THIS WEEK IN PLANT PROBLEMS:
Since the area has experienced this growing season’s killing freeze, trees are rapidly changing color from green to their autumn hues.
Now is the time to take note of which trees would be attractive additions to your yard, whether you’re planting this month yet or waiting until next spring.
However, not all trees grow well in Nebraska. Among those that do grow well here, not all trees are suitable for every space. Here are some fall color trees recommended by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum for this county and their growth considerations: Red Leaf Color:
• Amur Maple - 20 feet tall, 15 feet spread, shade-tolerant, spring flowering with white blossoms, (do not allow spread to wild areas);
• ‘Autumn Fantasy’ Freeman Maple - 40-50 feet tall, 35-40 feet spread;
• Blackgum - 30 feet tall, 25 feet spread (not drought-tolerant - must be watered regularly);
• Frontier Elm - 40 feet tall, 30 feet spread, Dutch Elm Disease-resistant;
• Matador Maple - 45 feet tall, 30 feet spread, tolerates wet soils;
• Scarlet Oak - 50 feet tall, 30-35 feet spread, drought-tolerant, produces nuts in fall, attracts wildlife.
Burgundy-Purple Leaf Color:
•‘Burgundy Belle’ Red Maple - 40 feet tall, 35 feet spread, (not drought-tolerant - must be watered regularly, also prone to iron chlorosis).
Burgundy-Purple-Red-Orange-Yellow Leaf Color: • ‘Morraine’ Sweetgum - 40 feet tall, 35 feet spread, star-shaped leaves, produces spiky seed balls in fall.
Red-Pink-Yellow Leaf Color:
• ‘Celebration’ Freeman Maple - 40 feet tall, 25 feet spread.
Pink-Yellow Leaf Color:
• ‘Regal Petticoat’ Sycamore Maple - 35 feet tall, 25 feet spread, (heat-sensitive). Orange-Red Leaf Color:
• Autumn Brilliance’ Apple Serviceberry - 15 feet tall, 15 feet spread, spring flowering with white blossoms, produces edible berries, attracts birds;
• American Hornbeam - 20 feet tall, 20 feet spread, attracts birds and other wildlife;
• ‘Green Vase’ Japanese Zelkova 50 feet tall, 40 feet spread, drought-tolerant, wind-tolerant, Dutch Elm Disease-resistant;
• Lefleur Oak - 40 feet tall, 30 feet spread, produces nuts in fall, attracts wildlife;
• ‘Red Pointe’ Red Maple - 45 feet tall, 30 feet spread, (not drought-tolerant - must be watered regularly, also prone to iron chlorosis);
• ‘Robin Hill’ Apple Serviceberry 20 feet tall, 15 feet spread, spring flowering with pinkish white blossoms, produces edible berries, attracts birds.
Yellow-Orange Leaf Color:
• Black Oak - 45 feet tall, 40 feet spread, produces nuts in fall, attracts wildlife;
• ‘Green Column’ Black Maple - 40 feet tall, 35 feet spread, shade-tolerant. Yellow-Orange-Red Leaf Color: • Deborah’ Norway Maple - 50 feet tall, 40 feet spread, cold-tolerant, (can be prone to frost-cracking, also do not allow spread to wild areas);
• Hophornbeam - 10-15 feet tall, 10 feet spread, ice storm damage-resistant, produces hops-like fruit in fall, attracts birds and other wildlife, (grows very slowly, not drought-tolerant - must be watered regularly);
• Rocky Mountain Maple - 6 feet tall, multi-trunked, can grow 10 to 20 feet tall if trained into single-trunked tree, drought-tolerant, tolerates wet soils;
• ‘Rugged Charm’ Tartarian Maple - 30 feet tall, 15 feet spread, drought tolerant.
Yellow-Red Leaf Color:
• Shantung Maple - 25 feet tall, 20 feet spread, drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant.
Yellow Leaf Color:
• ‘Autumn Gold’ Gingko - 40 feet tall, 30 feet spread, drought-tolerant, tolerant of poor soils, male-only cultivar so doesn’t produce odorous fruit;
•Eastern Cottonwood - 100 feet tall, 70 feet spread, drought tolerant, prefers moist soils, releases cotton in spring;
• Northern Catalpa - 60 feet tall, 40 feet spread, tolerates confined root space, large leaves, spring flowering with showy, orchid-like, white blossoms speckled with purple & streaked with yellow streaking, produces long seed pods in fall;
• ‘Presidential Gold’ Gingko - 50 feet tall, 40 feet spread, drought-tolerant, tolerant of poor soils, male-only cultivar so doesn’t produce odorous fruit;
• Shagbark Hickory - 45 feet tall, 40 feet spread, produces edible nuts in fall, attracts wildlife, moderately drought-tolerant, tolerates wet soils;
• Siberian Elm - 60 feet tall, 40 feet spread, Dutch Elm Disease-resistant, (needs protection from wind, also susceptible to leaf beetles); Rita Brhel is the Horticulture Aide/ Master Gardeners Program Coordinator at the Adams County UNL Extension office in Hastings. Have a horticulture question? Contact Clay County’s Horticulture Educator, Nicole Stoner, at 402- 223- 1384 or nstoner2@ unl. edu.
