Posted Oct. 23, 2026
There is a chill in the air, pumpkins are scattered around as decorations, jackets are out, and swim trunks are put away, but most importantly, fall color has arrived! The hills are painted in a familiar rusty-toned gradient, and that lovely feeling early autumn brings is upon us. Most of our tree species are changing, have changed, or are even on the downswing depending on soil quality and site conditions. If however, you’re still noticing quite a bit of green, that is most likely due to either one of our native shortleaf pines or one of the oak species. Pine, of course, remains green year-round, and the oak species are very slow to change. You will notice some tinges of fading or color change now, but they remain primarily green. Some oaks have already gone completely dormant and are brown and brittle; this is due to our very dry fall thus far.
The hickory species, including black, mockernut, shagbark, and pignut, have turned a classic yellow with highlights of orange; they are a major component of the overall fall color effect. Black walnut, a close relative of hickories, is nearly defoliated or clinging to yellow and brown leaves. Tulip trees (yellow poplars) are also clinging to yellow leaves, but not quite as sparsely as walnuts. Red maples are showing their magnificent reds and should continue to do so.
Additionally, you may notice many maples in varying shades of red planted in yards and along roads for their beautiful fall foliage. Missouri’s fine understory trees are putting on a colorful show. The state tree, the flowering dogwood, will be a cool red with bright red dotted highlights from its little fruits, which come about this time of year. Eastern redbud, most loved for its early purple spring flowers, can be a range of colors, most often yellow but with shades of orange and nearly red. Sassafras, which can be a smaller tree in the upland but a large one in the bottoms, will have a red hue. Black cherry species may show their cherry leaf color if site conditions are right.
Along rivers, the easiest tree to spot from a distance due to its bright white bark, the American sycamore, is showing its yellow color mixed with crunchy brown leaves still clinging to the bough. If you notice a bright red bush-like tree on the side of the road or in a field, that is most likely the winged sumac. It’s an early changer and one that’s hard to miss. Another bright red tree that changes quickly is the black gum, which often has bright red leaves alongside still-green leaves. With so many tree species, it’s no wonder things can suddenly swing from summer greens to autumn shades. Once the oak species decide it’s time, we’ll be in peak color, which could be as early as next week.
Fall Color Hot Spots
With such a lovely variety of colors in place, consider visiting one of the Ozarks’ giant springs. Water from these springs wells up from underground rivers and appears deep blue because of dissolved limestone and dolomite. This rare natural pigment creates a variable palette of color that complements the fall mix. Springs to visit include Blue Spring west of Ellington on Highway 106; Big Spring south of Van Buren; Round Spring north of Eminence on Highway 19; and, of course, Alley Spring west of Eminence on Highway 106. On a clear day, the red, yellow, and orange fall color canopy will reflect on the deep blue springs and form a unique natural painting.
