Fall is my favorite time of year because of all the different colored fall leaves. The bright oranges, reds, and yellows of the leaves make me feel so happy and content. I love to take walks and admire the beauty of the trees in my neighborhood, as well as take pictures of the colorful leaves. I also enjoy going to local parks and taking in the sights of all the different colored leaves scattered on the ground. Purple fall leaves aren’t the most common – for the most part, you mostly see golden, orange, yellow, and red leaves. So adding a tree or shrub with purple fall leaves can really make your landscape stand out in the fall.
9 of the best trees with purple fall leaves
The below list of trees is not exhaustive, but they are my favorite trees with purple fall leaves and ones most likely to be either native to or grow well throughout most of North America. As always, check for invasiveness and make sure that the tree can grow in your USDA hardiness zone before planting!
Pacific Dogwood
The Pacific Dogwood is a deciduous tree with purple fall leaves native to the West Coast of North America. It typically grows to a height of up to 65 feet, with a broad, rounded crown. The bark is light gray, with shallow ridges and furrows. Its leaves are glossy and dark green in summer, turning to yellow and red in the fall. The flowers are white, with four petals, and have yellow centers. The fruit is a dark red berry with a single large seed in the center. The Pacific Dogwood is an important food source for many wildlife species, and it is also valued as an ornamental tree.
Sweetgum
A Sweetgum tree is a beautiful and unique tree native to Connecticut southward throughout the East to central Florida and eastern Texas, but can be found in many locations. It has a tall, straight trunk and branches that spread out in an umbrella-like shape. Its star-shaped leaves are dark green in the summer and turn reddish-purple in fall. Its bark is gray-brown and is deeply ridged. At the end of each branch, it produces a spiky, round seed pod. It blooms with small, yellow-green flowers in the spring, and its fruit is a sweet, gum-like substance that can be chewed like gum. It is a very hardy and versatile tree and can withstand a variety of climates and soils.
Smoke tree
The Smoke tree is a small deciduous tree that is native to the southern United States. It has an upright, spreading habit and its leaves are grey-green in the summer, turning purple in the fall. The Smoke tree produces clusters of small, fluffy pink or white flowers in the spring and summer, giving the tree its common name. The bark is smooth and gray, and the branches are covered in small, grey-green leaves. In the fall, the leaves turn a purplish hue, giving the tree a stunning display of color. The Smoke tree is an excellent choice for a garden, as it provides year-round interest and is easy to maintain.
Raywood Ash
A Raywood Ash tree is a medium to large-sized deciduous tree, native to North America. It is a member of the Fraxinus genus and is closely related to the White Ash and Black Ash. It has a rounded, dense canopy and can grow up to 40 feet tall and wide. Its bark is grayish-brown in color and has shallow furrows and ridges. Its leaves are pinnately compound, with 7-13 leaflets per leaf, and are dark green in color with a silvery underside. In the summer, its leaves will turn yellowish-green. It produces small purplish flowers in the spring, which are followed by small, winged seeds in the fall. The Raywood Ash is a hardy and adaptable tree, which can tolerate a variety of conditions, including drought, wind, and heat.
Purple Ash
A Purple Ash tree is a tall, deciduous tree with a rounded canopy of spreading branches. It can grow to between 50 and 70 feet in height, and its bark is rough and grey-brown in color. The leaves of the Purple Ash tree are glossy, dark green in color, and palmate in shape with five to seven lobes. In autumn, the leaves turn to shades of red and purple, making them a popular tree for growers who love purple fall leaves. The small, yellow-green flowers of the Purple Ash tree appear in spring, with small, dark purple, winged fruits following in autumn.
Pear tree
A pear tree is a deciduous tree that can reach up to 20 feet in height and is often planted for its delicious fruit, but its lovely red and purple fall leaves are a draw as well. The bark is smooth and has a grey or light brown color. The leaves of a pear tree are generally oval-shaped, thick, and about 4 inches long. They are dark green in color in the summer and turn red to purple. The leaves also have a glossy appearance and are slightly serrated along the edges.
Crimson King Maple
The Crimson King Maple tree is a deciduous tree with a spreading canopy and deep green, glossy leaves that turn to a dramatic, deep purple-red in the fall. It has a growth rate of 1-2 feet per year and can reach heights of up to 45 feet, with a spread of 25 feet. The bark is brown and deeply furrowed, providing an interesting texture to the landscape. In the spring, the tree produces small, green flowers. This tree is a great way to add color and interest to any garden or landscape, especially if you want a splash of true purple fall leaves.
Burning Bush
A burning bush is an attractive shrub that grows up to 20 feet tall. It isn’t exactly a tree, but due to its height, I’m adding it to this list. It has unique light green foliage, which turns a brilliant reddish purple in the fall. The small yellow flowers bloom in the spring and summer months that turn into small berries. The burning bush is a low-maintenance plant and is easy to care for. It is an excellent choice for adding a splash of crimson fall color to your garden.
Arrowwood Viburnum
The Arrowwood Viburnum is a rounded shrub with beautiful white flowers that bloom in the late spring. Its dark green leaves turn a reddish purple in the fall, adding a splash of autumnal color to your landscape. It can grow up to 15 feet tall and 15 feet wide, making it an excellent addition to any landscape. This hardy shrub is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3-8. It is a great choice for hedges or privacy screens as it provides a dense cover and its blooms attract birds and other wildlife.
