With temperatures still reaching the 90s, it's hard to imagine trees turning the landscape into a canvas of red, orange, and yellow. But with fall right around the corner, the Missouri Department of Conservation is offering weekly color updates across the state.
Missouri has a variety of trees, with color changes lasting 6 to 8 weeks. Residents and tourists will see Sassafras, sumac, and Virginia creeper changing soon, while black gum, bittersweet, and dogwoods will start turning at the end of the month.
Fall colors typically peak in mid-October.
See weekly updates from MDC foresters all over Missouri here: https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/fall-color. The updates will run through November, with suggestions for best places to see fall colors.
Weather conditions leading up to the fall months can vary the progression of changing colors, thought it is predictable.
“The majority of central and north Missouri has had adequate moisture, so we should have good fall color,” said MDC Forestry Field Programs Supervisor Russell Hinnah. “With the droughty conditions in southern Missouri, particularly in the southwest, we could see muted colors, a shortened window of color and even early leaf drop.”
Hinnah added that bright sunny days with cool nights in the beginning of September can be the perfect setting for vibrant fall colors.
“We need cool nights, but not below freezing,” Hinnah explained. “An early freeze can damage leaf tissue before color is fully developed and cause leaves to drop prematurely.”
Trees aren't the only thing that change colors. Prairies and roadsides offer a mix of purple, olive, and auburn as wildflowers, shrubs, and grasses change with the season. If you're looking for fall colors, seek out environments with mature trees like parks or older neighborhoods.
Fall color makes an ideal backdrop for getting outside, whether you're hiking, camping, or even floating. Some of the best places to take it all in will be Missouri state parks and MDC conservation areas.
