Sugar Maple ‘Fall Fiesta’
Every fall folks plan trips to see the fall colors. The reds, yellows, oranges and every hue in between. Some even turn purple!
Why do leaves turn color? As daylength shrinks and temperatures drop, these plants are going into winter mode. Daylength, temperature and moisture all play a role in their display. That’s why it can vary from year to year. When the length of daylight decreases, the amount of green pigment (chlorophyll) decreases and eventually stops. That leaves the leaves with those beautiful colors we all love.
Yellow is produced by the pigment that produces sugars. Red fall color is produced by acidic pigment. The more acidic the tree' soil/preference, the redder the fall color will be. Color and intensity will change from year to year depending on the weather and the amount of moisture trees receive. Each plant acts as an individual in the fall.
Shrubs for Fall Color (height x width):
- Amur Maple (Flame) 7'-8' x 7'-8'
Finely branched compact rounded form of Amur Maple for borders, hedges or foundation planting. Great orange/red fall color. - Amelanchier (Regent Serviceberry) 4'-6' x 4'-8'
A mounded shrub form of our native Juneberry suitable for foundation or border planting. Fluffy white flowers produce delicious sweet dark fruit. Excellent yellow, orange to red fall color even in shade. - Aronia (Glossy Black Chokeberry) 4'-6' x 4'-6'
An excellent landscape shrub; compact and rounded, white flowers followed by persistent black fruit with brilliant fall color. Very hardy! - Euonymous (Burning Bush) 10'-12' x 6'-8'
Large, rounded shrub for borders and screens. Brilliant red fall color with corky bark for winter interest. Dwarf form also available (5' x 5'-6'). - Hydrangea (Pee Gee) 5'-6' x 5'
Showy Landscape shrub with white panicle shaped flowers which turn pink as the weather cools. Flowers up until first frost. - Rhododendron (P.J.M.) 5' x 5'
Brilliant lavender flowers in spring with a dark mahogany fall color. - Rhus (Sumac) Gro-Low (2' x 6'); Smooth (10' x 10'); Cutleaf Smooth (8' x 6') - All sumacs display beautiful red fall color.
- Spirea (Goldflame) 3'-4' x 3'
Wonderful all season long plant with year-round interest. Bright pink flowers, golden summer foliage and crimson fall color. - Viburnums Viburnums enjoy sun or shade and moist soils ideal for screens or foundation plantings.
- Mohican (6' x 6'): purple/bronze fall color
- Northern Burgundy (10'-12' x 10'-12'): deep red fall color
- Onandoga (6'-8' x 6'-8'): red fall color
- Compact American (5'-6' x 5'-6'): scarlet fall color
Trees for Fall Color:
- Red Maples (Acer rubrum):
Small red flowers in spring followed by dark green leaves which turn an excellent red in fall. - Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum):
Yellow flowers in spring followed by medium sized green leaves. Sugar maples can get a range of fall color, from yellow to red, depending on sun and moisture of the area. - Norway Maples (Acer platanoides):
Dense rounded maple which has yellow flowers in spring and a golden yellow color in fall. - Betula (Birch):
River Birch are great for moist areas, has beautiful exfoliating bark, and a bright gold fall color. - Cercis (Redbud):
Bright pink flowers run up and down the stems in early spring. New leaves are purple and mature to green only to turn yellow in fall. - Cornus (Pagoda Dogwood):
A great ornamental tree with flowers in spring, berries in fall that persist through winter, and a reddish purple fall color. - Gleditsia (Honeylocust):
Lacy foliage which casts light shade and turns a medium yellow in fall. - Quercus (Oak):
Pin Oak: A pyramidal shaped crown which has a yellow to copper red color. Leaves may persist on the branches through winter rather than fall off completely. - Tilia (Linden):
Bright green heart shaped leaves turn yellow in fall. Great tree for boulevards and shade.
The experts at Gertens are always available to answer your questions!