Originally Published In The Deseret News -- Wednesday, October 9, 1996
Larry Sagers Is A Horticulturist With The Utah State University Extension Service.
Autumn is a gentle season. Unlike some that arrive with a flourish, the fall gently changes the plant world for the coming bleak and dreary winter. This metamorphosis is not sudden or boisterous but a gradual maturing to the fidelity of winter.
The painting of the landscape in the fall reminds me of a thoughtful artist at work with water colors. Sudden bursts of spring resemble a spray can exploding with color. Waves of green color the summer landscape with broad sweeping brush strokes. Evolving fall color is unlike either of these as it subtly tints many trees and shrubs and changes them from monochromatic greens. This subtle painting intensifies and culminates with the hues and tints that take your breath away with their beauty.
Fall color is an overlooked, unappreciated and often ignored landscape asset. Our weather makes this one of the greatest of all times to enjoy the garden. Don't be guilty of ignoring the potential to create magnificent scenes as you chose plant materials for your landscape.
Autumn comprises one-fourth of the calendar year and the same amount of time in the garden. Ignoring the landscape potential of this time of year is a serious mistake. Compare the bland, dry, brown appearance of many plants with the rich, vibrant, exciting splendor of those plants with fall color. This contrast makes it apparent that fall landscapes are meant to take advantage of all the color Mother Nature has to offer.
TREES
Trees are the backbone of any landscape, and the creation of a successful fall landscape is no exception. Selected trees can provide breathtaking scenes of color. Exhibits include single magnificent specimens, seas of shimmering tints and hues or broad backgrounds for other landscape plants.
Choose trees wisely, for they add immeasurably to the color in the landscape. Because they grow so slowly, you get few chances to create stunning fall color with trees. Choose the right trees, and they will grow larger and more colorful every autumn. Many of these plants, particularly the natives, also get by with less water. Remember trees are in the landscape for four separate and distinct seasons. Ignoring the fall landscape potential is a serious mistake. Including the right ones creates a beauty with brilliant color that is never equaled in any other season.
SHRUBS
Shrubs accent the color created by the trees. They create color in ways and places that the trees cannot. Use them the way any shrubs are used; as foundation plantings and as backgrounds and accessories to plants, in flower beds and other areas of the garden. In many cases their color is more appreciated because these plants are closer to the viewer and more accessible in the landscape.
VINES
Don't overlook these three vines to cover large expanses with brilliant shades of several colors as autumn comes. These grow quickly and hide a multitude of problems. Even an aggressive vine like Virginia Creeper is redeemed when the beautiful red leaves paint the landscape in the fall.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
TREES FOR FALL COLOR IN THE LANDSCAPE
Scientific name: Acer campestre
Common name: Hedge maple
Comments: slow growing
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Acer circinatum
Common name: Vine maple
Comments: brilliant colors
Color: orange, scarlet, yellow
Scientific name: Acer davidii
Common name: David's maple
Comments: unique leaf not typical of maples
Color: yellow, red, orange, purple
Scientific name: Acer ginnala
Common name: Amur maple
Comments: shrub or small tree
Color: red
Scientific name: Acer glabrum
Common name: Rocky Mountain maple
Comments: native
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Acer negundo
Common name: Box elder
Comments: short color season
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Acer palmatum
Common name: Japanese maple
Comments: many colored year round
Color: variable
Scientific name: Acer platanoides
Common name: Norway maple
Comments: common street tree
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Acer rubrum
Common name: Red maple
Comments: varieties show different colors
Color: scarlet, orange-red yellow
Scientific name: Acer saccharinum
Common name: Silver maple
Comments: variable color
Color: yellow, red orange
Scientific name: Acer saccharum
Common name: Sugar maple
Comments: famous New England maple
Color: red, orange yellow
Scientific name: Acer saccaharum grandidentatum
Common name: Bigtooth maple
Comments: native
Color: red, orange yellow
Scientific name: Amelanchier
Common name: Serviceberry
Comments: native
Color: orange, red
Scientific name: Betula
Common name: Birch
Comments: some varieties showy
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Ceris
Common name: Redbud
Comments: variable color
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Cornus
Common name: Dogwood
Comments: native
Color: yellow, scarlet
Scientific name: Crataegus (some)
Common name: Hawthorne
Comments: varieties vary greatly
Color: yellow, bronze
Scientific name: Fraxinus (some)
Common name: Ash
Comments: varieties vary
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Fraxinus americana
Common name: White ash
Comments: named varieties show better fall color
Color: purple
Scientific name: Ginko bilboa
Common name: Ginko
Comments: brilliant yellow leaves drop quickly
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Gleditsia tricanthos
Common name: Honeylocust
Comments: muted color
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Gymnocladus dioica
Common name: Kentucky coffee tree
Comments: muted color
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Liquidambar styraciflua
Common name: Sweetgum
Comments: varieties vary greatly
Color: red, purple, yellow
Scientific name: Malus (some)
Common name: Crabapple
Comments: varieties vary greatly
Color: reddish brown yellow
Scientific name: Populus
Common name: poplar, cottonwood, aspen
Comments: some aspens show red colors
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Prunus
Common name: peach, cherry
Comments: some Japanese cherries show red fall color
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Pyrus calleryana
Common name: Flowering pear
Comments: most varieties show brilliant fall color
Color: red, yellow
Scientific name: Quercus coccinea
Common name: Scarlet oak
Comments: not common in Utah
Color: red
Scientific name: Quercus rubra
Common name: Red oak
Comments: Not common in Utah
Color: red
Scientific name: Sorbus
Common name: Mountain ash
Comments: color variable
Color: bronze red
Scientific name: Tilia
Common name: Linden
Comments: color short lived
Color: yellow
Scientific name: Zelkova
Common name: Sawleaf zelkova
Comments: varieties vary
Color: yellow to dark red
VINES FOR FALL COLOR - in the landscape
Scientific name: Grape
Common name: many varieties
Comments: edible fruit
Color: yellow, bronze, red
Scientific name: Parthenocissus triscuspidata
Common name: Boston ivy
Comments: several varieties
Color: red
Scientific name: Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Common name: Virginia creeper
Comments: Aggressive vine
Color: red
Scientific name: Wisteria
Common name: wisteria
Comments: muted color
Color: yellow
SHRUBS FOR FALL COLOR
Scientific name: Amelanchier
Common name: Serviceberry
Comments: tree or shrub
Color: yellow-orange, red
Scientific name: Berberis thunbergii
Common name: Japanese barberry
Comments: good fall color
Color: yellow to orange to red
Scientific name: Cotinus coggygria
Common name: Smoke tree
Comments: tree or shrub
Color: yellow to orange-red
Scientific name: Cotoneaster
Common name: Cotoneaster
Comments: species vary
Color: yellow, red
Scientific name: Euonymus alata
Common name: Winged burning bush
Comments: very showy fall color
Color: red
Scientific name: Rhus
Common name: Sumac
Comments: very showy fall color
Color: red
Scientific name: Vibumum bodnantense
Common name: Vibumum several varieties
Comments: variety color varies
Color: dark scarlet
Scientific name: Vibumum lentago
Common name: Nannyberry
Comments: shrub or tree
Color: purplish red
Scientific name: Vibumum opulus
Common name: European cranberry bush
Comments: several varieties available
Color: red
Scientific name: Vibumum trilobum
Common name: cranberry bush
Comments: good landscape plant
Color: red
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