Biltmore is open and welcoming guests. Learn more.
Discover the many ways to save on Biltmore tickets!
Which of our splendid overnight options meets your specific needs?
Enjoy fall’s colorful glory… then explore King Tut’s story.
Discover Biltmore’s rare and beautiful objets d’art—furnishings, paintings, tapestries, and more.
Late-summer wildflowers are putting on their last big show. Purple Ironweed and Goldenrod brighten roadsides and meadows, offering butterflies and other pollinators a final sip of nectar before the cooler weather sets in.
Acorns and hickory nuts continue to drop, providing plenty of food for squirrels, deer, and turkeys as they prepare for winter. Dogwoods are already showing their first flashes of red, joined by Sourwood and Tupelo. A few Maples in the gardens and forests are also starting their shift, their flecks of yellow, orange, and red luminous against the lingering summer greens.
Warm days and crisp nights are helping this transformation along. As chlorophyll fades from the leaves, the golds, oranges, and reds we associate with fall begin to show. Cooler temperatures in the higher elevations have already triggered the stunning transformation of trees on the surrounding mountain peaks, and that color will soon make its way down into the valleys.
The Southern Appalachian fall color season is officially underway—a breathtaking display shaped by weather, elevation, and tree diversity. It’s a show you don’t want to miss, so plan your visit today.
Cheerful Mums, Salvia, and Wheatgrass brighten misty mornings in the Walled Garden with a glorious glimpse of Biltmore House in the background.
The Lagoon mirrors the ever-changing colors of fall with a beautiful reflection of Biltmore House.
There’s still plenty of colorful botanical interest in the Italian Garden with Water Lilies and Papyrus anchoring the display.
Colorful mums cluster around late-season roses in the pretty pocket garden in front of Biltmore’s Winery.
The Tulip Poplars framing Antler Hill Barn are beginning to show characteristic pops of fall color.
Look for shimmering spots of red and gold as the trees along the Approach Road begin to change into their autumnal attire.
Stroll across the bridge above the Bass Pond spillway where species like Virginia Sweetspire and Sweet Birch provide a great variety of fall color.
Relax and enjoy sweeping views below The Inn as the Hydrangeas and Abelia take on the rusty tones of autumn.
Summer’s hot days and thunder showers usually become far less frequent as the season draws to a close. By mid- to late September, the estate’s late summer garden annuals may perk up with the cooler nights, only to be replaced with colorful chrysanthemums in October. In Antler Hill Village, wave upon wave of sunflowers rise skyward and share their cheerful full-bloom faces. Depending on weather conditions, the estate’s yellow buckeyes can show early leaf coloration, and dogwoods may develop light shades of red, hints that fall will soon be upon us in Asheville. Ironweed flowers and late summer goldenrods also signal summer’s finale, as butterflies enjoy their final sips of sugary nectar. Much to the delight of squirrels and turkeys getting ready for winter, acorns and hickory nuts begin to drop to the forest floor.
The much-anticipated arrival of peak fall color is influenced by day length and temperatures, which can vary from year to year. Similar to the way chilly autumn days prompt us to grab that flannel shirt or light sweater, these cool temperatures trigger the leaf chemistry behind the brilliant color transformations we see.
Fall floral displays, carefully planned to provide good color in October, usually reach peak bloom toward the middle of the month. As our gardeners plant out fall floral designs in the display beds, the first true autumn leaf color begins to show in the native dogwood and sourwood trees that line estate roads and pastures. Their flares of red will deepen as the month progresses. Yellow poplars and sweet birches will offer up amber hues. These early trees hold color through the season and add to peak color at the end of October with sugar maples, red maples, hickory, and gum trees giving the best show. Guests walking the gardens in October enjoy some of the best fall color up close on Japanese maples, woody shrubs, ferns, and other perennials.
Be sure to visit the gardens to see and smell the Japanese Katsura tree; as this striking tree’s heart-shaped leaves turn a buttery yellow, they give off a scent like cotton candy.
At 2,000 feet in elevation with spectacular views of the nearby 5,000-foot+ elevations of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, Biltmore is the perfect place to experience an abundance of fall color from October through early November.
With the arrival of November, red and white oaks and fall grasses in the Deer Park below Biltmore House represent the autumn season’s final bow. Vibrant Carolina allspice, fothergilla shrubs, and oakleaf hydrangeas shine brightly amid the evergreens. Chilly breezes send leaves adrift, covering the roads and trails and creating a protective blanket for wildlife throughout the winter. Sugar and red maples continue to impress with their fiery oranges and reds. Gold-covered hickories turn to bronze, beeches give the forests a warm glow, and Japanese maples are absolutely brilliant: their annual show never disappoints. Colorful winter berries are now exposed on many trees and shrubs for the birds that will brighten winter days.
With fall’s end, we shift gears to fine-tune our appreciation of winter’s pristine beauty, the approach of the holiday season, and the magic of Christmas at Biltmore.