DECIDUOUS VARIETIES WITH AUTUMN LEAF COLOUR
While most conifers are evergreen, a few are deciduous and lose their leaves in autumn, some developing astonishingly bright autumn leaf colour.
■ Top of the tree, so to speak, is the maidenhair tree, Ginkgo biloba. With leaves like large versions of those seen on maidenhair ferns, the foliage turns bright bu eryellow in autumn. An astonishing number of varieties have been named, but there’s one thing to keep in mind. Individual trees are either male or female – and the female trees produce fruits that smell strongly of vomit! But don’t worry, I’m going to recommend a male variety that produces no fruit at all. ‘Autumn Gold’ (H: 3m/10ft) is the star, a male variety with brilliant yellow autumn colour.
Larches are beautiful in spring when the fresh new leaves unfurl, and again in autumn when they turn bu ery or gold, but most mature into large specimens.
So pick a dwarf variety such as ‘Li le Bogle’ (1.8m/6ft) or the weeping ‘Puli’ (H: 1.2m/4ft), which is best grown as a standard.
■ The dawn redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, is another that naturally makes a large specimen, with old gold autumn leaves, sometimes with pink tints. Unfortunately its dwarf forms are hard to find, but look for the rare dwarf weeping ‘Miss Grace’ (H: 90cm/3ft) with orange autumn colour.
Where to buy Ashwood Nurseries: www.ashwoodnurseries.com; tel: 01384 401996. Crocus: www.crocus.co.uk; tel: 01344 578000. Lime Cross Nursery: www.limecross.co.uk; tel: 01323 833229.