Whether you are passionate for purple, a fan of flaming orange or get mellow when you see a golden yellow, Mother Nature is getting ready to put on another show for us this autumn.

Throughout spring and summer, we have a diverse pallet of colors displayed by flowering trees and shrubs, ornamental grasses, and annual and perennial flowers, but fall is the time for shrubs and trees to shine as they show off their foliage before the winter blahs set in.

It’s easy to close your eyes and picture the changing colors of fall, the hillsides and home gardens turning those lovely shades of yellow, red and orange. If you have a favorite color, there are many references that can help you choose the right plant for your type of soil and growing conditions.

A simple soil test can help you find out the make-up of the soil on your property and some basic observations on the conditions of the growing area, such as how many hours of sunlight, and wet or dry soil. This can help you determine the right types of plants for your site.

Garden centers often have the name of the plant and some basic information about the type of soil and habit the plants prefer to give them the best chance to grow healthy and avoid problems.

If you are lucky, they may tell you the type of fall foliage, but sometimes you will have to research that information on your own. Don’t be afraid to ask people at the garden center or nursery if they can tell you what type of fall color the tree or shrub produces.

Take a pad and pencil with you as you browse through the garden centers and write down some of the names of plants that you are considering adding to your landscape. Later, you can go online to learn more about these plants and their fall colors before you buy them and get them in the ground.

The “New York/Mid-Atlantic Gardener’s Book of Lists” can provide you guidance on fall color trees. Another great reference is the “Manual of Woody Landscape Plants,” by Michael Dirr.

Just be aware that some trees and shrubs have a lot of “cultivars” that are for sale, and they each may have different colors.

For example, Amelanchier arborea, commonly known as Downy Serviceberry (also called Juneberry or Shadbush), has several cultivars. “Autumn Brilliance” has a brilliant red fall color, while the cultivar “Autumn Sunset” has a rich, pumpkin-orange fall color, and the cultivar “Ballerina” displays purple-bronze.

So make sure you are getting the color you really want.

Here is a short list of some trees with beautiful fall color:

Sassafras albidum, common sassafras: deep orange to scarlet and purple color.

Pseudolarix amabilis, golden larch: a deciduous conifer, bright yellow.

Acer saccharum, sugar maple: many cultivars available (yellows, oranges, and reds).

Quercus coccinea, scarlet oak: provides showy scarlet red leaves.

Stewartia pseudocamellia, Japanese Stewartia: magnificent small to medium tree which can turn shades of yellow, red to dark reddish purple.

Do some research, then get digging, plant some trees and wait for your autumn spectacular. Please be patient though, since sometimes it takes a while for your plants to mature and produce their best show.

“Growing Green” is contributed by Diane Dorn, Lehigh County Extension Office Staff, and Master Gardeners. Information: Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-813-6613