HOW TO… CREATE AUTUMN COLOUR

HOW TO… CREATE AUTUMN COLOUR

• With its drier climate, the east of the UK produces the best display, as does an acid soil needed by species as nyssas and liquidambars.
• The best trees and large shrubs for guaranteed autumn colour on most soils include stag’s horn sumach, Photinia villosa, spindle, Cotinus obovatus and Cercidiphyllum japonicum.
• Trees with leaves that turn yellow/gold include medlar, ginkgo, tulip tree, beech, field maple, birch and larch.
• For red, orange and purple, try sweet gum, paperbark maple, Stewartia, parrotia, crab apple, amelanchier, Japanese maple or red oak.
• Bring in shrubs that turn red/orange, such as Hydrangea quercifolia, Fothergilla major, Leucothoe fontanesiana or cotinus.
• Colourful climbers include Virginia creeper and crimson glory vine.
• Get great colour on a smaller scale from plants such as berberis, hosta, Geratostigma plumbaginoides and Goultheria rocumbens.