.

One winter, an old man from the Catskill mountains, whose crops failed in the following fall, came down to New York City with a carriage filled with balsam fir trees that he cut. Because of his desperate financial situation, he hoped people would give him money for the trees and to his surprise — they did!  This began what would become the massive Christmas tree business in the United States. 

The Fraser fir is the southern relative of the balsam fir, limited to the ‘sky islands’ of the Appalachian mountains, which are the highest elevations of Tennessee and North Carolina, where the tree has been trapped since the last ice age. This tree is becoming endangered in the wild but is quite common as a Christmas tree on Christmas farms.

When it comes to growing these trees in a garden, park or as inventory for a Christmas tree farm; they require full sun to achieve that classical, dense and pyramidal Christmas shape. While both trees  do best in cooler climates Frasier for is more heat tolerant and is capable of surviving into zone 7. If grown in warmer climates, heavily mulching around the roots of the trees is recommended.

2. American Holly

American Holly | Ilex opaca | Philadelphia, PA | Photo: Mackenzie Younger

While people in the northern states and the mountains are lucky to have the ideal climate for fir trees, those in the southern states are lucky to have the ideal climate for the American Holly (Ilex opaca).

American holly like the fir trees is a quintessential Christmas plant. Although not suited for indoor Christmas tree uses, American Holly makes for a fantastic landscape ornamental and for cuttings to make wreaths, or other festive decorations. 

This broadleaf evergreen thrives in the hotter, humid south and plays an important role in the aesthetic and ecological landscape — attracting both people and wildlife. 

American holly works very well up against structures, as a specimen or in groups, where the mass of evergreens provide shelter for animals, especially song birds during winter storms. 

To get berries you need both a female and a male tree close by, for cross pollination. When planting, it is recommended that you amend the soil with compost, bark mulch and acidifier. It likes well drained, acidic and often sandy soil. Once established, American holly can be very hardy and does well in both full sun or part shade.

3. Christmas Fern

Christmas Fern | Polystichum acrostichoides | Shawangunk Mountains, NY | Photo: Mackenzie Younger

Do you think this is an appropriate plant for our list? You bet it is! In fact, if Santa had a favorite fern this would be it! The Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides).  

Christmas Fern is one of several evergreen ferns native to the eastern United States, inhabiting moist forests and north / eastern facing wooded slopes. Unlike most other ferns, Christmas fern has very dark waxy leaves, which remain on the plant throughout the winter, making it stand out in the cold months.

Christmas fern makes for a wonderful addition to any woodland or shaded garden in need of winter interest. The fern also does well in containers and can survive in partial sun if the soil is moist and rich with organic material.

A great companion plant to consider along with the Christmas fern is the evergreen wood fern (Ardryopteris marginalis). We suggest planting Christmas ferns in groups along pathways or as an understory plant for large shrubs. 

4. American Mistletoe

Did you know the United States has two native species of mistletoe?

Most people associate mistletoe as a Christmas ornament hung in doorways which people kiss under…  but few people associate it with what it really really is; a evergreen hemi-parasitic sub-shrub. In fact, the American mistletoe’s scientific name is Phoradendron, which means “thief of the tree".

If you’re from the south you’ve probably seen American mistletoe growing on branches of hardwood trees, especially in the winter months since mistletoe is evergreen and really stands out in the canopy of deciduous trees. Because of this evergreen nature mistletoe became a popular Christmas plant.

American mistletoe is an attractive plant but is never grown in gardens or sold at nurseries because it is often seen as a pest, although they rarely hurt their host trees and actually play an important role ecologically with flowers that pollinator enjoy and berries that birds love!

Nonetheless, American mistletoe is a unique plant associated with Christmas and a fun addition to this list. We urge you to look more into this bizarre, rarely discussed native plant!

5. Winterberry

Winterberry | Ilex verticillata | Brooklyn, New York | Photo: Mackenzie Younger

If you don’t have room for the large growing American holly we suggest you try its relative, the winterberry (Ilex verticillata) to brighten up the holiday season! This shrub produces iconic red berries that have become very commonplace in Christmas decorations. 

Winterberry naturally occurs in wetlands from Maine south to Alabama, making it very climate versatile and will happily adapt to most garden conditions, although amending the soil like one would for American holly can help.

Like all hollies a male specimen is needed for cross pollination, in order for the winterberry to produce berries. For example use the male cultivar "Southern Gentlemen," in combination with the female cultivar ‘Winter Red’ to ensure fruit production. On males is suitable for half a dozen or more females.

Winterberry is a great option to place near a bird bath or bird feeder, so come Christmas time, you can see birds playing on the branches before diving to and from the feeders. This will create what will truly be a Christmas card image! 

Later in the winter, these same birds will eat the berries, which serve as a very important food source when little else is available around in the landscape. 

Winterberry is one of the most popular woody ornamentals commercially grown for winter bouquets, and we highly recommend it in your garden for winter interest! 

6. Red Osier dogwood

 Like winterberry, red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) is primarily a wetland species but can adapt very well to garden conditions too. Unlike winterberry, red osier dogwoods native range doesn't extend north to south but rather east to west, across the northern United States, from New England to California which is rather unique. 

This shrub has vivid red stems, which make for a memorable addition to the winter landscape. The stems are commonly cut and sold as woody ornamentals for winter bouquets and holiday displays alongside winterberry stems. 

Like all members of the dogwood family, red osier dogwood has white flowers in the spring and produces berries + great red / burgundy leaf color in the fall.

Try combining red osier dogwood with winterberry to amp up the scarlet hues in your garden during the holiday season. They can be planted in wetland settings, along ponds or in a regular garden bed. They can be used as a single specimen shrub or in mass plantings as means to increase the visual effect of the plants awesome red stems.

7. American Wintergreen 

American Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is one of the best native plants to display during the holiday season. Gaultheria is an elegant, small in stature, sub-shrub, which has the habit of spreading like a ground cover. It has hard waxy evergreen leaves and bright red berries, almost as if it was designed by Santa himself!

Wintergreen also amazes those who interact with it, in that when you split a leaf, you're immediately hit with an intense, fresh and pungent mint fragrance, similar to wintergreen gum that most people are familiar with. This is the plant responsible for that exact aroma and flavor. 

Wintergreen naturally occurs in acidic forest floors or scrublands, and is almost always accompanied by mountain laurel and or other heath shrubs, such as huckleberry.

