By JoAnne Skelly — The red fall colors are intense this year. They seem much brighter than previous years. Red colors are due to leaf pigments called anthocyanins. A main factor that increases the red colors produced by the anthocyanins is bright sunny fall weather.
This encourages more photosynthesis, which produces the sugars that allow anthocyanins to develop. Colors are the most brilliant with warm sunny days and cool nights between 32 degrees and 45 degrees.
JoAnne Skelly
My friend Julie asked me why her vine maple doesn’t turn red or orange when her neighbor’s do. Since they grow in similar situations, my thought is that Julie’s plant is a different variety.
For example, I have an Amur maple that never turns red in the fall, just a brownish yellow. My neighbor Roni also has an Amur maple, but it’s a ‘Flame’ variety and turns a vivid red. She also has ‘Flame’ red maples in her back yard that glow in the sun.
Last week I wrote that autumn is the best time to plant. If you are putting in trees or shrubs, consider varieties that turn red in the fall. Some contenders in maples are ‘Autumn Blaze’, ‘Red Sunset’ or ‘October Glory’ red maple (Acer rubrum).
For red oaks research scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), Northern red oak (Quercus rubra), or Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii). Ask the knowledgeable people at Greenhouse Garden Center about specific varieties of these for the best red color. In shrubs take a look at burning bush (Euonymus alata) varieties such as “Fire Ball Seedless’, ‘Chisam Fire’ or ‘Chicago Fire.’ My Burkwood viburnum, Viburnum x burkwoodii’ is a deep red this year. Unfortunately, I don’t know the variety because it was here when we moved in 37 years ago.
There are so many more plants that turn red, and of course, yellow, orange or purplish. Think about your design and what effect you are going for. There are definitely other factors to consider when putting plants in such as what their soil and water needs are; how much maintenance they need; whether they are fire hazards; and even if they are available at local nurseries.
I made the mistake many years ago of not choosing red varieties when I could have. I don’t have as much red in my fall landscape as I would like. Fortunately I have Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) reseeding everywhere and it has brilliant red fall color. If you are planting this fall, maybe choose plants that give red autumn color.
— JoAnne Skelly is an Associate Professor and Extension Educator, Emerita, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at skellyj@unr.edu.
Like this:
Like Loading…
Related
Comments are closed.