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Re: Euonymus alatus

Mary,  Thanks!

If it wasn't cold enough in Minneapolis, it wasn't cold enough in St. Louis.
And these plants are in a protected area, too.  Nice to hear from somebody
north of us!  Of course, Tucson is warmer and they turn reliably there.  But
in Tucson the temperature drops abruptly each day when the sun goes down
because there is no moisture buffer in the desert air. The jolt of the
temperature shift can sometimes be the trigger as much as, or rather than the
duration and degree of coldness.  And, too,  Jared's theory about excessive
dryness has merit.  

The nitrogen theory is interesting.  I, too, am familiar with the wretched "I
had the lawn fertilizer in the garage" method of fertilizing ornamentals, you
speak with wisdom!  But my friend's bushes have not been fertilized for at
least the two years she has lived there.  And they are growing in a mulched
courtyard area with no lawn. 
They also show no signs of the excessive vegetative growth one would expect
with too much nitrogen. 

But I think you have solved the mystery.  In this case, I believe it is the
mild falls and the protected site.  

This discussion has convinced me that, in spite of what the manuals and
textbooks say, Euonymus alatus is not all that reliable in showing fall color.

Thanks to everyone for the help!  And let's hope for cooler fall temperatures
this year.

--Janis
Webster Groves, MO
Zone 6
Compost Happens!



In a message dated 98-07-16 10:06:04 EDT, you write:

<< 
 I have been following the saga of the non-reddening Euonymous alatus
 with interest. Ours failed to redden last fall all over town
 (Minneapolis, MN) as we did not get our usual cool down to first frost.
 The night temps stayed high, usually near 40 until we did finally have a
 frost in late October. There was no fall color to speak of in any
 species. I suspect that the cooling is the trigger, much like daylength
 in flowering plants, but I want to suggest another factor - nitrogen
 fertilizer. We have worked with a number of customers over the years
 whose burning bushes turn out not to burn because they have either been
 directly fertilized with a high nitrogen lawn fertilizer ("I had it in
 the garage.") or were planted in or to the runoff side of a highly
 fertilized lawn. Lean conditions seem to suit this plant best, at least
 as far as fall color is concerned. It isn't a heavy feeder in any case.
 ----------------------------- >>
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