See when fall leaves will peak in 2025! View our U.S. fall foliage map, find top leaf-peeping spots, and get tips for the best autumn color viewing. Brilliant Fall leaves on the Superior National Forest.
(Forest Service photo) Certain colors are characteristic of particular species: Oaks: red, brown, or russet Hickories: golden bronze Aspen and yellow-poplar: golden yellow Dogwood: purplish red Beech: light tan Sourwood and black tupelo: crimson The color of maples leaves differ species by species: Red maple: brilliant scarlet Sugar maple. Autumnal leaves in vibrant hues are a beautiful part of the season, but those leaves are also a vital part of keeping trees alive. Trees that have leaves that change color in fall are deciduous.
The peak dates for fall foliage in the U.S. vary from region to region. Colors change first in the North and in higher elevations, then spread south and to lower elevations.
Changing leaves and brilliant colors can be a breathtaking sight on fall trees, but when do leaves change color? This natural show can vary from year to year. That's because the process of leaves transitioning to fall colors relies on the right combination of temperature and moisture. Japanese maple autumn leaves Autumn leaf color is a phenomenon that affects the normally green leaves of many deciduous trees and shrubs by which they take on, during a few weeks in the autumn season, various shades of yellow, orange, red, purple, and brown.
[1] The phenomenon is commonly called autumn colours[2] or autumn foliage[3] in British English and fall colors, [4] fall foliage, or. The Bigger Picture: Why It Matters At first glance, autumn's colors may feel like a gift of beauty-a natural festival marking the year's closing chapters. But beneath the colors is a story of survival, stress, and resilience.
Understanding when and why leaves change isn't just about predicting fall foliage for tourism. Ever since the leaves on the trees bloomed in the spring, they have actively been helping the tree grow. Each leaf contains a pigment called chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll is the most common pigment in a leaf. It absorbs the sun's rays to turn sunlight into food and energy for the tree. Chlorophyll is also what gives a plant its green color.
Find out when to view peak colors of fall foliage for each state around the USA. See spectacular displays of orange, yellow, red, and more. In many places around the world, autumn is marked by the slow, beautiful change of green foliage to vibrant reds, oranges, yellows, and purples.
Green leaves appear green because of the presence of the pigment chlorophyll, which is key to photosynthesis.