Fall is for planting, and September is prime for incorporating native trees into our landscapes. Native species are well-adapted to our region’s growing conditions. They offer ecological benefits like support for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife through blooms, fruits, and shelter.

Trees help manage stormwater and stabilize soils with extensive roots. They provide cooling shade to insulate our homes during the hottest times of the year, reducing utility use and costs. Plus, they’re beautiful, structural additions for visual interest and a boost in curb appeal. 

Planting native trees in September allows roots to develop and settle in before winter. In general, fall is an optimal planting season because of its moderate conditions, both in terms of cooling temperatures and seasonal moisture. As active growth slows, plants direct energy to root growth in advance of winter dormancy. Harnessing seasonal resources for study roots increases winter survivability.

Trees anchor our landscapes, and native species do so with adaptability, easy care, and minimal maintenance. Hardy selections to our growing zones survive winter in cold climates and are heat-tolerant in warm ones, some even withstanding drought once established.

Situate them in the appropriate sun exposure and soil type for their best growth, and water through frost for turgid roots and stems heading into frost. From small selections to broad branches and evergreen forms, natives are ready to fulfill the role of standout specimen tree.

Eastern Redbud

Adaptable tree that handles poor soils with ease.

Eastern redbuds are understory trees native to eastern North America and are among the first to flower after winter. Their range extends from Ontario to the Great Lakes, south to Florida, and west to Texas. Light pink-to-magenta flowers line bare, slender branches in early spring. They boast a long bloom time before heart-shaped leaves take their place.

The early blossoms provide a nectar source for hummingbirds and other pollinators before other blooms emerge. Fresh, new leaves begin bright green with red tinges and age to a deeper green. In the fall, foliage may turn bright yellow for good color.

The tree form is broad with a short main trunk or multiple trunks and a spreading canopy. They grow quickly when young and become more moderate with age. Young trees are upright and vase-shaped, showing zig-zagging stems as they grow.

Cercis are low-maintenance. They adapt to various site conditions, from poor soils to shifting sunlight. Plant these native trees in September in average, well-draining soils with consistent moisture, especially during prolonged dry spells.

Magnolia

Sheds big leaves and seed pods each spring.

Many magnolia species are native to Asia, but those native to North America include sweet bay (M. virginiana) and southern (M. grandiflora). The easy-to-maintain trees are lovely in the landscape with creamy white blooms and attractive foliage.

Sweetbay is typically multi-trunked with silvery green leaves and vanilla-scented flowers. The flowering specimen is smaller and fits a variety of garden sizes. M. grandiflora grows large and broad with a full skirt. Glossy leaves and massive lemony blooms are signatures of summer.

Southern magnolia leaves have brown undersides that turn velvety in cold weather. Seed pods follow the blooms and hold red fruits to extend the interest. The trees shed their large leaves and seed pods as new leaves take their place, especially in spring as foliage renews.

Arborvitae

Cold-hardy evergreens that need little pruning.

Arborvitae is an Eastern continental species that’s versatile across growing zones and site conditions. The cold-hardy evergreens have dense, flat, foliar sprays on narrow pyramidal forms.

Arborvitae serves as a year-round anchor. Their structural habits need little pruning (though cultivars bring tidier forms and bright foliage). The rugged specimens tolerate urban settings, air pollution, and different soil types, including clays. While they tolerate occasionally wet soils, they don’t withstand prolonged drought.

If moisture is a concern, arborvitae alternatives bring evergreen presence and waterwise qualities.

Red Maple

Fast growers with brilliant fall color displays.

Beloved for their broad, leafy canopy and striking shades of scarlet in fall and spring, red maples are handsome native trees to plant in September. Fresh green foliage and rosy-pink winged flowers emerge before the colorful show in autumn. A single tree can hold shades of red, orange, and yellow, or any combination. Leaves transition early on red maples to kick off the display at the season’s turn.

The winged flowers and delicate fruits that follow provide forage for birds and wildlife. They add to the seasonal interest (and aren’t messy when they drop).

Red maples establish and grow quickly, gaining 10 to 12 feet in five to seven years, to become solid shade specimens. They have a wide North American native range. The species adapts to various soils, from sand and clay to poorly draining and compacted, though rich, loose, and well-drained compositions are optimal. Provide irrigation during prolonged dry spells for the best vigor.

American Holly

Male and female trees pair for fruitful displays.

Hollies boast a rugged nature along with their structural forms, distinct leaves, and showy winter fruits. Their clusters of red berries bring high visual interest in a quieter time of year, and birds appreciate the fruits as a cold-season food source. Hollies maintain a tidy form across various site conditions, including sandy soils, high heat, humidity, and dry spells. 

American holly is a handsome native for the four-season garden. The slow-growing species dons dark, broad leaves and bright berries. For female trees to produce fruit, a male tree is necessary in the vicinity for cross-pollination.

For smaller native hollies with wildlife and pollinator value, look for yaupon hollies (Ilex vomitoria). The smaller-scale specimen trees serve as foundation and mixed border plantings.  I. vomitoria f. pendula has a unique weeping habit.

Serviceberry

Edible summer berries follow spring flowers.

Serviceberry is a low-maintenance native tree to plant in September, with a beautiful multi-trunked form and edible fruits. Several species and naturally occurring hybrids are native to North America.

In spring, showy white flower clusters appear before the leaves along soft, gray branches. Small berries follow and ripen to purple-black over the summer with a flavor that resembles blueberries. The green leaves have pale undersides and turn shades of gold and burgundy in the fall.

