Waverly Farm
October ...prime time for fall color
Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’
Viburnum plicatum ‘Popcorn’
Cornus florida
Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’
O
ctober is a month full of new colors. We know that
chlorophyll is the pigment responsible for giving plants
their green color, but what about the other colors? The answer is
Carotenoid and Anthocyanin pigments.
Once the chlorophyll begins to degrade, a few yellow
and orange colors, from carotenoid pigments can be seen.
Carotenoids are found in the chloroplasts of plants, aiding in
absorbing light energy and protection against photodamage.
(Fun fact: animals cannot produce their own carotenoids, so
must absorb it in their diet to use in metabolic functions.)
The red and purple colors however, are not already in the leaves.
Anthocyanidins are natural colorless pigments found in the
leaves, and when plants start preparing for winter, the left over
sugars added to anthocyanidins form the anthocyanin pigments,
producing the red, purple, and blue colors in the fall.
(Another fun fact is that about 10% of tree species in temperate
regions produce anythocyanins - up to 70% in New England).
On the front:
Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’: A green-leafed, cascading
form with a dense canopy of bright green leaves that flow to
the ground. This is a truly attractive plant that surpasses the
dissectum cultivars for a graceful, cascading habit. As seen on
front, it has brilliant crimson fall color.
Viburnum plicatum ‘Popcorn’: A Japanese snowball with white
popcorn balls lining every branch when in bloom. Has medium
green summer color and foliage like V. ‘Shasta’ but plant is more
upright. Fall foliage is a very handsome russet red to burgandy.
Cornus florida: Small oval tree, can be grown as a shrub but
seldom is. Healthy dark green foliage in summer turns red to
reddish purple in fall.
Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’: ‘October Glory’ and its cousin,
‘Red Sunset’ seem to consistently win all the popularity contests
for fall color. Similar to the species except has a better form and
holds brilliant orange to red fall leaves longer.
ACROSS
2. Which plant shown on front is described as a small oval tree?
4. The natural pigment occurring in plants that form Anthocyanins when combined with sugar.
6. Which pigments make red and purple colors in plants?
7. What are you being for Halloween? Happy Holidays!
8. Which pigment gives plants their green color?
9. Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ has what type of habit?
DOWN
1. What is the common name for Viburnum plicatum ‘Popcorn’?
3. Carotenoids produce yellow and _______ colors in plants?
5. In what region in the United States do we see higher density of trees that produce anthocyanins?
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Waverly Farm
1931 Greenfield Rd
Adamstown MD 21710
(301) 874-8300
[email protected]
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