Autumn Colour Trees

Acer palmatum dissectum, commonly known as the laceleaf Japanese maple, is a popular ornamental tree renowned for its intricate, finely divided foliage. This deciduous shrub or small tree is part of the Aceraceae family and originates from Japan, Korea, and China. It typically grows to a height of 2 to 3 meters (6 to 10 feet) with a similar spread, making it a perfect choice for small gardens and container planting.

The leaves of Acer palmatum dissectum are deeply lobed and serrated, resembling delicate lace. Throughout the seasons, the foliage transitions from a vibrant green in spring and summer to spectacular shades of red, orange, and purple in autumn, providing year-round interest. The tree's cascading, weeping habit adds an elegant and graceful element to any landscape design.

Acer palmatum dissectum prefers a position in partial shade with well-drained, moist soil. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning to maintain its shape. This tree is also known for its resilience to pests and diseases. Its compact size and striking appearance make it an excellent choice for adding structure and color to garden borders, patios, and rockeries in British gardens.

Betula jacquemontii Multi-stem is a medium-sized, vigorous, multi-stem, deciduous tree with upright, pyramidal habit and superb snow-white peeling bark of its elegant multiple trunks. Its leaves are ovate, dark green and turn bright yellow in autumn. Male flowers are yellowish-brown and appear in dropping catkins, while female flowers are greenish and appear in upright catkins. Multi-stem Himalayan Birch can grow in any type of soil, even sand or clay, as long as it is moist and well-drained. It thrives in full sun or partial shade. It is extremely hardy and does best in cool northern climates. Does not tolerate heat and humidity. Requires very little pruning. Multi-stem trees have larger foliage and provide more shade. Betula jacquemontii Multi-stem is a very attractive tree because of it highly decorative multiple trunks and stunning white bark. Perfect as a specimen plant or in beds and borders. Great for cottage and urban gardens. Suitable for growing in large containers.

Acer palmatum 'Skeeters Broom' is a unique and stunning cultivar of the Japanese maple tree. This deciduous tree is prized for its striking, bright red foliage that emerges in the spring and turns a deeper shade of red in the fall. The leaves are deeply lobed and delicate, creating a graceful and elegant appearance.

'Skeeters Broom' is a slow-growing tree that typically reaches a height of 6 to 8 feet and a spread of 4 to 6 feet, making it a perfect choice for smaller gardens, courtyards, or even containers. It has a compact and upright growth habit, with branches that grow vertically, giving it a narrow and columnar shape.

This Japanese maple is a low-maintenance tree that prefers partial shade and well-drained soil. It is hardy in zones 5-9 and can tolerate both cold winters and hot summers. 'Skeeters Broom' is also known for its excellent resistance to pests and diseases, making it a reliable addition to any landscape.

Overall, Acer palmatum 'Skeeters Broom' is a striking and unique cultivar that is sure to catch the eye of any passerby. Its compact size, easy care, and stunning foliage make it an excellent choice for gardens of all sizes and styles.

Acer palmatum 'Jerre Schwartz' is an upright, compact, deciduous shrub or small tree with palmate, deeply lobed, dark green leaves, flushed pink and then bronze-green in spring, vibrant red in autumn. Inconspicuous flowers bloom in spring and are followed by red, winged seed pods in summer.

Acer palmatum 'Jerre Schwartz' is adaptable to a wide range of soils, but prefers fertile, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It likes partial shade and best leaf colour is achieved in partial shade, but it tolerates full sun. Excessive exposure and lack of soil moisture can cause leaf scorch. It is resistant to frost, but it has to be sheltered from harsh winds. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require much pruning.

Japanese maple 'Jerre Schwartz' is a great ornamental tree suitable for informal, cottage, rock and gravel, and urban gardens. Excellent as a specimen or accent plant. It is great for growing in containers.

Acer palmatum 'Jordan' is a beautiful and highly sought-after cultivar of the Japanese maple tree. It is known for its delicate foliage and stunning fall colors. This tree is an excellent choice for adding interest and texture to any landscape.

