When it comes to breaking dormancy, three trees stand out as the first to leaf: Betula ermanii, Prunus maackii Amber Beauty and Pyrus calleryana Chanticleer.
Trees that leaf out early often shed their leaves early too — and this is certainly true of Betula ermanii, which begins to turn yellow from late September and typically drops all its foliage by October, while many other genera are still going strong. On the other hand, Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ is one of the last trees to lose its leaves, making it a good candidate for screening, as the cost can be significantly lower than that of evergreen varieties.
For most trees, leafing up later is a defence mechanism to prevent young tender leaves getting scotched by late frosts. The young foliage on Oak and Ash will go black if it suffers this fate. Nature is not wasteful, and this is why Quercus (Oak) and Fraxinus (Ash) are the last two genera to leaf up at Barcham in the spring.
For those planning events in the garden, it is often possible to pick a variety that is performing in the month you most want it to. Give us a call on 01353 720950 for more details on this or email us at info@barchamtrees.co.uk
