Winter Wisdom

Brought to you in cooperation with the Kansas State University Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners.   Each week we feature interesting topics for winter reading.

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Week of 11/18/02

The bright fall foliage of our trees and shrubs pleasantly surprised many of us during the past two or three weeks.  After a hot, dry summer, the color was more than most expected.

This inspired considerable discussion about what causes the foliage of some trees to color brightly while the hues of others are muted.  Is it temperature, moisture, or what?

There are a number of factors that determine just how bright the display of fall color will be.  First place goes to genetics. The most important single factor is the genus and species of the tree or shrub.  Soil nutrients contribute as do moisture, maturity, and the bright autumn sunlight, but no matter how favorable the conjunction of these conditions, a Silver Maple will never glow with the brilliant oranges and reds of cultivars like ‘October Glory’, or some of the Japanese Maples.  The persistent foliage of a P.J.M. Rhododendron may be a warm glossy maroon, but it will never rival a Euonymus alatus, a Blueberry bush, or an Aronia arbutifolia, Red Chokeberry, grown in full sun.

Too often, we overlook the appearance of our trees and shrubs during the winter when the foliage is gone.  This is why it is important to keep in mind the shape of the plant, its symmetry, or its unusual growth pattern.  Several trees and shrubs have bark that shows up very well in the winter landscape.  Among these are the more familiar red and yellow twig Dogwood.  Even these cannot compare for interest with the peeling, cinnamon-colored bark of Acer griseum, the Paperbark Maple, or the striking Acer capillipes, Snakebark Maple, a Japanesae import with vertical white stripes on a reddish-green surface.  Another Snakebark Maple that makes a striking winter display is Acer pensylvanicum ‘Erythrocladum’. The winter color of its young branches is bright pink.

Many of the Japanese Maples of the Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’ group are not only notable for the shape and color of their fine-cut leaves, but are also known for the graceful pattern of their branch structure that is seen to especially good advantage in the winter.  Dogwoods also have a horizontal branching habit that adds an architectural or oriental quality to their appearance.

A word of caution about maples: Because their bark is relatively thin, maples generally fare better in a location that is protected from afternoon sun and hot, dry winds.  Young newly planted maples are usually protected from sunscald by wrapping their trunks.  They do best on the east or north side of a house, or as an understory tree.

Articles submitted by Bill Latimer, Johnson County Extension Horticulture Assistant and Dennis Patton, Johnson County Extension Horticulture Agent.

2001 - 2002 Winter Wisdom Archive
2000 - 2001 Winter Wisdom Archive

* Winter Wisdom is an information service of the Kansas State Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners.  Research-based responses are provided by Extension Master Gardener volunteers weekdays from March 1 through October 31, from 9:00 am to 4:30pm .  To telephone, call (913) 764-6306 or visit the Extension Office at 13480 South Arapaho Drive, Olathe, Kansas.  Visit their website at www.oznet.ksu.edu/Johnson 

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