Blazing with glory
its ferny palmate leaves turning vivid red and orange. For best results grow in dappled or partial shade with protection from cold winds. Beautiful as a specimen tree in a patio or courtyard situation.
■ Liquidambar (sweetgum tree) This produces some of the best autumn colours, a wonderful mix of plums, reds and orange maple-like leaves. However, as they grow above 22m in maturity they’re usually unsuitable for small to average plots. ‘Slender Silhouette’ is a lovely upright cultivar which, while it grows tall, remains slimline. Sweetgums prefer dampish, neutral to acidic soil.
■ Acer griseum
(Paperbark maple)
I never tire of the wonderful coppery peeling of this maple. And there’s more reason to love it in autumn as its leaves turn to a burning red and orange. A delightful specimen.
■ Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’
Grow the smoke bush for its beautiful purple foliage that turns scarlet in autumn. The smokey part of its name derives from the frothy plumes of delicate flowers in summer that can appear to be like a haze of smoke around the plant. It likes full sun in a moist, well-drained soil.
■ Rhus typhina
I’m watching the stag’s horn sumach in my front garden turn a vibrant shade of orange. I think this is one of the most reliable autumnal small trees. If you want something a little bit different, go for ‘Dissecta’ which has finely dissected leaves, giving a more refined appearance. You will need to remove suckers.