So, let\u2019s take a look at some of the most famous autumn trees in the world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So Why do They Change Colour Anyway?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In temperate or four-season regions, plant cells start to die off when the autumn chill sets in. This causes the chlorophyll in the leaves- which gives leaves their green pigment – to die away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This exposes the remaining carotenoids<\/strong> and a<\/strong>nthocyanins<\/strong>, which are responsible for yellow, brown and orange<\/strong> as well as red and purple<\/strong> pigments respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maples are arguably the<\/em> autumn tree. I mean, an entire country thought it was pretty enough to put on their flag!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recognized by their distinctive palm-shaped leaves, maples have long inspired both admiration and awe, particularly in East Asia and North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maples also include a vast variety of species that are planted for their vibrant colours, shade or even their yummy syrup!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jiuzhaigou, China<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nikko, Japan<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Naejang-san, Korea<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now this entry is cheating a bit because poplar refers to a genus or group of species also includes other famous autumn trees such as aspen and cottonwood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although hugely diverse, the famous autumn poplar species are generally recognized by their greyish, almost bone-white bark as well as scar-like lenticels on older trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, an entire quaking aspen forest called Pando is considered the world\u2019s largest tree by sheer weight. This is because all the \u201ctrees\u201d share the same roots, making them the same tree!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hemu Village, Xinjiang, China<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pando, Utah, USA<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wanaka, New Zealand<\/p>\n\n\n\n Immediately recognized by its brilliant saffron gold hues and extremely unique and distinctive fan-shaped leaves, the ginkgo is yet another favourite fall tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its odd name is due to a misspelled German translation of its Japanese name ginkgo<\/em> or \u201csilver apricot\u201d. Hailing from China, where its seeds are a delicacy, the name was also inspired by its Chinese name yinxing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Incredibly ancient (200 million years old!) and resistant to diseases, some ginkgo trees can be centuries old such as the ginkgo tree in the Kew Gardens, first planted in 1759!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trivia<\/em>: Watch out for female ginkgo trees, as their fruit give off a rancid, rotten smell! Thankfully, most planted ginkgo trees <\/em>are <\/em>male.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Meiji Jingu Gaien Park, Japan<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tengchong, China<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gyeongbokgung Palace, Korea<\/p>\n\n\n\n The namesake of a certain British colonial official who met an unfortunate end in Malaya, birch trees are fall trees native to the forests of the Northern Hemisphere and grow in pleasingly straight trunks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spring, they grow pretty flower clusters called catkins that droop down in huge curtains. Unusually, these clusters can be both female and male.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like poplars, some birch species feature peeling bark that reveals a bone-white colour underneath, creating a beautiful contrast against their amber and aurum leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trivia: The bark of birch can be used for paper, firewood or even waterproofing for canoes!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wondae-ri Birch Forest, Korea<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peneda-Ger\u00eas National Park, Portugal<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Japan<\/p>\n\n\n\n Closely related to birches, beeches are one of the most common autumn trees around the world, particularly in Europe and North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to its broad oval-shaped leaves and huge forests, its gold and bronze palettes can be even seen from space! It\u2019s not just looks though, as this hardwood is popular for its cheap cost, toughness and bending properties<\/p>\n\n\n\n As an aside, the beech\u2019s misleadingly-named (false) cousin, the southern beech or Nothofagus (false beech) is an autumn tree that graces the grasslands of Patagonia<\/a> in South America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bokeskogen Beech Forest, Norway<\/p>\n\n\n\n S\u00f6der\u00e5sen National Park, Sweden<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taipingshan Beech Trail, Taiwan<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine a Christmas tree\u2026but red!<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s how the cypress and its (mostly) cone-shaped foliage greet the moody twilight of autumn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cypress or Cupressaceae family competes with ginkgo as one of the world\u2019s most long-lived tree species, with many cypresses ranking high on the list. They also boast some of the world\u2019s tallest living trees among the redwoods of California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In autumn, the bottom-heavy bald cypress forests of Louisiana, USA explode in a conflagrations of foliage that reflects perfectly off the region\u2019s swampy waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lake Martin, Louisiana, USA<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lin Feng Ying Cypress Forest, Lin Feng Ying, Taiwan<\/p>\n\n\n\n Makino Dawn Redwood Avenue, Japan<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re feeling the call of autumn, how about some of Europe\u2019s best autumn sights on a budget<\/a> or the underrated fall mountains of Northern Greece<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n NASA Earthdata – Autumn Foliage in Eastern Asia: A View from Space Earthwatch Europe – Autumn trees: how to identify them Roots – Ginkgo Tree Facts Kew Gardens – Ginkgo treeMaples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/bbb-xzh-kyoto-maple-tree-leaves-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
