Japanese persimmon. If you live in a warm-winter climate and despair of having the strong fall colors of colder climes, consider Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki). Come fall the leaf colors are shades of yellow, orange and red to match the color of the fruit, which will hang on even after the leaves drop. This is not a large tree, generally only 30 feet tall and wide, but the color and fruit more than make up for any lack of size. It's a good choice as a shade tree as well. Grow it in zones 7 through 10 in full sun. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
Crape myrtle. The showy summer flower clusters are generally the first feature people remember, but its red, orange or yellow fall leaf color is another excellent reason to grow the versatile crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia). It will nestle into smaller spaces, such as alongside patios or in front of entries, in zones 6 through 9, reaching only 35 feet tall. There are a number of varieties available, but your best choices are probably L. indica or the hybrids, which have better disease resistance. Grow them in full sun and provide moderate water once established.
Ginkgo. Most people these days know the supplement, but the maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba) is a longtime landscape favorite. It's versatile: tall enough, at up to 50 feet in height, to serve as a street tree but equally good as a patio tree. Even better, it's very long lived and relatively drought tolerant, has almost no pests or problems, and can handle pollution and other environmental issues. Most of all, it's a beautiful tree with lovely fan-shaped leaves that turn bright yellow-gold in fall. Ginkgo grows well in zones 3 through 8 in both full sun and partial shade. It needs well-drained soil and regular water until it's established.
Chinese pistache. Come fall a Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) can pretty much stop you in your tracks. The foot-long leaves are lined with narrow leaflets that turn bright orange and red, even in desert climates. You'll also have plenty of time to enjoy the color, as the leaves usually hang on for some time after they change. Chinese pistache is a slow grower that's a good choice for smaller spaces in zones 6 though 9. It's fairly drought tolerant but can also handle regular watering if put in a lawn
Oaks. With more than 500 oak species, finding an oak for your landscape is pretty much guaranteed. Finding one with fall color, however, means narrowing down your options. Fortunately, the ones that do well are also readily available and grow well in zones 3 or 4 through zone 8. The large (up to 75 feet tall) and fast-growing bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) has long, lobed leaves that turn red and yellow in fall. The equally tall red oak (Q. rubra) is relatively fast growing and can spread out to 50 feet. It needs both good soil and moisture, but it has the bonus of doing well in lawns and having roots that are long enough to let you put in a garden beneath it. Expect yellow-orange leaves that will turn to a pleasant shade of brown in the spring.
Maples. Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is the showstopper of the maple family, but even if you don't live where it does well (though it's surprisingly durable), pretty much every maple you encounter will provide incredible fall color. And you're in luck — there are maples from as small as 3 feet to as tall as 100 feet that do well in a range of climate conditions, from the colder zones 3 and 4 to the warmer zones 8 and 9. In addition to Japanese maple, favorites include bigleaf maple (A. macrophyllum), paperback maple (A. griseum), Rocky Mountain maple (A. glabrum), red maple (A. rubrum) and sugar maple (A. saccharum).
Here is a fall decorating idea. Q. What are your top 5 fall decorating must-haves? Answer: 1.Heirloom pumpkins (not jack-o'-lanterns). 2.Mums in the same fall hue. 3.Fall-themed dishes, pillows and throws. I change my decorative pillows and throws for every season, and change out my everyday dishes from summer tones to fall ones. 4.Fresh new candles and/or room sprays in warm, fall scents. 5.Branches from outside! This is an easy way to facilitate a home from summer to fall.
I like this bedroom/bathroom, just different color scheme.
Q