Like Christmas fern, this evergreen plant makes a great option for container plantings with moss. Due to its low growth habits, it's best used as an understory plant, with limited competition. 

Winter green will always entertain your garden guests and makes for a top notch Christmas plant! 

8. Arborvitae

American arborvitae | Thuja occidentalis | Maine | Photo: Mackenzie Younger

The American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) is a majestic evergreen tree which naturally occurs in moist forested areas throughout the north east, as well as lakes shores and along rock outcrops.  If you are not from the great lakes region or interior New England, you may never have seen this tree growing in the wild. That said, most people are familiar with this tree as a common privacy screen in suburban areas. 

American arborvitae is a versatile tree, which makes it ideal for the landscaping industry. Often it is simply referred to as arborvitae, making it easily mistaken and or mixed up with the western arborvitae (Thuja plicata) or other asian verities. 

What most people don’t realize is that the American arborvitae sold at your local nursery can live over a thousand years! Meaning that the hedge row you planted to block out your neighbor will, in theory…  out live you, your neighbor, the neighborhood and even society — if left undisturbed. 

Arborvitae stems smell fantastic and while they are not well suited as Christmas trees indoors, they make wonderful cut stems for wreaths and other holiday displays.

That said, as they are relatively slow growing, unless you have a lot of them in your landscape, it is best to enjoy them for their evergreen presence outdoors rather than cutting the branches. Birds need trees like the Arborvitae to hide in during winter snow storms! 

9. Pine

White pine | Pinus strobus | Shawangunk Mountains, New York | Photo: Mackenzie Younger

Pines, like arborvitae, are ideal for woody cuttings used for wreaths and other Christmas decorations. Pines are a versatile and diverse group of trees, and some of our favorites to work with, especially for winter interest! 

Up north, the white pine (Pinus strobus) is the most commonly found pine, and works well in most landscapes, either as a specimen tree or to create privacy screens. White pine is a great choice for those who want a fast growing evergreen but beware, white pines get very big.

Down south, Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) is often used as an alternative to the traditional Christmas tree because it can be pruned to resemble the shape of fir trees. This makes Virginia pine a great candidate for hedge rows in full sun or zen garden applications which rely on heavy pruning.

10. Juniper 

Last on our list is Juniper, although there are soo many more native plants that are great for winter interest.

Here in the eastern United States, we have several species of Juniper, all of which have fragrant evergreen foliage. These include the low growing Juniper, such as Juniperus communis and Juniperus horizontalis, which are awesome ground covers, used commonly in commercial landscapes but also work beautifully in rock gardens, along pathways and in containers. You will love the natural cascading effect this plant brings to your space.  

Another member of the juniper family is the eastern red cedar, (Juniperus virginiana). This is a heat tolerant evergreen and like Virginia pine, was once used as a Christmas tree alternative in the south. 

Female eastern red cedars produce blue berries that birds love and add aesthetic interest to the plant, especially as cut stems for wreaths. 

The berries were once used to create scented candles and of course, the most famous product from cedar berries is jin — giving that spirit its unique and recognizable flavor. 

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you enjoyed this article and can add some of this special native plants into your garden : )

Top Ten Orange

Native trees and shrubs for fantastic *Orange fall foliage

by Mackenzie Younger

Sugar maple | Acer saccharum | Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Catskill, NY

1. Sugar Maple

Need a large specimen tree that will bring joy to your heart in the fall? Well sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is the obvious choice! When it comes to selecting sugars maples, we highly recommend using cultivars because they will deliver the orange fall color you're looking for, more so than the true species which can be quite inconsistent. We love ‘Fall Fiesta’ for this reason. This trees fall color ranges from a bright yellowy-orange to a deep redly-orange, making for an outstanding display. 

Another great cultivar is ‘Green Mountain' although less consistent in its fall color compared to ‘Fall Fiesta’. ‘Green Mountain’ is a rather hardy sugar maple and better suited for warmer growing zones. Both are great choices and if you have the room, we suggest planting them alongside each other, as well as combing them with other, fantastic, fall foliage producers — like our native red maples (consider cultivars ‘October Glory’ or ‘Sunset’.)  

When it comes to planting sugar maple, be aware that it doesn’t do well in coastal areas or in urban environments. This is a tree for larger landscapes or as a lawn specimen. 

American smokebush | Cotinus obovatus | photo by Pleasant Run Nursery, NJ

2. American Smokebush 

When it comes to knockout fall color, the American Smokebush ‘Cotinus obovatus’ — truly excels. Another common name for this plant is smoketree because of its stature. This rare native is often confused with its Eurasian relative, which often has cultivars with smaller purple leaves and is far more common in the nursery trade. 

While the exotic smokebush is nice, it fails in comparison when it comes to the fall foliage of our native species. American smokebush bursts into a range of flame-like colors in autumn with brilliant hues of orange mixed with red, purple and yellow. 

This is a wonderfully whimsical plant to have in your landscape. From its smoke like flowers to its awesome end of the season fall coloration, American smokebush will stand out amongst less characteristic shrubs and trees. 

We recommend American smoke bush to anyone who wants incredible hues of orange in the fall. It does get large but can easily be cut back and thrives in hot, drier locations. Give it full sun and it will perform beautifully. Plant facing a western exposure and at the end of the day, the setting sun will illuminate smokebush’s leaves and all their magical color. 

'Spring Flurry' Serviceberry | Mackenzie's Garden, NY

3. Serviceberries

There are several species of serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) all of which turn wonderful hues of orange, red and yellow in the fall. That said most Serviceberries leans more towards hues of orange and is a fantastic large shrub / small tree for this purpose.

It's not just the fall foliage which is spectacular about this plant but also its early spring flowers and summer berries that birds adore. Often serviceberry is the first to bloom in their native habitats, long before other trees have even leafed out. Sometimes a month before, only being beaten by pussy willow. 

Cultivars that we love are ‘Spring Flurry’ (Amelanchier laevis) and ‘Autumn Brilliance’ (Amelanchier x grandiflora).

If you can find straight species — they are just as rewarding for fall color and a fun ‘rabbit hole to go down’… is to look into the many verities Amelanchier in North America and the subtle but important differences between them just as bloom times and growth habit. Planting a range of this species will increase both the aesthetic and the ecological impact on the landscape. 

4. Ohio Buckeye

The Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) is a rather common tree in the midwest and central Appalachian region but should really be used more in the landscaping industry nationwide because of its many awesome ornamental qualities. These include, but are not limited to, the brilliant pumpkin orange fall foliage!

