Premature Autumn Color
Premature autumn color
Common name
Premature autumn color
Causal agent
Premature autumn color results from stress, mainly due to temperature, water, sunlight, nutrients, or injury. When the plant does not get an optimum environment to grow, it starts breaking down its chlorophyll, leading to a loss of green color.
Symptoms & Signs
Premature autumn color may be limited to a few specific limbs of the tree, or the entire tree may turn red. Once the autumn color appears, you cannot reverse it. Nonetheless, it is possible to manage the stress to prevent early autumn color in the next season.
Time of concern
Early spring to late summer
Common hosts
Ash tree
Chinese pistache
Ginkgo
Maple tree
Crape myrtle