The mature height of Acer palmatum 'Jordan' typically ranges from 10 to 15 feet, with a spread of 8 to 12 feet. It has an upright, rounded habit with multiple trunks and branches that create a beautiful silhouette.

The foliage of 'Jordan' is a deep red color in the spring and summer, and turns a vibrant crimson in the fall. The leaves are palmate and deeply lobed, giving the tree a unique and elegant appearance. This cultivar is also known for its excellent resistance to leaf scorch and other common diseases.

Overall, Acer palmatum 'Jordan' is an exceptional tree that adds a lot of visual interest and beauty to any landscape. Its relatively small size and stunning foliage make it an excellent choice for smaller yards or as a focal point in a larger landscape.

Acer palmatum 'Fire Cracker' is a graceful and eye-catching Japanese maple admired for its finely dissected foliage and elegant cascading form. This deciduous ornamental tree produces delicate lace-like leaves that emerge rich crimson-red in spring, maintaining their vibrant colouring throughout the summer months. As autumn arrives, the foliage intensifies into brilliant scarlet and fiery red tones, creating a dramatic seasonal display.

Its naturally arching habit gives the plant a soft, flowing appearance, making it an excellent focal point in small gardens, Japanese-inspired landscapes, courtyard settings, or large decorative containers. The finely textured leaves contrast beautifully with evergreen shrubs, gravel gardens, and woodland planting schemes.

‘Fire Cracker’ thrives in moist, fertile, well-drained soil and prefers a sheltered position in partial shade, where the foliage is protected from scorching sun and drying winds. Slow growing and relatively compact, it is easy to maintain and suitable for gardens where space is limited. The attractive branching structure also provides winter interest, ensuring year-round ornamental value and refined architectural beauty.

Acer palmatum 'Seiryu' is an unusual and highly elegant Japanese maple, distinguished as one of the few upright-growing laceleaf forms. Unlike most dissected cultivars that have a weeping habit, ‘Seiryu’ develops a graceful, vase-shaped structure with finely divided, fern-like green foliage that creates a light, airy texture throughout the growing season.

In spring and summer, the leaves remain a fresh green, providing a soft, feathery backdrop in the garden. As autumn approaches, the foliage transforms into a stunning display of golden yellow, orange, and rich crimson tones, offering excellent seasonal interest. Its branching structure is particularly attractive in winter, when the sculptural form is fully visible.

‘Seiryu’ is well suited to small gardens, courtyard spaces, and Japanese-style planting schemes where vertical interest is needed without overwhelming surrounding plants. It thrives in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil and performs best in a sheltered position with partial shade, although it can tolerate gentle sun in cooler climates. Slow-growing and refined, it is ideal as a specimen tree, combining delicate foliage with strong architectural presence year-round.

Betula utilis var. jaquemontii, or West Himalayan Birch, is one of the most popular birch trees. It is a medium-sized, vigorous, deciduous tree with upright, pyramidal habit. It is famous for its beautiful snow-white peeling bark, the whitest that can be found among birch varieties. Its leaves are ovate, dark green and turn bright yellow in autumn. Male flowers are yellowish-brown and appear in dropping catkins, while female flowers are greenish and appear in upright catkins.

West Himalayan Birch can grow in any type of soil, even sand or clay, as long as it is moist and well-drained. It thrives in full sun or partial shade. It is extremely hardy and does best in cool northern climates. Does not tolerate heat and humidity. Betula utilis var. jaquemontii is a very attractive tree, perfect as a specimen plant or in beds and borders. Great for cottage and urban gardens, avenues and broad streets. Suitable for roof gardens and growing in containers.

Parrotia persica 'Persian Spire' is a striking, compact tree known for its elegant, columnar form and vibrant seasonal colors. Ideal for small gardens, this deciduous beauty grows up to 6 meters (20 feet) tall but stays slender, reaching only about 1.5 meters (5 feet) in width. Its glossy, green leaves emerge with a hint of purple in spring, transitioning to lush green in summer, and then burst into fiery shades of orange, red, and yellow in autumn. In late winter, small clusters of red, petal-less flowers add subtle charm before the foliage appears.

