9 trees with the best fall colors

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Fall has come to Columbus, bringing shorter days, cooler temperatures, and brighter landscapes. For those of us lucky enough to watch their transformation up close, the dazzling, changing colors of the trees are a true delight.

Green with envy over your neighbor's fall foliage? Here are HouseLogic's list of trees with the best fall colors to turn your yard into an autumnal wonderland.

1. Japanese Maple

With its maroon-red leaves, a Japanese Maple is a beautiful tree that attracts songbirds and squirrels. Houselogic recommends planting it in the shade, so its leaves don't burn in the summer heat.

2. Vine Maple

Houselogic cites this tree's curb appeal provided by its unique, twisting branches. The Vine Maple provides all three classic fall colors (yellow, orange, red) in its leaves, making it a perfect autumn addition.

3. Viburnum

The Viburnum is technically a shrub, but that doesn't make its fall appearance any less stunning. Its leaves turn shades of red and purple, while its berries add lovely blue accents.

4. Paper birch

The crisp contrast of this tree's white trunk and bright yellow leaves signal that fall has arrived! Houselogic also recommends tapping the tree for its sap to make syrup, vinegar, and beer.

5. Sugar maple

Like the Vine Maple, this tree boasts hues of red and orange, but the Sugar Maple's leaves reach another level of fall time perfection: gold. Another fun fact: the Sugar Maple has a very long lifespan, with some living up to 500 years!

6. Smoketree

Houselogic recommends using this shrub as an accent tree. The Smoketree is especially dynamic, with red-purple leaves in fall, and wispy, pink blossoms in spring

7. Katsura Tree

This tree does require some extra TLC, but there's a big payoff. The Katsura tree has a spread of up to 60 feet and its fallen leaves smell like cinnamon.

8. Sourwood

The Sourwood tree makes the list for its scarlet red leaves and silver seed capsules (sounds like Buckeye colors to us!). The capsules will stick around through the winter and bees will frequent Sourwood trees in the spring and summer to produce sourwood honey!

9. Scarlet Oak

Like its name implies, the Scarlet Oak's leaves turn bright red in the fall. According to Houselogic, larger songbirds and wild turkeys love the Scarlet Oak!