‘Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.’ So said Emily Brontë, and we feel it in our bones every single day of this most colorful of seasons – but you don’t need a big yard to enjoy it. In fact, there are plenty of ornamental trees to grow in pots for fabulous fall foliage.
Perfect for terraces, balconies, and container gardens of all shapes and sizes, these ornamental trees all put on jaw-dropping fall displays. And, while knowing how and when to plant trees is vital to their success, you can usually rest assured that the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness is one of the best times to do it (depending on where you fall on the USDA Planting Zone map).
From scarlet leaves to coral bark to jewel-like fruit, these specimens might not have the statuesque elegance of our favorite big trees, but they are every bit as beautiful…
1. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Japanese maples are famed for their fiery red, orange, or gold leaves, making them ideal trees to grow in pots for fabulous fall foliage. They’re hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9, and prefer a sheltered spot with dappled shade, so be careful where you position yours.
You can buy a live BLOODGOOD Red Japanese Maple Tree from Amazon, but take care when choosing your pot; it should be double the root ball's volume in size, but not too much bigger, as this could cause root rot. Team with a well-draining potting mix and you’re well on your way to envy-inducing autumnal beauty!
2. Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
Whether you call them crape myrtle or crepe myrtle trees, these little beauties are hardy in Zones 9 down to 7 (with some special varieties surviving in zone 6), and are wonderfully easy to grow in the right location. All they really need is plenty of sunshine, to be honest, and the occasional drink of fertilizer if their blooms aren’t up to scratch.
If you’re choosing yours specifically as one of the trees to grow in pots for fabulous fall foliage, take care to choose the right variety for the job; a Centennial, a Victor, or a Dwarf Crepe Myrtle 'Pocomoke' from Walmart are ideally sized for life in a container.
3. Crabapple (Malus spp.)
Flowering crabapple trees are often called “the jewels of the landscape”, and it’s not hard to see why when you consider they deliver spring blossoms, bright fall leaves, and striking fruits that last well into the winter months (keeping local birds well fed and happy to boot!).
Typically hardy in Zones 4-8, take care to plant yours in full sun and stick to the dwarf varieties; this Cinderella® Crabapple from Johnson’s Nursery should fit the bill nicely (although, if you really fancy a challenge, you can even get a bonsai-style variety!).
4. Redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’)
One of our most beloved native trees, the American redbud definitely packs a punch at this time of year with its firework-colored explosion of fall foliage. Better still, these compact flowering trees are beloved by pollinators and hardy in USDA Zones 4-9, making them an excellent choice for most gardens.
If patience isn’t one of your best virtues (no judgment here!), you can pick up a 4-5 foot Eastern Redbud from Perfect Plants on Amazon. Just take care to plant in well-draining soil and water well until established; in fact, this one needs a large pot and steady moisture as standard.
5. Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)
Don’t forget about the kousa dogwood if you want one of the easiest trees to grow in pots for fabulous fall foliage; hardy in zones 5-8, they are every bit as striking as traditional dogwoods, but they are best planted in the spring rather than in the fall.
Wait, then, until all signs of frost have passed before you pot this little beauty up, taking care to use rich, moist soil, and pop it in a spot with full sun or partial shade. Pick up a Kousa Chinese Dogwood Tree from Walmart and prepare to fall in love with those reddish-purple leaves when fall rolls around.
BONUS: Flowering Apricot (Prunus mume ‘Beni-chidori’)
If you want glossy orange fall leaves and fragrant late-winter blooms, the Japanese flowering apricot is great for tight spaces and entryways. Although they are native to Asia, these little beauties grow hardy in zones 6 through 8 in the United States, although they need full sun and well drained, fertile, acidic soil to thrive.
A word of caution: these trees can be pricey, so take care to shop around your local nurseries and find the one that’s best suited to you and your space.
When potting your trees up, try to go as large as you can manage; trees need room for roots and insulation from temperature swings. Opt for a resin or fiberglass pot where you can, too, as these are lightweight and weather-resistant – and make sure there are holes at the bottom; roots should never sit in water. Something like Amazon’s Dia Resin Large Round Black Flower Pots should do the trick, and they come in packs of two!
Remember: even if you don’t have room for a full-size shade tree, you can still enjoy fall’s most beautiful colors right outside your door, so long as you choose the right tree, give it a generous pot, and treat it like a long-term garden investment.
And, honestly? A single ornamental tree in a container can transform a space into a showpiece every bit as well as one of their larger cousins, not to mention reward you with brilliant foliage year after year.
