Autumn and Plant Hardiness Zone 7

Posted by Georgene A. Bramlage Nov 1, 2008

Here it is, November 1, 2008, and autumn leaf colors continue to creep over the surrounding ridges. Even in the valleys, colors have not peaked. I am watching a kaleidoscope of changing landscape garden patterns, shapes and colors. This is quite a difference from my previous autumns in zone 4 – 5 where leaf color usually peaked around October 15.

My first autumn here in zone 7 has been a great time for me to observe various microclimates in my new garden landscape environment. I have also been able to observe how important plant selection becomes in landscape microclimates. Autumn is the perfect time to notice how recognizing environmental factors helps to avoid expensive landscape design mistakes.

I have noticed for the first time the spectacular burgundy leaf colors of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa). They are close to their natural environments here in southwest VA and have the time to "color up." Leaves have also completely dropped from various crabapples (Malus spp.) and hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) but the magnificent fruit persists.

This has also been a good flowering season for various hollies, both the evergreen and deciduous species. As a result, their bright red berries stand out like miniature traffic lights. The red and blue-black fruit of various viburnums (Viburnum spp.) persist because the birds have not yet devoured them.

Leaf color of oak (Quercus spp.) and cultivars of the 'Callery pear' (Pyrus calleryana), including the 'Bradford pear,' change to scarlet, red and purple-red where the sun touches them. With the sun sinking lower in the sky as autumn progresses, changing leaf color in these trees also progresses downward.

©Text by Georgene A. Bramlage. 2008. Reproduction without permission prohibited