JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.— As the heat of summer fades into the cool weather of fall, trees and shrubs around Missouri transform from leaves of green to a fall-foliage color palette of golds, reds, oranges, and purples. The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages people to discover nature through fall-color excursions.
“People can travel anywhere in Missouri and find a variety of trees that show off a fantastic array of color in the fall,” said Cory Gregg, a department forester.
Gregg explained that leaves turn colors when two things happen.
“First, sugars produced by photosynthesis are trapped inside leaves by chilly, but not freezing, autumn nights,” he said. “Those sugars are the building blocks for red, yellow, orange, and purple pigments. Cool nights simultaneously cause the breakdown of green pigments, allowing these other colors to show through.”
The variety of trees means travelers can enjoy a fall color season that can last four to six weeks. Sassafras, sumac, and the Virginia creeper are some of the earliest foliage to change, beginning in mid-September. By late September, black gum, bittersweet, and dogwoods are turning.
The peak of fall color is usually around mid-October. This is when maples, ashes, oaks, and hickories are at the height of their fall display. Normally by late October, the colors are fading and the leaves start to drop from the trees.
For vistas, Mark Grueber, a department forester, recommends routes along rivers with views of forested bluffs, and along ridges with sweeping scenes of forested landscapes. On a smaller scale, people can drive on back roads, hike or take a float trip under a colorful forest canopy on a clear, blue-sky day. Conservation areas and state parks are great places to visit for fall color.
“Even treeless areas, such as prairies and roadsides, display beautiful shades of gold, purple, olive, and auburn with autumn wildflowers, shrubs, and grasses,” Grueber said. “In cities and towns, enjoy places with mature trees, such as older neighborhoods, parks, and even cemeteries.”