Cultivar Varations

Different Leave from Same Tree Type

Taking a look at some plant genetic and just how much they can vary even between the same plant types. Above are all leaves from the same kind of tree. I picked up 4 leaves from Sugar Maple trees, two are from my neighborhood and 2 are from cultivar trees from the garden center where I work. The difference between them is extremely noticeable, the colors are completely different and leaf shape ranges from sharp points to more dull in appearance. What does this all mean for plants? Just like people plants have genetic difference between tree to tree. Meaning if you are choosing a tree for fall color like red or orange, for example you want to be careful the type you choose or you may end up with yellow. The good news is the unknown variability is more likely from a plant in the wild. The horticultural industry have come up with a term called cultivars which is plant breeding that allows plants to be more consistent in the traits they have. What is a cultivar? It's a plant type that has been bread for a certain characteristic maybe flower or leave color, plant height or disease resistance. They can naturally occur or they can be bred by people. If you have ever seen a plant listed as Sugar Maple 'Fall Fiesta' the 'Fall Fiesta' is what the cultivar would be. There can be 1-2 Cultivars per plant going all the way up to hundreds per plant. They are important since they can make a huge difference in the way plants grow to even their health and cold hardiness.

 Looking at the photos above the trees above from left to right are- Sugar Maple 'Fall Fiesta' Sugar Maple' Green Mountain' then the next  two are just naturally occurring Sugar Maple Black and finally just strait Sugar Maple.

Sugar Maple Black Subspecies

Regular Sugar Maple

Again the two trees above are both naturally occuring Sugar Maples but one is called Black Sugar Maple which more often then not doesn't have the beautiful orange-red fall color everyone looks for. Instead it is more yellow-gold. They also turn color slightly earlier then strait Sugar Maple. The other Sugar Maple with the orange is from a neighboring tree behind my house and has that beautiful ember orange color.