Ohio Buckeye is one of the first trees to leaf out in spring bringing life to a slowly awakening landscape. Its flowers are wonderful, opening up around the time dogwoods bloom and resemble the more familiar European horse chestnut.

Like its early emerging spring foliage, Ohio buckeye will be one of the first trees to change color in the fall, and loose it leaves. Many people see this early drop as a negative quality but we believe its an asset in the garden because of the incredible orange display the tree put on before. Ohio buckeye leads the ‘fall foliage parade’ and stands out by doing so.

Pin cherry | Prunus pensylvanica | The New York Flower Farm, Ellenville, NY

5. Pin cherry

In the fall, pin cherry, also known as fire cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) erupts into a variety of warm tones, the primary of which being hot orange. 

Although not common in the landscaping industry here in the United States, pin cherry has become a hit overseas in countries like Sweden and Norway for its many ornamental qualities and extreme cold hardiness.

These ornimental qualities include:

• great fall color

• beautiful early spring white flowers

• early summer red cherries (that song birds eat)

• shinny bronze-colored bark

We recommend the pin cherry to anyone who lives in a more northern state and or in the mountains because of its cold hardiness and its benefit to wildlife. Pollinators and birds adore this plant.

When it comes to planting pin cherry it prefers full sun and enjoys open areas. Consider planting this tree in groups or as a specimen for a small garden. Combine with serviceberry and pussy willow for early spring interest.

Sassafras albidum | Wallkill, NY

Sassafras albidum | Acadia National Park, ME

6. Sassafras

Sassafras albidum is one of the few native plants which has a common name that is the same as its scientific name. This wonderful native tree was once used in soda recipes and to thicken gumbo in places like New Orleans. It's a relative of the spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and like spicebush, it has small yellow flowers in spring and is essential in the reproductive life cycle, as a host plant, for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly. 

The fall color tends to vary with the Sassafras, but is often a true orange (when not yellow or red). Sometimes, it's a mix of all three on one plant. Nonetheless, if you want orange in your landscape sassafras is a great option for you!

Although capable of getting large, sassafras is most commonly experienced as a small tree and is suitable for most small tree situations in the landscape. It's a beautiful plant throughout the season and does very well compositionally with other small flowering trees, such as flowering dogwood, eastern redbud, and serviceberry. When used in combination with these trees, its yellow flowers increase the festive feeling of early spring and its fall foliage enhances, and compliments those of its counterparts. 

Female sassafrases (the tree is dioecious) will produce berries in late summer / early fall which birds relish and for that reason, in combination with it being the host plant of the spicebush butterfly, we highly recommend sassafras for wildlife gardens.

Staghorn sumac | Rhus typhina | Boothbay, ME

7. Staghorn sumac and aromatic sumac

While all of our native sumacs have great fall color, staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) and aromatic sumac (Rhus aromatica) lean more orange than red, compared to other species.

Staghorn sumac is fire-like in color, with a mix of yellow and orange, while aromatic sumac is a mix of pumpkin orange and red. These two sumacs, like all sumacs, will spread overtime, making them ideal for meadows but not great for smaller backyards, especially if planted in the ground. Staghorn sumac can become impressively tall while aromatic sumac remains rather short. Some cultivars of aromatic sumac such as ‘low grow’ barley grow over a foot tall and make a great ground cover.

We recommend using ‘low grow’ aromatic sumac in mass plantings as a ground cover, especially in sunny somewhat dry areas. While staghorn is best for larger, habitat restoration projects, due to its aggressive nature, it can also be used in large containers and is very charming in creative applications.

Both sumacs are frequented by pollinators when they flower and produce red berries that songbirds love in the winter. 

8. Fothergilla 

There are two species of Fothergilla native to the United States (F. major and F. gardenii) and both have become quite common in the landscaping trade although, in the wild, they are only found in the deep south. Despite this limited range in the wild, they do very well in cold climates and are a great edition to any garden.

Forthergilla has delightful white fragrant flowers in spring and some of the best fall color in the autumn!  The only reason why this plant isn’t higher on our list, is its extreme variability in hot colors — sometimes an incredible orange, sometimes a bold red and yellow, or all three at once.

We recommend lining pathways with fothergilla or placing it by a door or window to experience its fragrance!

Appalachian Mountain camellia | Stewartia ovata | Mackenzie's Garden, NY

9. Mountain Stewartia  

Mountain Stewartia, also known as mountain camellia (Stewartia ovata) is the rarest plant on this list, not only in the wild but also in the nursery trade. This small flowering tree naturally occurs within a limited range through the southern Appalachian Mountains. If you're lucky, you might spot one in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee! 

This incredible tree flowers in early summer with camellia like flowers, which are truly exquisite and unlike most other native species, although most similar to the Franklinia tree, another oddity in North America. These plants have far more relatives in Asia than they do in the U.S. and it's their Asian counterparts that appear more frequently in gardens.

We currently have a Mountain Stewartia growing in the town of Ellenville, in upstate New York, at The New York Flower Farm (not yet open to the public) which is zone 6, and at the elevation of 1700ft, so it can handle fairly cold climates. That said, it's almost impossible to find at nurseries which is really unfortunate because it is an ideal garden specimen, with its unique flowers, lovely bark and vivid orange fall foliage! In fact, this fall it put on the best display of orange fall foliage in the landscape. 

So if you can find one of these magnificent and rare native trees, we suggest you plant it in partial shade with rich, organic soil. Eastern exposures with morning light are preferred and consider a location where the flowers and fall foliage can really be appreciated, up close.

10. Bald cypress 

The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is one of the most iconic trees of the deep south. It's also one of the longest living trees in the eastern United States (2000 years +) handling extreme heat and flooding, cold climates and drought. It's a tough, prehistoric, deciduous conifer, that in late fall and early winter, turns shades of orange and bronze. Yes, shades of orange, but not bright pumpkin orange like the sugar maple. Nonetheless it's a wonderful hue, which in the south, where fall foliage is limited, really makes a statement. 

Bald cypress can be a huge tree and for that reason, it is best suited for large landscapes. It can be grown from Miami up into Maine and used as a street tree or in a park, or along a pond where it will create its iconic ‘knees’. Roots that emerge from the soil and water like little mountains. 

We suggest bald cypress for any of situation but feel it is most unique and special when planted along water because of its growing habit in these conditions. Once established they can happily live in several feet of water year around.   

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Other great orange, fall foliage natives include American Hazelnut and the American beech tree.

