Originally Published In The Deseret News -- Wednesday, October 13, 1993
The fall colors in the mountains have been spectacular this year. The resplendent hues as the trees change from green to yellows, oranges, reds and purples make autumn a palatable introduction to coming winter.
Fall color is one important criterion of landscape plant selection and gives a whole new landscape dimension and focus. Color makes the difference between nondescript leaves falling on the ground and a spectacular show for your enjoyment. Not all trees show beautiful fall color. Some turn brown prior to falling while others lose their leaves so quickly that fall color cannot truly be appreciated.
The maples have some of the most spectacular fall colors. Norway maples, our most common street trees, show bright yellow autumn colors. Hedge maples also have a yellow fall color as do box elders and silver maples.
Sugar maples give New England its famous brilliant yellows, oranges and reds. Although not commonly grown in Utah, it is a satisfactory tree for well-drained, loamy soils. Japanese maples develop colors similar to sugar maples, but the trees are much smaller and lack the dramatic effect. Vine maples turn red if the temperature drops suddenly.
Red maples are becoming more common in our area. Most of the named varieties have spectacular autumn color as their name suggests. Selections such as "Autumn Radiance," "October Glory" and "Red Sunset" give a hint to just how beautiful these trees can be in the fall. The outstanding performers in our mountains are bigtooth and the Rocky Mountain maples. Bigtooth maples have larger leaves and develop yellow, orange and red hues, while the Rocky Mountain maples have smaller leaves and turn bright orange or red. As a group, maples are one of our most beautiful and dependable trees for fall color.
Almost all birches turn golden yellow in the fall. Although attractive, tree form and bark color are often more spectacular than the leaves themselves. Other trees that turn yellow include the hornbeams, catalpas, hackberries and redbuds. Cottonwoods, poplars and aspens all turn yellow although select aspen varieties turn lovely shades of orange and red.
The fall color of hawthorns varies. American species usually turn red in the fall, while European species turn various shades of yellow. Many hawthorns also have colorful fruit that enhances the colors with which they paint the landscape.
Ash trees vary in their fall color. Many white ash turn purple to wine red. Green ash is less highly colored but still gives a beautiful golden color. Ginkgos likewise turn a beautiful golden color. "Autumn Gold" is a selection with outstanding fall color. Honeylocust also offer a less brilliant although attractive yellow fall color. Unfortunately, the leaves do not remain on the tree for very long.
Liquid amber or sweetgum trees turn brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. Although these trees are not widely planted, they do make a nice accent for fall plantings. Crabapples get most of their fall color from their fruits although a few varieties have yellows and reddish tones in the fall.
The flowering plums, cherries, nectarines and peaches do not often show spectacular fall color. Generally fall color ranges from yellows to rusty yellow. Flowering pears often have a blazing red or maroon leaf color. Since not all pears develop color, choose the cultivars carefully.
Oaks are another group of trees with variable fall color. White oaks develop a purplish red color while the swamp white oak has a tawny yellow to red color. Scarlet oak and red oak have orange to bright scarlet color. Burr oak has a yellow color while the pin oak can develop some red color although it is not a good choice because it prefers an acid soil. Our own native gambol oak generally turns a yellow to a brown color.
Sumacs are small trees with brilliant orange or red fall color. Elms, locust, lindens and zelkovas all produce a beautiful yellow fall color and add striking contrasts to the landscape.
Many shrubs add beautiful fall colors. Highly colored examples include the serviceberry, which turns red and purple, and spirea with its reds, oranges and yellows. Many contoneasters develop a red-orange color, and Burning Bush also gives a brilliant fall color along with pyracantha, cotoneasters, barberries and mahonias that add their fall color from the brilliant berries they produce.
As you select new trees and shrubs for your landscape, consider all their seasons of growth. Winter, spring, summer and fall are seasons to be enjoyed, and plant selection should complement these seasons. The right choices change an otherwise non-descript, fading landscape into a beautiful and brilliant autumn treat.
- THE BEEHIVE STATE 34th Annual Chrysanthemum Society Show at the Garden Center Building in Sugarhouse Park Saturday, Oct. 16, from 1-5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 17, from noon to 5 p.m. Free to the public.
© 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.