April is a floriferous month to be sure, but along with all those glorious rhodies, tulips, daffodils, flowering cherries and magnolias, there is also an amazing array of new foliage emerging from both evergreen plants as well as deciduous ones. Personally, I find these foliar displays just as exciting as the floral ones.
Try to remember the last time you bought a new car - it was clean, shiny and free of any dents or scratches to mare its gleaming appearance. There was a certain aura about it that just radiated out from the chrome bumpers and the glossy paint job. Just to be in the presence of this incredible creation was exhilarating. As gardeners, believe it or not, we feel that same sort of exuberance when we surround ourselves with Nature’s creations, especially when it comes to new spring growth.
While it is normal to be taken in by the bright colors of spring flowers, there are many shrubs and trees that have some pretty incredible new spring growth that can rival just about any flower. Japanese maples are a classic when it comes to spring foliage. Even though we often think of their fall color, Japanese maples can put on a pretty amazing show this time of year. The ‘Manyo no Sato’ variety has narrow burgundy leaves edged in a lighter pink that mature to a grassy-colored green. ‘Koto no Ito’ has light yellowish-green leaves so narrow that in appearance, they resemble willow trees. ‘Ice Dragon’ has finely dissected leaves that are a light green blushed with reddish-pink tips. And of course, pretty much all of the red leafed maple varieties are particularly showy when they first leaf out.
Even conifers can put on a foliar show this time of year. The ‘Golden Dwarf Japanese Yew’ is a real stunner with its bright golden tufts of new growth at the tips of all the branches. The weeping Larch (which is actually deciduous), covers itself with a blanket of the absolute softest and fluffiest needles ever created. The ‘Acrocona Norway Spruce’ develops the most amazing raspberry red cones on the tips of its branches in the spring. All of these details are a pure joy to experience this time of year.
When it comes to bright spring foliage, the barberries and spiraeas are probably at the top of my list. Barberries come in a whole range of leaf colors, from dark purple to golden yellow, but three new ones take the trophy for the “Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors” award. ‘Limoncello’, ‘Toscana’, and ‘Orange Torch’ sport a veritable kaleidoscope of colors in the warm tones of yellow, orange, and red. Now is when they are in their prime, as the colors will fade later into the season. As for Spiraeas, ‘Magic Carpet’ is still the best for multi-colored spring foliage, but there are several new upstarts that are giving it a run for its money. ‘Sundrop’, ‘Little Spark’, and ‘Rainbow Fizz’ are all show-offs when it comes to spring foliage.
As spring unfolds and our many varieties of plants push out their new leaves, take a minute to examine all of the details that come with them. Some leaves are rolled, others seem to be folded, some even look like they are covered with fur, but they are all worth exploring. Different shapes, colors, and textures are waiting for our perusal! And unlike that new car that is only shiny once and then fades, with leaves we get to experience that new shiny look over and over again as each spring rolls around. Go get exhilarated! As always, stay safe and keep on gardening.
