• Some oak trees produce brilliant fall colors.Red oak tree in autumn with blue sky and white cloud image by Freshwater Seas from Fotolia.com
  
  Oaks are familiar trees; over 80 species grow in North America, all of which produce acorns and provide an important habitat for wildlife. Known for their large size and economic importance, oaks also have colorful fall foliage.
  
  

Northern Red Oak

• The northern red oak tree (Quercus rubra) is a large, fast-growing tree found throughout most of the United States. Mature red oaks reach heights of 60 to 70 feet and contain a robust canopy of large leaves. The foliage of the northern red oak progresses slowly from green to a deep red in the fall. The attractive fall display, along with their fast growth-rate and the ample shade they provide makes red oak trees a popular tree with urban planners, who use them as landscaping tree for parking lots, highway medians and urban parks, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
  
  

White Oak

• White oak trees (Quercus alba) are common throughout the eastern United States. White oaks get their name from the appearance of their high quality wood, which is white when freshly cut. The acorns from white oak trees are an important food source for wildlife; over 180 different species eat white oak acorns, according to the University of Wisconsin Extension. The leaves of white oak trees change to a purple-red color and then fade to russet brown late in the fall. The dark brown leaves stay on the tree through the winter until new leaves begin to grow in the spring. The fall coloration combined with the large spreading canopy makes the white oak a dramatic sight in a mixed forest or alone in an open field.
  
  

Pin Oak

• Pin oaks (Quercus palustris) are one of the most common landscaping trees, used throughout the eastern and midwestern United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Pin oaks grow well in a variety of conditions and are natives of stream banks and flood plains. The tall, pyramidal crown of the canopy attracts attention and provides ample shade. Pin oaks are often used in urban environments due to their ability to thrive in polluted environments and dry, compacted soils. In addition to their resiliency, the long, thin leaves of pin oaks have attractive fall foliage that changes from copper to red and then brown through the fall. The brown leaves remain on the tree through winter.