| |
PLANT YOUR OWN KALEIDOSCOPE OF FALL COLOR
I just returned from three days in the "north woods." From a vista atop the Itasca Park forest lookout tower, two lone red maples (Acer rubrum) literally jumped out of the still-green landscape. Just two lone trees, among millions, were sporting their intense red-orange fall coat of leaves. By the time you read this, that same tower vista will be full of yellows, reds and oranges as the northern deciduous forest nears its fall-color peak.
Often we drive hundreds of miles to view spectacular fall color. Did you ever think of transforming your own yard into a fall-color extravaganza? The right trees and shrubs, planted yet this fall, can delight the eye for years to come.
Maples offer some of the most intense fall color. Amur maple ((Acer ginella) grows with multiple stems to a height of 15 to 20 feet. Fall leaf color is a brilliant orangy crimson. A hybrid maple ((Acer x fremanii) combines the best traits of its parents - silver and red maple - and is very colorful. Best cultivar is "Autumn Blaze." "North Fire" is the most-red of the red maples (Acer rubrum). Among sugar maples ((Acer saccharum), "Legacy" offers the most intense fall color.
In the white ash family ((Fraxinus Americana), "Autumn Blaze" and "Autumn Purple" turn deep purple in the fall. Make sure you get a cultivar that's winter hardy. White ash grow to about 60 feet.
We don't have many pin oaks (Quercus palustris) in this area because they prefer a slightly acid soil. If the pH of your soil is below 7.0, a pin oak will grow fairly fast (to about 50 feet) and be an excellent lawn tree. Fall color is red-orange to russet. Red oak (Quercus rubra) is another fast-growing oak that sports orange to red fall leaves.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier species), also called Juneberry, is a large shrub or small tree that has masses of white flowers in early spring and excellent yellow-orange to red-purple fall color. Edible blue-black fruit ripens in mid summer and is readily eaten by birds as it matures. Plants can be pruned into single or multiple-trunk small trees or grown as large shrubs. Serviceberry will tolerate shade. For most intense fall color, look for "Autumn Brilliance," "Princess Diana" or "Cole's Select."
Guess why the common name "burning bush" was given to (Euonymus alata? If you guessed fall color, you're right. This large shrub grows to 12 feet and has unsurpassed fall color that ranges from vivid pink to bright red. Burning bush has reddish fruit and interesting winged branches that add interest to the winter landscape.
American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) grows to about 12 feet and a width of 6 to 10 feet. Large 4-5 inch clusters of small white flowers are showy in the spring, and late-summer fruit turns bright red and remains on throughout the winter or until harvested by birds. The foliage of this shade-tolerant shrub turns bright red in the fall. Popular cultivars include "Alfredo," "Compactum," "Hahs" and "Wentworth."
Most of the dogwoods have attractive purple leaves in the fall. My favorite is pagoda dogwood ((Cornus alternifolia), which grows to 15 feet and has deep-burgundy fall color. Pagoda dogwood has a unique horizontally layered branching structure that accounts for its common name. Its 3-4 inch flat clusters of small white flowers in spring are attractive, and small blue-black berries in summer attract birds. Pagoda, gray and redosier dogwood all thrive in full shade, although sunny sites are acceptable.
Virginia Creeper ((Parthenocissus quinquefolia), also known as woodbine, is a fast-growing vine that fits nicely along a fence or stone wall. Its large leaves turn bright red in the fall. Englemann ivy is a selection of Virginia creeper that climbs with adhesive disks at the end of tendrils. Its leaves are slightly smaller and also turn bright red in the fall.
Larch ((Larix species) is one of the few conifers that loses its foliage each year. Before dropping, needles turn a spectacular bright golden yellow in late fall.
Think of all the money you'll save by planting some of these selections in your yard - while others are chasing all over the country searching for fall color, you'll be relaxing on your deck enjoying your own private kaleidoscope of color!
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
 |
| |
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
$10 + $2 for shipping
by Cliff Johnson |
 |
 |
| |
|
