to add to falls glory plant these

[Wanda P]

Documents: Special Interest: Seasonal:
You Can Add Fall's Glory To Your Yard
by Joyce Schillen

October 28, 2007

It’s that time of year when the tree people dress up for fall. Why? According to poet George Cooper, “October gave a party; The leaves by hundreds came— The chestnuts, oaks and maples, And leaves of every name.”

This year we’re being treated to quite a gala. It started a bit earlier than usual — my October Glory Maple turned red in September. Although Cooper’s chestnuts are scarce in the Rogue Valley, many other plants, both native and introduced, are taking on the brilliant hues that compel people to travel from corner to corner of the country seeking spectacular autumn shows.

Plants native to this area develop their subtle colors into November, with some oaks taking on a coppery-orange glow. And city streets lined with various landscape plants glow red, magenta, apricot, orange, purple, gold, and yellow. The range and intensity of fall colors are different from year to year, depending on weather conditions. Sunny days and cool nights give us the best color.

Many leaves begin to turn before frost, the result of chemical processes that take place within trees when the season changes from summer to winter. During the growing season, chlorophyll gives leaves their green color. It takes energy from the sun and uses it to transform carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates, or sugars. Leaves always contain some yellow or orange pigments, but they are masked by the chlorophyll.

In fall, the shorter days and cooler nights signal leaves to stop making food. Chlorophyll breaks down and the green disappears. Sugar continues to be made in the leaves on sunny days, but cool nights keep it from moving out and the trapped sugars turn into red pigment.

Other chemical changes create pigments that vary from yellow to red to blue, combinations of which give reddish and purplish tints to foliage.

One of the most spectacular trees is the Sweet Gum (Liquidambar). They’re the small- to medium-sized pyramid-shaped trees with maple-like leaves that turn our city streets the brightest red. Hues range from wine to red to bright magenta. Some Sweet Gums turn yellow, however. That’s because there are differences between individual plants, and also because leaf color is influenced by soil conditions.

Other nice trees I’ve noticed this fall are the white birch and willows that turn bright yellow.

I didn’t especially plan my landscape for fall color, although I did plant a Sweet Gum and the October Glory Maple for that specific purpose. Several other plants have been pleasing this year, though.

My bed of peonies is turning yellow and pale orange instead of coppery-brown. The Eastern Redbud is bright yellow. My small orchard is partying hardy this year with a yellow and orange Gala apple tree, orange Frost Peach, and Asian pears in both red and yellow. A line of Himrod table grapes is bright gold, reminding me of a walk through a Colorado aspen grove in September.

I’m still anticipating the brilliant wall of yellow poplars on I-5 between Talent and Ashland, a windbreak next to the orchard. Poplars are closely related to aspens, and it’s a show I try not to miss.

One I DO try to miss, however, is poison oak, a ground-hugging or vining plant that’s attractive all year long, but especially in fall when it turns red.

From one of my favorite books “Right Plant, Right Place” by Nicola Ferguson, here are a few other plants that add fall color. In some cases, specific varieties are the ones that color nicely, so ask before buying.

Larch (Larix decidua), a deciduous conifer whose needles turn a rich yellow before falling. Larch requires even moisture to thrive. Red Maple (Acer rebrum), best in moist soil, and Japanese Maple (A. palmatum), turning red and orange. Also to consider are Euonymus alatus, Mountain Ash, Virginia Creeper, sumac, prunus, and Maindenhair Tree (Gingko biloba).