American Hazelnut | Corylus americana

American beech tree | Fagus grandifolia

Top Ten Yellow

NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS FOR FANTASTIC *Yellow FALL FOLIAGE

by Mackenzie Younger

Young Yellowwood tree | Cladrastis kentukea | The New York Flower Farm, Ellenville, NY

1. Yellowwood

While the American yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) is rare in the wild (endemic to the southern Appalachian mountains) it is common in the landscaping industry, making it available to many people who desire a beautiful, medium-sized specimen tree.

In the fall yellowwood turns vivid yellow and really stands out amongst other trees. On top of the autumnal qualities of yellowwood, the tree flowers and has smooth grey bark (beech-tree-like in resemblance). Every part of this yellowwood is ornamental, and for that reason, it makes the top of the list.

When the yellowwood tree flowers in late spring / early summer, it will produce hanging structures of white, fragrant blossoms. These flowers dangle from the tree in the most graceful manner, blowing in the wind and dropping thousands of white peddles onto the ground below like confetti. It’s a truly magical display that makes for a memorable garden experience. Pollinators and people flock to this bonanza when it occurs.

We recommend planting yellowwood as a specimen tree in full sun or in a woodland composition. Consider placing this tree in a location where the flowers can be appreciated. And, as a way to enhance the yellow fall foliage, place it in front of dark evergreens.

Spicebush | Lindera benzoin | The New York Flower Farm, Ellenville, NY

2. Spicebush

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is probably best known for being the host plant of the spicebush butterfly. This common woodland species has grown popular in the landscaping community for both its ecological and ornamental qualities. Come fall spicebush explodes into hues of yellow often outperforming other shrubs in this color category. It’s a great plant to have in a composition with other shrubs and trees that turn red or orange. Even as a stand-alone, you will really appreciate the bright yellow display spicebush brings to your garden.

We love to use spicebush in the landscape because of these aesthetic attributes and its ability to attract and support local spicebush butterfly populations. Female plants will also produce red berries which songbirds flock to. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find nurseries that have the plants sexed because the female plant is the superior wildlife choice.

It's not just spicebushes fall foliage that is yellow but also its flowers that emerge in very early spring. Spicebush is the third native plant to bloom in the spring after pussy willow and red maple.

When it comes to selecting a space in the garden for spicebush, it does very well in shade but can also be planted in full sun if given lots of moisture and mulch. The more sun it gets the brighter the fall foliage will be, although part shade seems to be the sweet spot.

3. American Larch

The American L:arch (Larix laricina) is a true cold climate species. A tree most people never experience unless they live in our Northern states. This is unfortunate because Larch is majestic in so many ways.

In the autumn the tree flushes bright yellow after all the other trees have lost their leaves making it the ‘last act’ of fall color before winter sets in. This yellow is especially exceptional when contrasted with dark evergreens such as spruce, pine, and fir.

Unlike most conifers, larch is deciduous and will lose its needle after it turns yellow. There are only two groups of native, deciduous conifers in the Eastern United States, the American Larch, and the cypresses, bald cypress, and pond cypress; the irony is they exist in polar opposite regions, the American Larch in the far north and the bald cypress in the deep south.

We recommend larch to anyone in a colder climate down to zone 6. What it wants more than anything else is full sun. Wet sites are appreciated (think bog) but it can also do fine in average soil if amended with organic material and acidifier (lots of much helps too).

Larch is a whimsical tree, a ‘Dr. Seuss Christmas tree’ of the imagination, with its soft needles and elegant branches. Because it's literally the last tree to turn color in the fall, yellow color, it's high on this list.

4. Birches 

The birch family (Betulaceae) is a diverse group of trees famous for their bark and yellow fall foliage. Below is a list of our native birches. Where and how best to use them.

• Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) is probably the most iconic birch out of all the trees. It has clean white bark that peels away from the tree and was once used to line canoes. Visitors to North Woods often take sleeves of paper birch bark from this tree as souvenirs, peeling them directly from the tree which is unfortunately detrimental to the tree’s health. The bark should only be collected from dead trees on the ground. Like American larch, paper birch is a cold climate tree with a limited tolerance to heat and drought, so while it's the most iconic of the birches, it's also the hardest to use in the landscape for most gardeners. 

If you live in a cold state or in the mountains, paper birch is a wonderful option. We suggest planting paper birch in front of evergreens to increase the visual impact of its white bark and gold fall foliage. They need full sun, and their roots prefer cool and moist soil. Consider adding lots of mulch, weed fabric, or even rocks to keep that soil protected around the base of the tree. 

• Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) is another northern species, although it can be found growing along the Appalachian mountains at higher elevations and way down into states like Tennessee and North Carolina. Like Paper birch, it's really only recommended for gardeners in somewhat cooler climates, although if protected from drought, it's worth a try in transitional zones (climate zone 7). 

Yellow birch has a really unique metallic-looking bark with a golden tinge and brilliant golden-yellow fall foliage. This tree is far more shade tolerant than most other birches and in the wild, often starts its life under the canopy of a forest, rather than in disturbance events (fire, farming, flood) like the other sun-loving birches on this list.

Yellow birch gets quite large and makes for a really fun specimen tree. It can also be used as a bonsai because of its ability to germinate on rotten logs or even rocks that have accumulated moss. As the tree matures, the roots will grow right over these objects making for a really enchanting plant specimen. 

• Black Birch (Betula lenta) is a much different-looking birch from the others on this list. As the name suggests, it has black-in-color bark, which starts smooth and over time gets blocky. This is a transitional zone birch, inhabiting forests from New England down into the central south and midwest, handling much hotter humid summers. Black birch was once used to make birch beer, and if you break off a tiny tip from one of its branches, you can smell and taste that iconic flavor. Although the bark is less showy, black birch may have the best golden-yellow fall foliage out of all the birches and is often the first to flush colors in the fall. And for this reason, it stands out amongst other trees.

  Although less common in the landscaping industry — we highly suggest using black birch in climates where paper birch and yellow birch have trouble growing.

• Grey Birch (Betula populifolia) resembles paper birch but unlike paper birch, it can handle dry areas. While its bark can be greyish in color, it can also be a beautiful white and is often mistaken for paper birch in the wild.

  Grey birch is the smallest of the birch trees and is a wonderful option for gardens with limited space. In the fall grey birch turns a pleasant yellow, often later than other trees.

