Virginia Department
of Forestry

Virginia is diverse in landscape, from the highest mountains to the Eastern Shore. The variety in landscape and elevation provides a long fall foliage season, starting earliest in the higher elevations and moving eastward. Fall colors generally peak sometime between October 10 and October 31; however, these dates can vary from year to year, based on factors such as temperature and rainfall.

Weekly Report

October 2, 2025

Fall foliage sometimes comes in fits and starts. Rainy days and warm, humid nights this week have slowed the development of red pigments, but progress will start again with cooler temperatures. Less dependent on temperature is the slow but steady march toward yellow foliage, instigated by shortening days.

Some parts of the Cumberland Plateau, Alleghenies, and higher elevations of the southern Blue Ridge have as much as 30 percent color change…in spots. Aspect (the direction a slope faces) and microclimate features can make the difference between a green slope and a patchwork one at this time of year.

While central and northern Virginia sport fall shades here and there, eastern Virginia is still dressed in summer green. There, the edges of swamps will be the first places to show a change. Craving more color now? Take a trip to a city. Urban trees live under stress and often change color before their rural cousins.

Early species to watch include yellow-poplar, black walnut, and sweet birch for yellow; sassafras and an occasional sugar maple for orange; sumac, Virginia creeper, black gum, dogwood, and a few early maples for red. On the wildflower side, goldenrod and asters are also worth a country drive in early October.

September 24, 2025

According to the calendar, fall arrived earlier this week. Virginia’s forests agree. Thanks to dry weather in August and September, this fall’s color show is starting a bit earlier than usual.

Prolonged dry weather in late summer often triggers early color changes. In particular, we’re seeing development of red colors across western and central Virginia, which usually doesn’t happen until October. If you’re planning a leaf-peeping trip across the state, choose the early side of the typical dates shown on the color map above.

Prediction of “peak” coloration is complicated in Virginia, because we have a wide diversity of tree species that color at different times, creating a long foliage season where red, yellow, and orange intersperse with green or brown. On the positive side, many people find this mixture even more colorful than a palette of only autumn tones.

What’s happening with forest color this week? Throughout the mountains and in north central Virginia you’ll encounter spotty yellows and reds, especially along roadsides. Yellow-poplar is waving flags of bright yellow, and sassafras is blushing pale orange. Sumac, Virginia creeper, black gum, dogwood, and a few early maples cover all the shades of red, from pink to scarlet to nearly maroon. The highest mountains of southwest Virginia, the Blue Ridge, and the Alleghenies have a few areas with 10 to 25% of leaves changed, although there is still a good bit of green. Eastern Virginia is mostly unchanged, except for an obvious dulling of green as chlorophyll production slows. Statewide, moisture-stressed urban trees are also beginning to color from the top down.

While you wait for the big bang of October color, fall wildflowers are putting on a spectacular show now along unmown roadsides and fields. Sporting bright yellow are tickseed, wingstem, crownbeard, and goldenrod. Intermixed are pops of white from bonesets (aka thoroughworts) and blue to purple from asters, ironweeds and mistflowers.

Goldenrods at Chincoteague

Why Leaves Change Color

• Chlorophyll gives leaves their familiar green color.
• Carotenoids produce yellow, orange, and brown colors.
• Anthocyanins produce red and purple colors and are the same pigments that give color to fruits like blueberries and cherries.

Both chlorophyll and carotenoids are present in the leaf cells throughout the growing season. During this time, chlorophyll is produced and leaves appear green. As days get shorter, chlorophyll production slows and eventually stops. With the green color no longer visible, the yellow carotenoids are revealed. During autumn, bright light and excess plant sugars produce red anthocyanins within leaf cells.

Virginia’s many species of deciduous trees create an interesting mix of autumn colors. Here are some colors you can expect from some of our most common species:

Fall Foliage Resources

• Blue Ridge Parkway
• George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
• Shenandoah National Park
• Explore Fall
• Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage Prediction Map
• All things Fall In Virginia from the Virginia Tourism Corporation
• Find a state forest to view fall color
• Prince William Forest Park is an oasis of natural beauty and human history located just south of Washington, DC.

Fall Foliage Driving Tours

Try our DOF-recommended Fall Foliage Driving Tours.

Additional Resources

Image	Title	ID	Description	Content Type	View	hf:tax:document-category	hf:tax:Media
	Forest Facts: Virginia in the Fall	F00009	Forest Facts information sheet provides an illustrated explanation of the science of leaves changing colors, the role of pigments, effects of the calendar and weather, why these changes occur, and fall leaf identification information. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available.	Publication	View	education public-information	publication

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