Where to Find<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Poplar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Pando-Fish-Lake-National-Forest-Poplar-Tree-1024x678.jpg\")
Where to Find<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ginkgo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Woman_wearing_white_Gyeongbok_Palace_Korea-1024x768.jpg\")
Where to Find<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Birch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/tapio-haaja-birch-trees-unsplash-1024x768.jpg\")
Where to Find<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Beech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bokeskogen-Beech-Forest-Norway-1024x576.jpg\")
Where to Find<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cypress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Makino-Dawn-Redwood-Avenue-Japan-1024x682.webp\")
Where to Find<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Autumn_reflection_in_Kastoria_lake_Greece-1024x768.jpg\")
Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.earthdata.nasa.gov\/learn\/data-in-action\/autumn-foliage-eastern-asia-view-from-space<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/earthwatch.org.uk\/blog\/autumn-trees-how-to-identify-them\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.rootsplants.co.uk\/blogs\/features\/ginkgo-tree-facts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.kew.org\/plants\/ginkgo-tree<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![Mageiamaya<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re feeling the call of autumn, how about some of Europe\u2019s best autumn sights on a budget<\/a> or the underrated fall mountains of Northern Greece<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\nLinks<\/h2>\n\n\n\nNASA Earthdata – Autumn Foliage in Eastern Asia: A View from Spacehttps:\/\/www.earthdata.nasa.gov\/learn\/data-in-action\/autumn-foliage-eastern-asia-view-from-space<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nEarthwatch Europe – Autumn trees: how to identify themhttps:\/\/earthwatch.org.uk\/blog\/autumn-trees-how-to-identify-them\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nRoots – Ginkgo Tree Factshttps:\/\/www.rootsplants.co.uk\/blogs\/features\/ginkgo-tree-facts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nKew Gardens – Ginkgo treehttps:\/\/www.kew.org\/plants\/ginkgo-tree<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nBritannica – Birchhttps:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/birch<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Fiery red leaves, gold-lined branches and deep maroon forests – yes, it\u2019s that time of year again! Autumn is rightly…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":11248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[251],"tags":[84,398,409,82,410],"class_list":["post-11130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","tag-autumn","tag-fall","tag-foliage","tag-nature","tag-trees"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-scaled.jpg",2560,1440,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-768x432.jpg",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-1536x864.jpg",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-2048x1152.jpg",2048,1152,true],"penci-recipe-1200x1200":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-1200x1200.jpg",1200,1200,true],"penci-recipe-1200x900":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-1200x900.jpg",1200,900,true],"penci-recipe-1200x675":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-1200x675.jpg",1200,675,true],"penci-single-full":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-1920x1080.jpg",1920,1080,true],"penci-slider-full-thumb":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-1920x800.jpg",1920,800,true],"penci-full-thumb":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-1170x658.jpg",1170,658,true],"penci-slider-thumb":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-1170x663.jpg",1170,663,true],"penci-magazine-slider":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-780x516.jpg",780,516,true],"penci-thumb":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-585x390.jpg",585,390,true],"penci-masonry-thumb":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-585x329.jpg",585,329,true],"penci-thumb-square":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-585x585.jpg",585,585,true],"penci-thumb-vertical":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-480x650.jpg",480,650,true],"penci-thumb-small":["https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kim-chan-maple-leaf-autumn-unsplash-263x175.jpg",263,175,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Wei Yip","author_link":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/author\/weiyip\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Fiery red leaves, gold-lined branches and deep maroon forests – yes, it\u2019s that time of year again! Autumn is rightly…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11130"}],"version-history":[{"count":127,"href":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12129,"href":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11130\/revisions\/12129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Autumn_reflection_in_Kastoria_lake,_Greece.jpg\"){kind=link}