  We recommend using the cultivar ‘Whitespire’ because it is very consistent in having a bright white bark. Given its size try pairing this beautiful tree with small flowering trees like dogwoods and redbuds. 

• River Birch (Betula nigra) is the most widely used birch in the landscaping industry.

  Want a birch but live in a hot, humid climate? Well, this is the tree for you. River birch is our most southern species of birch. That said, the hotter it gets the more water it needs and in the wild, you'll find it living along rivers and streams. 

River birch is a great option for yellow fall foliage in warmer climates. We recommend planting it with red maples and other specimen trees because it does get big.

This tree is especially beautiful when it's young but as it gets older, the highly aesthetic, white and pink in colored, peelig bark, actually turns black. Mature river birches look nothing like their young version. That said, it's a fantastic landscape tree far more adaptable than many of the other birches and you’ll be happy to have it in your landscape!

Sweet pepperbush | Clethra alnifolia | Boothbay, ME

5. Sweet pepperbush

Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) is a wonderful native shrub that can be incorporated into anyones landscape. It’s a late-season bloomer (July / August) with fragrant flowers that are highly attractive to both people and pollinators. In the fall sweet pepperbush turns brilliant hues of golden yellow which will light up your garden.

In the wild sweet pepperbush occupies acidic coastal forests and wetlands but is highly adaptable in the garden taking both full sun and part shade.  We recommend adding some compost and bark mulch to your soil mix to replicate its natural growing conditions.

Because of its ability to fit into most gardens, its wonderful, yellow falls foliage, and its fragrant, highly attractive flowers for pollinators; sweet pepperbush is an awesome landscape choice.

6. Bottlebrush Buckeye

Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) like sweet pepperbush is a late-season bloomer that pollinators adore, especially our large swallowtail butterflies. In the fall it too becomes electric with yellow foliage and is one of the best shrubs for such a display. Unlike our other native buckeyes which grow as trees, bottlebrush buckeye is a large ‘mushrooming’ shrub (in shape) that will slowly expand outwards.

Unlike sweet pepperbush which fits nicely into small spaces, bottlebrush buckeye is better for a larger landscape as a lawn specimen or within a woodland composition under large trees.

Bottlebrush buckeye can be grown in full sun and part shade. It wants to stay moist so mulch around its roots. Once established it can handle most situations and will be a wonderful addition to any garden.

All the yellow trees are Tulip Poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera | Shawangunk Mountains, NY

7. Tulip Poplar 

Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is named ‘tulip’ because its flowers resemble the tulip flower and polar because of its fast-growth rate, like poplar trees. If I could choose a common name, it would be ‘flower tower’ since the tulip poplar is the second tallest native tree in the eastern United States, barely beaten out by the white pine. This can be a massive tree at maturity and one of the most impressive in old-growth forest specimens along the Appalachian mountains and in old cemeteries and parks.

When it comes to yellow foliage, the tulip poplar excels and is often the last tree to produce color in the fall.

We recommend using tulip poplar in large landscapes, either as a lawn specimen tree or in combination with other large trees in a forest-like setting. That said, it requires lots of sun to survive and will grow tall and straight rapidly in forest openings. Try planting tulip poplar with sugar maple, red maple, and scarlet oak for an exciting mix of fall colors.

Quaking apsen | Populus tremuloides | Ellenville, NY

Quaking apsen | Populus tremuloides | Ellenville, NY

8. Quaking aspen

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is probably one of the most famous trees for yellow fall foliage and would be higher on this list if it was more consistent, at least in the regions where most people live. That said, if you live in the high mountains or northern states where late fall / early winter can come fast and furious, with really cold nights — then quaking aspen is a great option and will perform wonderfully in the fall!

We recommend planting quaking aspen in front of dark evergreens or in groups as one would see them in the wild. Their quaking leaves act as natural wind chimes, creating a soundscape for your garden that can be enchanting.

9. Hickories

There are 18 species of hickory world wide and out of the 18, 15 of them are native to the United States. This means if you want to experience hickories — America is the place to be!

While this is a diverse and beautiful group of trees, hickories are extremely rare in the nursery trade and for that reason, they are often only experienced where they naturally occur vs in planted and designed landscapes. This is a shame because all hickories produce gorgeous deep gold fall foliage and can make for wonderful specimen trees.

We recommend protecting hickory trees that might naturally occur on your property because of their natural beauty and wildlife benefits. If you really want to plant a hickory, they can be found online or at a specialty nursery. They are to find but it can be done.

Hickories are great for attracting wildlife and should be used in food plots and habitat restoration projects.

PawPaw | Asimina triloba | Boothbay, ME

10. Paw Paw

Last one on our list (although there are so many great native plants for yellow fall foliage) is pawpaw (Asimina triloba). Pawpaw is a really unique North American tree that produces tropical fruit the size of a mango! These fruit taste somewhat like banana and mango custard and was much more popular in colonial times. Because the fruit has a short shelf life and so pawpaws never become commercially viable.

On top of the exotic fruit pawpaw produce, the tree has delightful yellow fall foliage. We recommend using pawpaw as a fun addition to any edible landscape or native garden. They like moist, rich soil and can grow out of compost piles.

Pawpaws naturally occur in forest-like settings, but the more sun you give them, the more fruit you will get. It’s recommended to plant more than one for cross-pollination.

Fun fact: Pawpaw is the only host plant of the zebra swallowtail Butterfly. While the common pawpaw (Asimina triloba) can be found throughout the south and midwest, Florida is home to several other species of pawpaw, which are very rare and almost never found in the landscaping industry.

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More great choices for yellow fall foliage include:

• Catalpa (often a beautiful lime yellow)

• Honey Locust (bright yellow)

• American Beech (more bronze)

• Witch-hazel (bright yellow)

• Amsonia (perennail) (bright yellow)

Northern Catapla | Catalpa speciosa | Wallkill, NY

Witch-hazel | Hamamelis virginiana

Honey Locust | Gleditsia triacanthos | Hudson, NY

Top Ten Red

Native trees and shrubs for fantastic *Red fall foliage

by Mackenzie Younger

Red is a vibrant, commanding color associated with passion, love, and power. It's a color that's commonly used for branding, in art, and in clothing. It's a color that heightens communication, draws attention, and stimulates emotions. While red is an integral part of human culture, it can be rare to find in nature and for that reason, when it does occur, it is extraordinary. Here are our top 10 native plants for red fall foliage. 

