We were talking about the difference between a red maple and a corresponding cultivar regarding the coloration.
A second discussion about how red two identical plants respond to different growing conditions:
Two EAC's one in shade one in sun. More chlorophyll production in the sunnier plant = more sugars available in fall = a redder plant. No genetic advantage from a cultivar selected for redder color in the side by side comparison.
Red barberry grown in the shade is not as red as a full sun plant = more chlorophyll needed to "catch" the light for sugar production because of the limited light = a greener cast. A different case than fall color. Think of a variegated plant in the full shade like leucothe...variegations not as striking as in the full sun.
