Autumn Colour Trees

Acer rubrum ‘Armstrong Gold’ is a striking, upright selection of the red maple, valued for its refined form, vibrant seasonal color, and adaptability to urban conditions. This cultivar develops a strong, columnar habit with a narrow canopy, typically reaching 40 to 50 feet tall and 12 to 16 feet wide at maturity. Its tidy silhouette makes it an excellent choice for streetscapes, parking lots, or smaller residential landscapes where space is limited but vertical impact is desired.

In spring, the tree produces clusters of inconspicuous red flowers before leaf emergence, adding subtle early-season interest. The leaves unfold bright green and remain fresh through summer, then transform into brilliant shades of golden-orange to red in autumn, creating a dazzling display of color. The bark is smooth and gray, adding winter appeal and contrast.

‘Armstrong Gold’ thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil but tolerates a range of urban conditions, including compacted or slightly alkaline soils. It is also relatively low-maintenance, pest-resistant, and adaptable, making it a dependable choice for both aesthetic and functional landscape use.

Cercis canadensis 'Eternal Flame' is an exceptional cultivar of the Cercis canadensis species, commonly known as the Eastern Redbud. This compact, deciduous tree is prized for its outstanding features that bring beauty and vibrancy to any landscape.

One of the most striking attributes of 'Eternal Flame' is its remarkable display of flowers. In early spring, before the emergence of leaves, the branches become adorned with an abundance of stunning pink blossoms. These small, pea-like flowers cover the tree in a breathtaking spectacle, creating a focal point that captivates the eye and attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Beyond its remarkable floral display, 'Eternal Flame' offers an extended season of interest with its foliage. The heart-shaped leaves emerge in a rich shade of burgundy, transitioning to a vibrant red as they mature. The fiery-red foliage persists throughout the summer, maintaining its intensity and adding a warm and captivating touch to the surroundings. In autumn, the leaves transition to a lovely shade of yellow, providing a final burst of color before they drop.

This cultivar showcases a compact growth habit, making it suitable for smaller gardens or spaces. It typically reaches a height of 10-15 feet (3-4.5 meters) and spreads about 12-15 feet (3.6-4.5 meters) wide. Its size and form make it an excellent choice for urban landscapes, borders, or as a specimen tree in a prominent location.

Cercis canadensis 'Eternal Flame' is adaptable to a variety of soil types but thrives in well-drained, fertile soil. It prefers full sun to partial shade, although it can tolerate some shade. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring regular watering during dry periods and occasional pruning to maintain its shape.

In conclusion, Cercis canadensis 'Eternal Flame' is a remarkable tree that stands out with its vibrant pink flowers, long-lasting fiery-red foliage, and compact growth habit. With its multi-season interest and ease of care, it is a valuable addition to any garden or landscape, providing year-round beauty and charm.

Acer rubrum 'Redpointe' ('Frank Junior') is medium-sized, fast-growing, upright, oval to pyramidal, vigorous, deciduous tree. It has palmate, lobed, glossy dark green leaves that become beautifully vivid bright red in autumn. Red flowers in small umbrellas show up in March and are followed by winged nuts, samaras, in autumn. Perfect as a large specimen or shade tree, nice-looking when planted in groups.

Redpointe Red Maple is an American variety of red maple cultivated for planting in cities as street or park trees. It prefers slightly acidic, well-drained soil. In calcareous soil, it will stagnate and its autumn colour will be less intense. It prefers full sun, but tolerates partial shade. Resistant to frost, moderately to winds, it doesn’t like salt and sea winds, therefore, it is not suitable for coasts. It was developed and introduced to market by Keith S. Warren from J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. nursery in Oregon, USA.

The Acer rubrum 'Summer Red,' also known as the Red Maple 'Summer Red,' is a splendid ornamental tree ideally suited for the UK market. This deciduous tree, native to North America, boasts remarkable features that make it a valuable addition to British gardens.

The 'Summer Red' Red Maple typically attains a height of 12-15 meters (40-50 feet) with a slightly narrower spread, making it suitable for medium to large gardens and public spaces. Its canopy forms a broadly oval shape, offering ample shade and a striking presence in the landscape.

One of the most captivating attributes of the 'Summer Red' Red Maple is its vibrant summer foliage. Throughout the warmer months, its leaves adorn a lush green hue, creating a pleasant and cooling effect in the garden. This enduring greenery enhances the tree's appeal, providing a soothing contrast to the typical British green landscape.