Sourwood tree | Oxydendrum arboreum | Longwood Gardens, PA | photo: Mackenzie Younger

1. Red Maple

Apart from its relative, the Japanese maple, very few trees are able to rival the red fall foliage of the North American native. In fact, the red maple (Acer rubrum) was one of the first native trees exported to Europe as a landscape ornamental because of its red foliage.

It's not just the red maple leaves that are red, but its flowers and leaf stems as well. Compared to the sugar maple, the red maple is far more adaptable to different growing conditions and extreme habitats — ranging from wet swamps or dry mountainsides from Florida to Maine. This hardiness and availability at most nurseries make the red maple an excellent choice for any garden or landscape project. 

We recommend the cultivars ‘October Glory’ and ‘Autumn Blaze’ for the best fall displays. 

'Autumn Blaze' Red maple | Acer rubrum | Gardiner, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

'Autumn Blaze' Red maple | Acer rubrum | Gardiner, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

2. Tupelo

The tupelo tree (Nyssa sylvatica), also commonly known as black gum, explodes with red foliage in the fall. This fireball of a tree has a prolonged fall foliage period, starting earlier than most trees and lasting longer.  

Tupelo is closely related to the dogwood family (Cornaceae) and like dogwoods, tupelos flower and produce fruit. For this reason, this tree is a favorite for honey bees and the fruit that the female trees produce attract songbirds.  Often these fruits, purple and blue in color, will persist into the fall, as the trees turn shades of red adding more ornamental value and ecological importance to this special North American tree. 

We suggest the cultivars, ‘Northern Splendor’ and ‘Wild Fire’. 

‘Northern Splendor’ is a female tree that will produce loads of fruit for wildlife while having awesome red fall foliage. Cross-pollination is needed for fruit to occur, so if you don’t have wild tupelos nearby, we suggest planting a male with this cultivar.

‘Wild Fire’ is one of our favorite native trees for its ornamental qualities. In the spring new leaves flush a multicolored array of red, orange, green and yellow, and then in the fall this tree explodes with color again. Plant ‘Wild Fire’ in full sun for the most enchanting display of hot hues.

‘Wildfire’ Tupelo | Nyssa sylvatica | The New York Flower Farm, Ellenville, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

3. Sourwood

The sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) is an absolute must for red fall foliage. It can be planted in small gardens or large landscapes, making any location more beautiful with its presence. 

After flowering in July and august (later than most trees) sourwoods flower structures remain white and drape from its branches adding a wonderful color contrast to its explosive red fall foliage. 

Down south and along the Appalachian mountains sourwood makes some of the best honey in North America. Pollinators adore this tree and you will too! 

The sourwood is a unique landscape ornamental, rarely available at nurseries despite its incredible ornamental qualities. If you're lucky and find one we recommend planting it as you would with a blueberry, with amended soil, complete with a mix of compost, mulch (pine or bark) and acidifier.  

When it comes to deciding on a location, note that it does well in hotter western exposures. The more sun it gets, the more flowers and the more brilliant its red fall foliage will be!

Sourwood tree | Oxydendrum arboreum | Ulster County, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

Sourwood tree | Oxydendrum arboreum | Ulster County, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

4. Blueberries

Have you ever walked through a forested swamp in the northeast and seen brilliant red shrubs? If you have, there's a good chance that what you were looking at was the highbush blueberry — a native shrub famous for its fruit but also a great plant for an ornamental garden because of this awesome fall foliage. You can’t go wrong with having this native shrub in your yard. 

Like sourwood, blueberries are in the heath family (Ericaceae) and require acidic soil, rich in organic matter. For this, we recommend mixing in compost, mulch (pine or bark), and acidifier.  The more sun you give these guys the more fruit they'll give you, and the brighter red fall folaige they will have.  

Other great native plants in the heath family are lowbush blueberry and huckleberry. These are much shorter than highbush blueberry and tend to spread.

Fun fact: lowbush blueberry has higher amounts antioxidants than highbush blueberry because the blue skin takes up more surface area vs the fleshy fruit inside which lacks the rich color. Both are incredibly healthy and worth including in a daily diet.

Black huckleberry | Gaylussacia baccata | Sam's Point Preserve, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

Black huckleberry | Gaylussacia baccata | Sam's Point Preserve, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

Lowbush Blueberry | Vaccinium angustifolium | Acadia National Park, ME | photo: Mackenzie Younger

5. Flowering Dogwood

It is hard to find a more perfect small tree for the garden than a flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Flowering dogwood should be a national treasure for its ecological, cultural and ornamental value. It's one of the most beautiful trees in the world, not just the United States because of its graceful form, spectacular spring flowers and red berries which appear along side the trees red fall foliage. 

Flowering dogwood has a graceful branch structure that is delicate yet strong. It can be planted in small spaces such a yards or along buildings or it can be planted in large landscapes under trees or in full sun as a specimen. Flowering dogwood will display hues of burgundy much earlier in the fall than other tree species. So if you want red fall foliage but have limited space, this is the tree for you!

Flowering dogwood goes hand and hand with eastern redbud. These two small flowering native trees can be found growing alongside each other in the wild and make great garden companions. Not only do their spring flowers contrast each other (dogwoods being white and redbuds pink) but the fall foliage does as well (dogwoods foliage red and redbuds yellow).

We recommend using the dogwood cultivar ‘Appalachian Spring’ for the best results. If you want a pink flowering dogwood we suggest ‘Cherokee chief’. 

Another truly magnificent dogwood tree is Alternate-leaf dogwood (Cornus alternifolia). Alternate-leaf dogwood has most of the same ecological and ornamental qualities as flowering dogwood, although the branch structure and flowers differ. Alternate-leaf dogwood is ideal for those colder climates where flowering dogwood have issues or a great choice for gardens with some shade and cool soil.

Other native dogwoods include shrubs such as:

• Red Osier dogwood (cornus sericea)

• Grey dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

• Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum)

• Round-leafed dogwood (Cornus rugosa)

  All of these shrubs have wonderful red and burgundy foliage. If you have the space in your garden or landscape we highly suggest planting as many of these as possible!

Fun fact: Species in the dogwood family are the host plants of spring and summer azure butterflies. 

Flowering Dogwood | Cornus florida | Bootbay, ME | photo: Mackenzie Younger

Gray dogwood | Cornus racemosa | The New York Flower Farm, Ellenville, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

6. Viburnums 

Our native viburnums are a fairly large family of shrubs and like the dogwoods, they almost all turn shades of red. We have found that blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium) and nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) and Witherod Viburnum (Viburnum nudum) are very consistent with their red fall foliage, although arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) and highbush cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) can also turn vivid shades of red as-well as orange, purple and yellow. 

