Planning the Landscape for Fall Color

By Lamar James, U of A Cooperative Extension

09-18-2008

SEARCY, Ark. - One of the nice aspects of living in Arkansas is the fall color and homeowners have plenty of choices if they want to add more color to their landscapes, says Sherri Sanders, White County extension agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

“Colorful displays are not always reliable because of weather conditions,” she said. “The genetic ability of the plant species and even each individual plant also affect fall color.”

Just how the leaves show their color is chameleon-like.

“The processes by which leaves turn color are many and chemically complex,” Sanders said.

Yellow leaf pigments are masked by the abundance of green chlorophyll in healthy leaves during the spring and summer. As autumn approaches, chlorophyll production ceases and the green color slowly fades, revealing the underlying yellow color in the leaf tissue.

The reds are even more complex.

“Reddish color development results from the accumulation of sugars and tannins in leaves late in the season,” she said

“Brilliant coloration requires warm, sunny fall days accompanied by nighttime temperatures falling below 45 degrees Fahrenheit,” Sanders said. “This pattern allows for sugar production during the day, but slows down sugar export at night. If the weather is cloudy or rainy and the days and nights warm, trees will develop poor red color.”

Gardeners looking to add bursts of red or gold can choose among dozens of trees, shrubs, and vines. Most local nurseries will carry the common species, but may be able to order the unusual varieties. Mail-order nursery companies are another means of finding plant materials.

Red Fall Color (some also yellow to orange and purple)

Trees

* Amur Maple
* Black gum
* Sweet gum
* Japanese maple
* Sassafras
* Serviceberry
* Kousa Dogwood
* Smoke tree

Shrubs and Vines

* Glossy Abelia
* Smokebush
* Cotoneaster
* Chokeberries
* Silky Dogwood
* Barberrries
* Viburnums
* Bayberry
* Virginia Rose
* Heavenly Bamboo

Yellow and Gold Colors

Trees

* Sugar Maple
* Maidenhairtree
* Yellowwood
* Norway Maple
* Beeches
* Tulip Tree
* Star Magnolia
* Yellowroot

Shrubs and Vines

* Clethras
* St. John’s Wort
* Witch hazels
* Spicebushes

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.