A review of local foliage
A carnival of color lines the streets of Healdsburg as deciduous trees prepare for dormancy. Many shades of brilliant yellow, orange and red paint the sky. Originally from areas with harsh winter climates, these trees are programmed to lay low for several months. Here, in the Sonoma Valley, drought and climate warming have replaced harsh winters, making these deciduous trees fortunate in their lack of year round thirst.
Maidenhair trees (Ginkgo biloba) lead the way with their dazzling yellow, fan shaped leaves. Native to China, they are the only living representatives of a plant type abundant in prehistoric times. The male plants are widely used, as the females have a rank smelling fruit. Their tasty nuts are on the restaurant menu at the City of 10,000 Buddhas in Ukiah.
The Red Maple (Acer rubrum) makes quite a splash with its showy red leaves. Scattered on the ground they create a delightful collage. Originating in the eastern United States, there are many cultivars available in the nursery trade. It is best to buy deciduous trees in fall color to get exactly what you want. Some color variation exists within species and cultivars.
Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis) exhibit strong yellows, oranges and reds. Their compound leaves broaden the color play as light and shadow mingle. Dense clusters of red berries add to the palette. Related to the cashew tree, the Chinese Pistache accepts deep, infrequent watering, making it an especially valuable tree during drought.
Sweet Gum (Liquidamber styraciflua), with its numerous, maple-like leaves, flaunts a spectrum of fall color. Native to the eastern United States and Central America, many cultivars exhibit yellow, orange, red and burgundy, sometimes all in one specimen. Spiny, round seed pods ornament the tree branches in the winter.
Street trees provide our downtown and residential neighborhoods with a graceful beauty, adorning us with flowers, textured foliage, decorative pods, fall color and lacey winter skeletons. They give us shade from the hot summer sun and shelter from the rain. As trees breathe, they inhale carbon dioxide, keeping the carbon for food, and exhale oxygen, constantly refreshing our air. Close your eyes and imagine Healdsburg without street trees. Devastating, isn’t it?
A generous planting of Flowering Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’) is quite mature, drought tolerant, and also tolerant to pollution. Deep, red leaves hold their color a long time, much to our advantage to view. An import from Asia, the cultivars available have varying forms.
The Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea) from our north and east has russet red leaves mixed in with deep greens, forming a dramatic contrast as they change. A handsome tree year-round, their open branching pattern provides ample shade when in leaf.
A new addition to Healdsburg’s street trees is the Sour Gum (Nyssa sylvatica). Their vivid, elliptic shaped leaves exhibit a finer indigenous to North America and are related to dogwoods.
Other deciduous street trees include redbud (Cercis sp), ash (Fraxinus sp), goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria sp), the much used crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia sp), magnolias, plane trees (Platanus sp), more Oaks (Quercus sp) and zelkovas. No doubt I’ve missed a few. Many of these trees are unpredictable in their fall color, offering varying shades of ochre and brown.
A stand of Birch (Betula pendula) on Fitch Street is graceful with its straight, white barked trunks and delicate foliage. On the street’s east side, the trees are topped to avoid power lines. This is a good example of the wrong tree planted in the wrong place. The English Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) would be a suitable replacement with its shorter, round crown and drought tolerance.
On Matheson, a grand old planting of Flowering Cherry (Pyrus yedoensis ‘Akebono’) is known for its abundant spring display. The older trees are in sad shape and are beyond the point of an aesthetic recovery. Younger trees are also present, nicely tended by neighbors. These trees require a lot of water and need additional care during drought times. I’d like to see more neighborhoods adopt their street trees. Feed them in early spring and again in early fall. Take turns collecting your excess house water to deep water the trees once a month. They’ll love it.
It’s time to give back to our trees as much as they give to us. We can maintain their good health while contributing to our good living. As fall continues, take time to stand back and appreciate the rich panorama of brilliant color.
Odile Landon is a master landscape designer and a new resident of Healdsburg. Visit her at www.odile
landon.com