Viburnums are simply fantastic. They flower in the spring, produce berries in summer, and explode with color in the fall. They are frequented by pollinators and provide both shelter and food for songbirds. We suggest planting them alongside dogwood shrubs, highbush blueberries, and chokeberries to attract wildlife and create a brilliant red display in the fall. 

Nannyberry | Viburnum lentago |The New York Flower Farm, Ellenville, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

7. Chokeberries 

Chokeberries, also known as Aronia, are made up of three primary groups —red chokeberry, black chokeberry and purple chokeberry. All three transform into fireballs in the autumn. These plants are in the rose family (rosease) and have flowers similar to those of apples, plums and cherries. For this reason it's a beautiful shrub in the spring and the fall. 

Black chokeberry, although chalky in taste is very rich in antioxidants, reportedly having five times more antioxidants than blueberries —making this native plant a true ‘super fruit’ that everyone should have in their garden.

We recommend planting both black and red chokeberries because they flower at slightly different times and produce different berries. Red chokeberry can almost resemble winterberry with its red fruit that persists deep into winter making this shrub an awesome winter ornamental. 

Red chokeberry | Aronia arbutifolia | Boothbay, ME | photo: Mackenzie Younger

8. Sumac

Although common in the landscape along roads and in open areas, our native sumacs can still be a wonderful addition to any garden. There are several reasons why you should consider using sumacs. For one, they have a rather unique form (almost tropical). They also flower and are very attractive to pollinators, and produce berries that birds enjoy! With all that said, the sumac's most pronounced feature is its vivid red and orange fall foliage.

It is important to note before planting that these plants can spread and spread aggressively over time. So if you have an area where you want a mass planting to occur, the sumac is a great choice. If you have a smaller area that you may want to plant, consider planting these in large containers.

Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) produces consistent hues of red and Burgundy foliage while Stag-horn sumac can be fire-like in its appearance ranging from yellow, orange and red all within one plant. Another great sumac for red foliage is smooth sumac (Rhus glabra). 

We’ve planted all three of these sumacs in a large landscape because they flower at different times. (Stag-horn sumac mid-spring, smooth sumac mid-summer and winged sumac in late-summer)

If you're a beekeeper or simply want to help pollinators this is a great method for providing forage throughout the growing season at different times. 

Winged sumac | Rhus copallinum | Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

9. Sweet Gum

Sweet gum is a very common tree in the mid-Atlantic and into the deep South but it is also cold hardy and can be grown in many northern states. In the wild sweet gum can have a medley of fall leaf colors ranging from orange, yellow, purple and red — sometimes all within the same leaf!  While wild specimens can be extremely variable in fall color there are some cultivars that, in our opinion, should win awards for the pure red fall foliage.

We've planted the cultivar ‘Worplesdon’ at The New York Flower Farm in upstate New York (zone 5) and it is consistently stunning with its red fall foliage rivaling the tupelos, red maples and sourwoods in its vividness. 

Sweet gum makes a great lawn tree and or street tree because of its ability to handle pollution and compacted soil. That said, it may be advisable to use verities that do not produce gum-balls in these situations given the ‘mess’ they create on the ground below the tree. But if the area around the trees roots isn’t ‘pedestrian’ — we urge people to use sweet gums with gum-balls because of their benefit to wildlife, especially songbirds.

Sweetgum 'Worplesdon' | Liquidambar styraciflua | The New York Flower Farm, Ellenville, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

10. Scarlet oak 

Oaks aren’t known for great fall color, in fact, most oaks really fail in this department but scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) is a different story. This native tree goes red, bright red in late fall and then retains its dried brown leaves for a long period into the winter. These leaves then create a rustling sound in the wind that can be very enchanting. 

Scarlet oak can easily be confused with Pin oak for its many common attributes. Sometimes pin oaks can flush red too but are far less consistent than the scarlet oak. In the wild scarlet oak is found on dry upland sites and pin oak in the wet bottomlands. 

If you are looking for a fast-growing oak that has an awesome fall color the scarlet oak is the tree for you!

Red Oak (Quercus rubra) a relative of the scarlet oak, is often assumed to have great red fall foliage but it really doesn’t. Red oak is a poor choice for this application and often turns a dull yellow rather than red. The only true red color red oak produces is in its wood and for that reason red oak wood is fantastic for interior applications such as flooring. Nonetheless red oak is a wonderful tree just not for fall foliage. 

If your looking for one more oak to put on a colorful display (ideally red) — we suggest the mighty white oak!

Scarlet Oak | Quercus coccinea | Longwood Gardens, PA | photo: Mackenzie Younger

White oak | Quercus alba | Ellenville, NY | photo: Mackenzie Younger

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Top 10 Native Plants for Halloween

Written by Mackenzie Younger

There is nothing like a beautiful outdoor space in the fall! This is especially true in October when a garden can be a delightful mix of late-season blooms, incredible fall foliage, and a relaxing place to enjoy fresh air before winter. But have you ever thought about creating a spooky, Halloween-themed landscape with native plants? Here are our Top 10 Native Plants for Halloween!

Baby 'bear' (Mackenzie's pup) with pumpkins

1. Pumpkin 

Pumpkins are an iconic symbol of fall, often associated with Halloween and Thanksgiving. Scientists believe that pumpkins originated in North America about 9000 years ago. The oldest pumpkin seeds were found in Mexico and date back to somewhere between 7000-5550 B.C

Growing pumpkins can be a rewarding experience, whether you're interested in carving jack-o'-lanterns, making pumpkin pies, or simply enjoying the decorative aspect of these vibrant fruits. No Halloween is complete without pumpkins!

Did you know pumpkin seeds are also rich in Zinc? Create a super salad by adding roasted pumpkin seeds as a garnish!

Indian Corn

2. Corn 

Corn, also known as maize, has a complex and interesting history and like pumpkins, has been grown by indigenous peoples in North America for thousands of years. Decorative corn, often known as Indian corn or ornamental corn, is very common in Halloween decorations. 

When it comes to growing ornamental corn, we suggest using the Three Sisters garden method, a traditional Native American planting technique of growing corn, beans, and pumpkins (or squash) together. This method maximizes space, enhances soil fertility, and provides mutual benefits for the crops.

