 | Mia Jenkins is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, located in the Museums on the River District at 701 Amidon. Botanica was opened to the public in 1987 to generate enthusiasm for horticulture and enlighten people through educational, artistic, and cultural experiences. With this mission, Botanica’s gardens and programs expand public awareness of horticulture, educate Kansans about how nature can improve their daily lives, and assist in the promotion of community development.Feel free to contact Botanica for information on volunteering, special events or for what’s in bloom at 316-264-0448. |
Flowers & Plants
2009-08-01 13:52:00
Best trees and shrubs for color in fall
Answer: With the seasonal change to fall, a variety of flowers come to life in the garden, showcasing their vibrant colors to accent the landscape. At Botanica, the most dramatic change in the fall is the color in our woody plant collection. Woody plants like trees and shrubs shift from their varying shades of green to bold and brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red and brown, putting on a spectacular show in the Gardens. Here is a listing of trees and shrubs that provide great color to the landscape during the fall season.
Legacy Sugar Maple: The Legacy Sugar Maple boasts reddish-orange to red fall color. It reaches a mature height of 45-50’ with a 30-35’ spread. The Legacy Sugar Maple is the most consistent maple for fall color year after year.
Caddo Sugar Maple: Caddo is the last Maple to color in the Garden, but it is worth the wait. It has yellow, orange or red fall color, depending on the tree. Reaches a mature height of 40-45’ height with a 30-35’ spread. Caddo leaves are thicker and tougher than any other sugar maple, which makes it resist leaf tatter and drought, leaving more leaves to color in the fall.
October Glory Red Maple: October Glory features deep red to reddish-purple fall color. It reaches a mature height of 35-40’ with a 30-35’ spread. October Glory seems to hold up better to our hot summer temperatures than other maple varieties with the bonus of a beautiful red color.
Autumn Blaze Maple: Autumn Blaze has brilliant orange-red fall color. It reaches a mature height of 40-45’ with a 35-40’ spread. This variety is a hybrid cross between red and silver maples, selected for its drought tolerance and its outstanding, long-lasting red color.
Shantung Maple: Shantung Maples are small in stature, but are showy all year. It features shiny, dark-green foliage on its branches all summer with spectacular late fall color in shades from yellow-orange to red. Reaches a mature height of 30-35’ with a 20-25’ spread.
Beyond maples, the Chinese Pistache (Orange to red to purple), Shumard Oak (Dark red), Aristocrat Pear (Deep red), Black Gum Tree (Yellow to orange to scarlet) and Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Bright red) are also great selections for fall color.
Reds and oranges seem to be the preferred colors for fall foliage, but the clear yellows of the American Elm, Weeping Willow, Gingko, River Birch and Osage Orange set the stage throughout the Gardens and perfectly complement the orange and red hues.
Shrubs are also great woody plants to consider for fall color. The fall color from shrubs helps tie the color of mums and other fall blooming perennials up to the color in the trees, filling the garden with bold hues of yellow, orange, red, pink and purple. Highlighted selections include:
• Regent Serviceberry: Red fall color. 3-5’ height and 3-5’ spread.
• Henry’s Garnet Virginia Sweetspire: Scarlet fall color. Mature height of 3-5’ height with a 4-6’ spread.
• Oakleaf Hydrangea: Red to purple fall color. Mature height of 4-6’ height with a 3-5’ spread.
• Persian Parrotia: Yellow to orange fall color. Mature height of 10-15’ height with a 5-10’ spread.
• Emerald Triumph Viburnum: Dark red to purple fall color. Mature height of 5-6’ height with a 4-6’ spread.
• Common Smokebush: Red to purple fall color. Mature height of 8-10’ height with a 6-8’ spread.
With additions like these to your landscape, you too can enjoy one last blast of color before winter takes hold. If you are looking for inspiration, Botanica is the perfect place to see color this fall. More than 40 varieties of pansies and more than 20 varieties of mums will combine with other flowers and numerous trees and shrubs to showcase beautiful fall tones for your viewing pleasure from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Take advantage of the fall planting season and add some color to your landscape. From our garden to yours- best of luck in all of your gardening endeavors!
