Fall Color 081811

08/18/11
Newsletter Topics

#1 - Tips of the Week

#3 - Plants of the Week

#5- Insects

#2 - Fall Color

#4 - Asian Longhorned Beetle (ABL) Update

Don’t Forget Yard Color in the Fall
August is winding down and we begin September soon. Remember, as you’re out shopping for kid’s school clothes and other supplies, Mother Nature is making her usual trek to Nature’s Paint Store. She is getting ready to color our fall landscape with some of the best leaf color in years. The weather this summer has had enough timely rains that as our daylight shortens, her colors should be vibrant. You can enjoy more of her efforts by adding some of the many plants that not only grow well and provide spring flower color, but will finish out the growing season with fantastic fall leaf color. Here is a sampling of various plants, some large growing and some small growing that you can find additional planting locations in the landscape. Here are a few of my suggestions listed by groups that might entice you to bring out the shovel from the garage.

Trees

Acer Rubrum ‘Autumn Blaze’ – broadly columnar from of Red Maple, height of 50’, spreading only 20-25’, showy red male flowers in spring before leaves open, consistently beautiful red fall color, great hardiness

Acer Saccharum ‘Fall Fiesta’ – superior Sugar Maple, full and symmetrical branching, deep green leaves (leathery and glossy), upright, rounded shape, height of 50-75’ and spread of 50’, outstanding orange and red fall color.

Ulmus x Morton 'accolade Elm' – resistant to Dutch Elm disease. Its form resembles an American Elm. Beautiful glossy, dark green foliage turns golden yellow in the fall. Upright and spreading shade tree reaching 70’ tall at maturity and 40-50’ wide.

Amelanchier arborea ‘Autumn Brilliance’ and ‘Princess Diana’ – under used ornamental tree, one of the earliest spring bloomers. Small, star-shaped flowers in late March to early April with excellent fall color that turns bright red then fades to orange in October.

Shrubs

• Hydrangea Macrophylla ‘Twist N Shout’ – compact growing habit 3’x3’, dark pink almost red mop head shaped flowers, blooms in summer and again in late summer, fall leaves turn a strong shade of red.

• Hydrangea Quercifolia ‘Snowflake’ – special because of its double blooms, technically referred to as multiple florets, spectacular burgundy-red fall color, height is 6-7’ and spread is 6-7’

• Aronia ‘Autumn Magic’ Chokeberry – dramatic bright red and purple autumn hues. Fragrant, white spring flowers lead to late summer deep purple/black berries against dark green, waxy summer foliage making this a tree season plant, mature size 5-7 feet

• Fothergilla gardenia ‘Mt. Airy’ – developed here in Cincinnati, dense small shrub, abundant, white ‘bottlebrush’ like flowers (honey-like fragrance) in early April. Dark, blue-green foliage on a plant whose average size is 3-4’ tall and 4-5 wide (can be maintained at smaller sizes), fantastic orange fall color, does well in full sun, but will tolerate moderate shade.

• Viburnum dentatum ‘Chicago Lustre’ – glossy dark green foliage that turns reddish purple in fall with rounded shape (10’ x 10’)

• Viburnum nudum ‘Winterthur’ – large, glossy green foliage with white flowers in June and fall fruit clusters (start white, then pinkish red maturing to dark blue) foliage holds until late fall and then turns red, growing 4-5’ high and wide.

Other trees to consider:

River Birch – sunny gold leaves
Kousa Dogwood – red leaves and red berries
Cleveland Pear – Crimson red leaves
Red Oak – red leaves
Black Gum – shades of red, orange, and yellow leaves

Other shrubs to consider:

Cranberry Cotoneaster – Orange/Red leaves, red berries
Dwarf Burning Bush – red leaves, red berries
Dwarf Korean Lilac – orange/red leaves
Itea Sweet Spire – purple/red leaves
Nandina Heavenly Bamboo – red leaves, red berries
Japanese Red Barberry – orange leave, red berries
Hardy Evergreen Azalea’s – orange to red leaves
Sumac Gro Low – spectacular red foliage