Autumn is a special time of the year in New England, when leaf-peepers travel from all over the world to take in the natural fireworks that happen every fall. But, if you’re close to Northeastern’s Boston campus, you don’t have to travel very far at all—the campus, which was officially recognized as an arboretum in 2019, features a stunning autumnal display all its own.

Northeastern is the only university in Boston to have an arboretum on its campus, and it features more than 143 plant species and 1,400 trees.

This being New England, there’s only a small window to enjoy this yearly display. Peak foliage is very weather-dependent but usually occurs sometime in the early weeks of October.

Thanks to a mild fall so far, most of the campus is still green, says Chuck Doughty, who oversees landscaping for Northeastern. The scattered yellowing is likely due more to dryness than cooler weather, although there are evident hints of the hues to come.

There’s something to see on almost every corner of campus, says Marc Carlson, a Northeastern student studying horticulture who’s working with Doughty on co-op.

Scattered throughout campus, Japanese maple trees offer “one of the best shows of fall color on campus,” Carlson says.

Additionally, Carlson recommends keeping an eye out around campus for callery pear trees, that turn a deep maroon and hold their leaves longer into the fall; honey locust trees, which feature very fine leaves that turn a “glowing” yellow; and black tupelo trees, which turn a “beautiful, deep red.” A cluster of black tupelos across the former Chicken Lou’s restaurant is a particularly striking example, Carlson says.

On Centennial Common, keep your eyes peeled for a Sargent cherry tree near Shillman Hall.

“Not many cherries have exciting fall color, however this one turns a nice red in early fall,” Carlson says.

Also on Centennial (and throughout campus), red maple trees will turn a deep, rich red, and a Chinese chestnut tree will turn to a golden yellow. The chestnut tree also features “spiky seed capsules” that are visible before it changes color, Carlson says.

A sugar maple tree near Veterans Memorial will turn a “rich orange,” he says. Japanese stewartia trees found outside the Behrakis Center and Stetson West “put on a great show each fall with a bright red-orange color.”

Redbud trees, such as the ones near Veterans Memorial and the koi pond outside the Curry Student Center, turn a rich yellow color.

Ginkgo trees, found at either end of the pedestrian bridge near the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, feature a unique fan-shape leaf that turns bright yellow in the fall. Carlson adds: “The hue contrasts nicely with the rusty coloration of the bridge.”

And, if you’re eager for even more leaf peeping, there are plenty of places just outside the Boston campus that are accessible by public transit:

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