The all-season specimen bridges the ornamental and edible landscape and supports garden diversity. The blossoms are a valuable early food source for pollinators, and birds and wildlife enjoy the berries.

Blue Spruce

Drought-tolerant evergreens with blue needle color.

Blue spruce is native to the central Rocky Mountains and has a large, narrow, conical habit. It maintains its perfect Christmas-tree form year-round. Best in cool climates, the blue-needled species is one of the most drought-tolerant among the genus.

The waxy needles are a source of the spruce’s resilience against varying conditions. The wax helps with moisture retention, transpiration, and light reflectivity, making them a fit for waterwise landscapes.

Incorporate the evergreen where it has space to grow into a stately feature. The cool blues are a lovely contrast to the darker foliage plants nearby.

Smoketree

Can be pruned to remain small or left to grow tall.

Smoketree is another waterwise selection that adapts to different soils and is drought-tolerant once established. Loosely arranged with multi-stems, the native species stands out with bold foliage in deep plum that turns red in the fall. In summer, delicate, hairy stems with flower clusters turn dusky pink in a soft plume of “smoke” that persists all season.

Cotinus obovatus is widely adaptable, even in rocky soils (though loose, lean loams are best). It boasts some of the best fall color among native trees. Prune it to form a single trunk, or allow multi-trunks to develop. You can also keep it small and shrubby by cutting back stems each year.

River Birch

Peeling bark adds winter appeal.

River birch is fast-growing and a prime native tree to plant in September to establish. Papery, peeling bark lines the multiple trunks for all-season appeal, especially interesting in winter. Symmetrical in form, river birches have upright branching and a pyramidal canopy. Textured, fluttering leaves emerge in spring and turn yellow in the fall.

Betula nigra is native to Eastern North America. The vigorous species adapts to various growing conditions and is heat-tolerant and pest-resistant. While low maintenance, the tree naturally sheds twigs and small branches as they die back.

Juniper

Tough evergreens with berries that feed birds.

Native junipers range in shape, size, and habitat. With needled foliage in deep green and blue, they add four seasons of visual interest. Their waxy blue berries add to the winter aesthetic and offer forage for birds.

Junipers are tough and have a durability that lets them grow almost anywhere. From western to eastern species, they span the landscape coast to coast. Often overlooked as common or scrubby, they’re exceptionally hardy and long-lived. Situate them in naturalized landscapes as evergreen anchors with ecological value that don’t require additional resources to thrive.

Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) reaches 30 to 40 feet tall. Its blue-green foliage consists of overlapping scales. Like others in the genus, it carries exceptional drought tolerance and ease of growth.

Fringetree

Showy white flowers become bird-friendly berries.

Fringetree is a pretty specimen tree for small-scale situations, making it a great native tree to plant in September in smaller gardens. It bears masses of creamy white, strappy flowers in late spring. The fluffy, airy clusters droop from the tips of stems. They carry a light fragrance to draw pollinators, and dark berries that follow support songbirds.

Fringetree develops a spreading, leafy canopy. Foliage transitions from green to deep gold in autumn before dropping. The native adapts to urban settings and seldom needs pruning. For the best vigor, provide supplemental irrigation during drought situations.

American Hornbeam

Host tree for butterflies and songbirds.

Also called ironwood or musclewood, the distinct characteristics of this tree include fluted and sinewy bark that makes for limbs with organic musculature. In spring, new leaves emerge with red tinges and age to dark green, turning yellow, orange, and red in the fall. Bark is smooth and grey brown as it appears to stretch around the trunk and branches.

American hornbbeam is a hardwood that tolerates various soils, from clay to alkaline, and periods of moisture and dryness. It does best in moist, well-draining, acidic, sandy loams. 

The species is a host for the Eastern tiger swallowtail and the Red-spotted purple butterflies. Its spring buds and fall seeds are a food source for songbirds, fowl, and small mammals.

Arizona Cypress

Heat- and drought-tolerant evergreen for warm climates.

Arizona cypress is a native tree to plant in September to settle in during fall’s mild reprieve. The pyramidal evergreen has a narrow form and bright, silvery needles on strong, full branches. The soft, hazy aesthetic cools down the display, even in high-heat growing conditions.

Native to the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, the conifer withstands heat and drought once established. Easy to grow, it roots readily in various soils. Arizona cypress grows best in warm climates where it makes a windbreak, privacy screen, or erosion control planting. With attractive full skirting to the ground, it needs minimal pruning.

Flowering Dogwood

Spring bracts and red fruits extend seasonal interest.

Flowering dogwoods are sweet understory trees that make good complements to Eastern redbuds as early spring bloomers. They shine among spring-flowering shrubs, including native azaleas, which span hardiness zones.

The low-branching, broadly pyramidal form of flowering dogwood makes it a suitable small-scale specimen (with room for flat, spreading crowns). Milky white bracts with yellow-green bloom centers cover the canopy in April and May. Leaves remain a fresh green until turning crimson and scarlet in autumn. Bright red fruits mature in late summer and fall, persisting on the stem into winter (those that the birds leave behind).

If you live in an area where dogwood anthracnose is a problem, particularly in parts of the Eastern U.S., opt for another flowering specimen tree like redbud, sweet bay magnolia, or silverbell. Resistant varieties and best cultural practices can also help ward off the fungal disease.

Silverbell

Bell-shaped spring blooms suit woodland settings.

Carolina silverbells are lovely woodland and naturalized plantings with delicate blooms. The understory species is native to the Appalachian Mountains and southeastern U.S. White bell blooms appear in spring and hang from the stems in clusters. Four-winged nuts emerge in fall and last into winter for extended seasonal interest.