'Persian Spire' is hardy and low-maintenance, thriving in well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. This Parrotia cultivar is drought-tolerant once established, and its upright form makes it perfect for narrow spaces, urban landscapes, and focal points in mixed borders, adding year-round interest and vibrant color.

Betula pendula ‘Fuzzy Feathers’ is an elegant and distinctive cultivar of silver birch, valued for its finely divided, feathery foliage and graceful overall form. Unlike the typical Betula pendula, this variety features delicately cut leaves that create a soft, almost fern-like texture, giving the tree a light and airy presence in the garden.

As it matures, ‘Fuzzy Feathers’ develops the classic white bark associated with silver birch, which peels attractively to reveal subtle tones beneath. This ornamental bark provides year-round interest, particularly in winter when the tree’s structure is fully visible. The slender branches often have a gently pendulous habit, enhancing its natural elegance and movement in the breeze.

This cultivar is relatively compact compared to standard silver birch trees, making it well suited to smaller gardens or landscaped spaces where a full-sized birch might be too large. It typically forms a narrow, upright canopy, allowing light to filter through and enabling underplanting with shade-tolerant plants or spring bulbs.

In spring, the tree produces small catkins that add further seasonal interest, followed by fresh green foliage that remains attractive throughout the growing season. In autumn, the leaves turn a soft yellow before falling, contributing subtle seasonal colour.

Betula pendula ‘Fuzzy Feathers’ is hardy and well adapted to the UK climate, thriving in a range of soil types provided they are reasonably well drained. It prefers a sunny position and benefits from adequate moisture, particularly when young.

Overall, this refined birch offers a combination of delicate texture, striking bark, and manageable size, making it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a graceful, ornamental tree with year-round appeal.

The Acer palmatum 'Orange Lace' is a beautiful Japanese maple admired for its intricate, lace-like foliage and dynamic seasonal colors. This bushy, compact tree has finely cut leaves that emerge in a brilliant orange-red in spring, deepening to a lush green with hints of bronze in summer, and then turning fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow in fall. Growing to a modest height of 6-8 feet, 'Orange Lace' has a spreading, graceful habit ideal for small gardens, patios, and containers. It thrives in partial shade and well-drained soil, adding elegance and a delicate texture to any garden setting. With its low-maintenance requirements and spectacular colors, 'Orange Lace' is a favorite for creating a vibrant focal point year-round.

Acer palmatum 'Trompenburg' is a unique Japanese maple, valued for its deeply lobed, glossy leaves and rich seasonal color. Emerging in spring with a deep burgundy-red, the foliage maintains its striking hue through summer, developing a rich crimson in autumn. The leaves are distinctively curled, giving them a sculptural, three-dimensional effect that adds texture and interest to any landscape. Growing to about 15-18 feet, 'Trompenburg' has an upright, spreading form that suits both garden beds and container planting. This hardy tree thrives in well-drained soil with partial shade to protect its vibrant color. With its unusual foliage, easy-care requirements, and dynamic color change, Acer palmatum 'Trompenburg' is an excellent choice for adding character and beauty to diverse garden settings.

Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum Dissectum' is a highly decorative small tree, valued for its elegant weeping habit and finely cut purple-red foliage. Its compact size and graceful form make it especially suitable for smaller gardens, courtyard spaces, Japanese-style planting schemes, and container growing on patios or terraces. The delicate foliage creates a soft, textured appearance throughout spring and summer before turning brilliant crimson shades in autumn, providing exceptional seasonal interest.

This cultivar thrives best in sheltered positions with moist, well-drained soil and protection from strong winds, which can damage the finely divided leaves. Partial shade is ideal, particularly in warmer areas, as it helps preserve the rich foliage colour and prevents leaf scorch. It combines beautifully with ornamental grasses, ferns, hostas, and evergreen shrubs, creating a calm and refined garden atmosphere.

Due to its slow growth and naturally cascading shape, very little pruning is required beyond removing damaged branches. Its architectural beauty makes it an excellent focal point near water features, pathways, or seating areas where the intricate foliage and graceful silhouette can be fully appreciated year-round.