Topping - or cutting off the tips of trees - is especially undesirable.

I'd like to plant a tree that will provide a canopy of shade and prefer deciduous for this purpose.

An underused beauty in midwestern yards and gardens, sweetgum has standout, star-shaped leaves that start out glossy green in summer, changing to glorious purple/red/multitones in fall. The colorful show endures longer than most trees. On the large side (ultimately 60 to 70 feet), sweetgums can anchor a landscape as powerfully as any oak or maple. Aug 05, Many deciduous trees, including maples, have foliage that turns to striking shades, including purple, in the fall.

But certain varieties, such as the Burgandy lace Japanese maple. Aug 17, The purple ash tree (Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Purple’) is actually a white ash tree that has purple leaves in fall. Its attractive autumn foliage makes it a popular street and shade tree.

Unfortunately, experts no longer recommend planting new ash trees since they are susceptible to the deadly pest, the emerald ash stumpmulching.barted Reading Time: 2 mins.