Question
Hi again, Tom.  Do red maple trees exhibit that nice red foliage in Autumn in South Central Kansas?  I was considering planting a Red Sunset maple tree and an October Glory maple tree.  However, I didn't want to plant them if the leaves just turned brown or yellow instead of red, because of our somewhat warmer Winters her in Southern Kansas.  Would these two trees turn red in the Fall in S.C. Kansas and hold that red Fall color for a few weeks?  Thanks for your help.

Tim

Answer
Hi Tim,
Thanx for your question.  Tim,I would imagine the maple would perform the same way they do up here in NE Kansas.  The sugar maples and certain oaks turn beautiful shades of red, maroon, chocolate, vermillion, salmon and other colors.  When I lived in the SW, oaks turned beautiful red colors in the highlands of Arizona.  Leaves change colors due to the conversion of sugars in them, from what I understand.  This has to do with day length mostly and temperatures.  Hydration can affect the colors.  During particularly dry years, our tree colors are not as bright and do not last as long.  But the difference in rainfall between say Wichita and Kansas City isn't enough I don't think to make a significant difference in leaf color.  I hope this helps.
Tom