Did you know Indian corn can also be used in corn meal and it is far better for you than what is typically sold in cans? The more colorful the corn is, the more antioxidants it has! 

Giant sunflower | Helianthus giganteus | Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn

3. Sunflowers 

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) has a very similar history to pumpkins and corn and was grown by Native Americans in their vegetable gardens alongside these other iconic plants. Eventually, the sunflower was introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers in the 16th century and today sunflowers are one of the most recognizable and common garden flowers in the world. 

If you plant sunflower seeds late in the season, say mid-June or July, they will mature and flower late into October, just in time for Halloween! The dead seed heads can also be used to make spooky decorations. 

Annual sunflowers can be fun and easy to grow in a garden but we’d also suggest planting native perennial sunflowers. Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) Giant sunflower (Helianthus giganteus) Willow-leaf sunflower (Helianthus salicifolius) and Maximilian’s sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) all flower late into the fall. Depending on where you live, many of these will be flowering during Halloween. 

Did you know many species in the Helianthus family are also the host plants of several native butterflies? These include the Painted Lady and the Silvery Checkerspot!

'Autumn Blaze' Red maple | Acer rubrum | Dutchess county, NY

4. Maples

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is renowned for its brilliant fall foliage. The leaves turn various shades of yellow, orange, and red, creating a spectacular display in autumn. We suggest using the cultivars 'Green Mountain’ or ‘Fall Fiesta’ for more consistent and brilliant orange foliage. 

Red maple (Acer rubrum) is one of the most common and widespread maples in North America and can be used much further south than the sugar maple. It's also far more adaptable to extreme growing conditions like what you find in cities, making it a great street tree. Cultivars like ‘October Glory’ and ‘Autumn Blaze’  have long-lasting displays of brilliant red foliage and can be found in most nurseries. 

No Halloween is complete without maples and their memorial fall foliage!

5. Switchgrass

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a warm-season perennial grass native to North America. It is a versatile and hardy grass species that can be used in small gardens as a landscape ornamental and in large landscapes to create a wildlife habitat.

When you think of Halloween, grasses are probably not the first thing that comes to mind, but let me assure you, switchgrass makes a great addition to the fall landscape. In October, the grass goes dormant but keeps its upright form. These dried grass blades blow around in the wind, producing fun and eerie sounds ideal for Halloween. They can also be cut and used to stuff scarecrows. This native grass creates a wonderful garden atmosphere while providing lots of material for practical and or decorative applications. 

Switchgrass has many cultivars. ‘Shenandoah’ with its red tips can really stand out amongst perennials in the flower garden.   

'Raydon's Favorite' Aromatic aster | Aster oblongifolius | Wallkill, NY

6. Aromatic Aster

Aster oblongifolius, commonly known as Aromatic Aster or Fall Aster, produces daisy-like flowers with yellow centers and violet-purple rays. It's a fantastic plant for the Halloween garden and the last native perennial to flower. Late-season pollinators will thank you for having this plant in your garden, especially the last monarchs to migrate south. 

Aromatic aster is also a great alternative to mums which are very popular at this time of the year but do very little good in terms of helping local pollinators. So — if you’re looking to extend the flower season and want to add a burst of purple to the Halloween garden, this is the plant for you! We suggest using the cultivar ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ and you won’t be disappointed. 

'Meader' American persimmon | Diospyros virginiana | Mackenzie's Garden, Ellenville, NY

7. Persimmon 

The American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a relatively common native tree down south and can be found along roads and old fields but unfortunately, it can be hard to find in nurseries. If you can find it, the persimmon is a great option, as it produces absolutely delicious fruits that often ripen right around Halloween. 

The flavor of the American persimmons is similar to an apricot dipped in honey and for that reason, it's perfect for the sweet tooth holiday. These fruits can be eaten fresh or used to make natural candies or baked in cakes and pies. 

We suggest getting self-fertile cultivars like ‘Meader’ persimmon because otherwise, you’ll need a male and female tree to cross-pollinate. Only the females produce fruit. 

Did you know, that many places in the Midwest have persimmon festivals each fall to celebrate the tradition of harvesting the wild fruit? Prizes are awarded for those who bake the best cakes! The persimmon tree is also the host plant of the beloved Luna moth. 

8. American smokebush 

If you are looking for vivid fall foliage but don’t have room for maples in your garden or simply want to add something really unique to your landscape, the American Smokebush (Cotinus obovatus) is the plant for you! 

This rare native turns brilliant shades of red, orange, and purple in the fall — making it one of the absolute best trees for fall foliage. 

The American smokebush is a large shrub / small tree, with beautiful bark and whimsical blooms that share a resemblance of smoke. It can be easily be confused with the European smokebush which is more common in nurseries, for its purple foliage. While the European cultivar is nice, it doesn’t put on a dazzling display in the fall like the America Smokebush. That's why we recommend this native plant for Halloween.

Staghorn sumac | Rhus typhina | Boothbay, ME

9. Sumac

Although common in the landscape along roads and in open areas, our native sumacs can also make wonderful additions to any garden. There are several reasons why sumacs might make sense for you. For one, they have a rather unique form that looks almost tropical. They produce berries which birds enjoy and they have some of the most vivid red and orange fall foliage. Pollinators love their blooms. 

Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) produces consistent hues of red and Burgundy, while the Stag-horn sumac can be fire-like in its appearance, ranging from yellow to orange and red all within one plant. But, and this is a big but… this plant can spread (aggressively) over time. Unless you have a large outdoor space where a mass planting can take place, you might want to consider planting your sumac in a pot or container. 

Come Halloween this native plant won’t fail you with its explosive fall colors. Add pumpkins and cobwebs around this sumac for a delightful Halloween installation

Scarlet Oak | Quercus coccinea | Longwood Gardens, PA

10. Scarlet oak 

Oaks aren’t known for great fall color, in fact, most oaks really fail in this department but the scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) is a different story. 

This native tree goes red and bright red at that and retains its leaves for a long period of time after most trees have lost their leaves. These dry leaves create a rustling sound in the wind which can be calming or spooky on Halloween. 

Scarlet oak, like all oak trees, gets big and needs space. It's fast-growing and a great option for large yards or parks. If you like red fall foliage in particular, this tree is a great option and we recommend planting scarlet oak with other native trees such as sourwood, tupelo, and red maple to enhance this experience. 

If you enjoyed this article on the Top 10 Native Plants for Halloween, you’ll love the Top 10 Native Plants for Red Fall Foliage (coming next week!)