Now is the time when many Long Island families pack up their mini-vans and head up to New England to feast their eyes on the region’s beautiful fall foliage display. Mom and Dad drive hours to get to New Hampshire or Vermont so that the little kiddies in the back seat can be enthralled when they see bright yellow trees grace the hillsides, their little faces squished against the window…
The whole concept of driving hours on end to see a bunch of trees seems a little bit foreign to me. Maybe it’s because I never did this growing-up – certainly my family wasn’t the exemplary, traditional, suburban household! But I think the real reason I find this tradition so strange is that we have beautiful fall foliage trees right here in our own backyard! You may have to hunt for them a little harder, but they are certainly here. Two little-known trees I want to highlight are our native Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) and Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboretum). These two trees will blow the leaves right off any New England maple!
Black Gum is a medium to large stature tree that develops flaming deep red fall color by mid-October. It is a native tree to Long Island and grows naturally in moist, wetland areas. It will also grow well in drier garden soil, so long as it is acidic. It has an oval crown with thick, craggy branches that provide a distinct look in the landscape. When planting Black Gum, one should always choose containerized trees because an insufficient number of roots of this coarse-rooted tree will be left in most balled-and-burlapped trees. Have patience, because this tree is a slow grower.
Photo: Black Gum, Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Great River
Unlike Black Gum, Sourwood is a small tree that is great for smaller properties. Its large leaves turn a brilliant burgundy in the fall. Sourwood is native to Pennsylvania and south through the Appalachians. Sourwood loves sandy, acidic soils which are quite plentiful here on Long Island. It also grows naturally around wetlands, but is also very drought-tolerant. Sourwood is also shade-tolerant and perfect for woodland gardens. If that wasn’t enough, Sourwood also has ornamental, cream-colored flowers in early summer. Both Black Gum and Sourwood need specific soil conditions for successful planting, but their unrivaled fall color is certainly worth the extra effort!
Photo: Sourwood Fall Foliage
So before you make the fall foliage trip up to New England, check out the beautiful trees growing right in your own backyard. If you don’t have any, consider planting some unique trees like Black Gum or Sourwood. You will be sure that every fall they will thank you!
