From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
The fall color season is near its peak in northeast Iowa. Leaf color is becoming more vibrant with our recent cooler nights. Aspens are turning bright yellow along with the bright reds and oranges on sugar maple.
Fall color is at peak in north central and northwest Iowa. Many species are in full yellow, including green ash, ironwood, hackberry, hickory, cottonwood, elms, and walnut. Maples are looking vibrant with orange and red colors. Poison ivy and Virginia creeper are showing red along with sumac and dogwoods.
Central Iowa will be at peak fall color from now through about the next ten days. Lots of yellows at full peak, including cottonwood, elm, walnut, hackberry, ash, hickory, and others. Red and crimson colors are good on sumac, dogwood, Virginia creeper, and some maples. Oaks have started to partially turn red.
Quite a bit of yellow, brown, and green across the forested landscape in southeast Iowa. Maples in urban settings are showing various red, orange, and brown colors. Roadside and field edge shrubs are red, purple, brown, and green. Virginia creeper and poison ivy are red. Peak season is not in full effect, but getting closer.
West central Iowa is likely as good as it will get this week. Drought conditions and high winds have led to early color changes on some species. Yellow colors will be plentiful this week with some reds from sumac and vines adding to the color. The last of the fall prairie flowers are finishing their bloom. Prairie grasses will likely be brown by the end of the week.
White ash, sugar and red maples, and some black cherries are the only trees showing colors beyond yellow in urban and rural areas of southwest Iowa. Most upland trees are still very green (oaks) even into the central Loess Hills. Native shrubs (sumac, dogwood, wahoo) will be at peak color this week. Cottonwood, hickories, honey locust are yellow.