In the UK's climate, the 'Summer Red' Red Maple proves adaptable. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, making it versatile for diverse garden environments. While it prefers well-drained soil, it can tolerate occasional damp conditions, which align with the UK's variable weather patterns. This adaptability to different soil types and moisture levels contributes to its suitability for UK gardens.

Furthermore, the 'Summer Red' Red Maple is reasonably cold-resistant, a crucial characteristic for withstanding the UK's potentially harsh winters. During the colder months, the tree may shed its leaves, but its graceful branches still offer an elegant structure to the garden.

In conclusion, the 'Summer Red' Red Maple is an excellent choice for the UK market, providing year-round appeal with its beautiful summer foliage, adaptability to the UK's climate, and capacity to thrive in various garden settings. Its enduring green leaves make it an attractive option for those seeking a tree that can add lushness and elegance to British gardens and public spaces, making it an appealing choice for both homeowners and landscapers.

Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala, commonly known as the Amur maple, is a small, ornamental tree or large shrub admired for its hardiness, compact size, and brilliant seasonal color. Typically growing 4 to 6 meters in height and spread, it features glossy, lobed green leaves that turn spectacular shades of red, orange, and yellow in autumn. In spring, clusters of small, fragrant white flowers appear, followed by distinctive paired winged seeds. Adaptable and resilient, the Amur maple thrives in a range of soils and conditions, including urban environments. Its manageable size and vibrant display make it perfect for gardens, parks, and streetscapes. It can also be grown as a multi-stemmed specimen, offering year-round interest and supporting local wildlife.

The Aesculus hippocastanum, commonly known as the horse chestnut, is a deciduous tree native to the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. This majestic tree, widely cultivated throughout the UK, is celebrated for its striking appearance and historical significance.

Horse chestnuts can grow up to 30 meters tall, boasting a broad, rounded canopy that provides ample shade. The bark is greyish-brown, developing scaly plates with age. Its leaves are large and palmately compound, typically composed of five to seven leaflets radiating from a central point, resembling an open hand.

In spring, the horse chestnut produces magnificent conical flower clusters, known as inflorescences or 'candles'. These are composed of numerous small, white flowers with red or yellow blotches at the base of the petals. The flowers are hermaphroditic, containing both male and female reproductive organs, and are highly attractive to pollinators, particularly bees.

The tree's fruit, commonly referred to as conkers, develop within a spiky green husk. When mature, the husks split open to reveal the shiny brown seeds inside. Conkers are a familiar sight in autumn and are traditionally used in children's games.

The Aesculus hippocastanum is a remarkable tree, known for its impressive stature, distinctive leaves, and iconic conkers, making it a beloved feature in parks, gardens, and streetscapes across the UK.

Fagus sylvatica is a beautiful, large, law-branched, deciduous tree, with pyramidal habit when young and more rounded and spreading crown when mature and thin, smooth, grey bark. Ovate, pale green to dark green leaves turn golden bronze in autumn. Small, inconspicuous, yellowish-green flowers bloom in spring and are followed by edible, triangular beech nuts in autumn. Common Beech grows best in deep, rich, moist, well-drained soils, in full sun or partial shade. It doesn’t tolerate waterlogged soils or heavy clay. Once established, somewhat tolerant to drought. It is generally disease-free and pest-free. Easy to grow, low maintenance plant. It may not grow well in urban areas and doesn’t like to be moved, it is difficult to transplant. Fagus sylvatica is a beautiful, large tree, perfect as a specimen plant or a shade tree for large lawns and parks. It can withstand pruning so it can be used for informal hedges and screens.

Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum', or red leaf Japanese maple, is a slow-growing, deciduous shrub with delicate, upright branches and beautiful finely-divided, deep red leaves that change colour throughout the year. It is grown for its stunning foliage and interesting growth habit. Deep burgundy red of spring leaves fades to light green in early summer, then turn to golden, orange, and red in autumn. Unnoticeable red-purple flowers are followed by winged purple fruits.

Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' thrives in moist, well-drained soil, in a sheltered position. To achieve the best leaf colour, it must be in partial shade, though it tolerates full sun if the soil is moist. It also needs to be sheltered from drying winds. An outstanding ornamental tree, perfect for small yards, urban gardens, or as a front yard accent. Suitable for growing in pots and containers.

Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki' is a distinct cultivar of Japanese Maple notable for its stunning autumn foliage, which transforms into brilliant shades of fiery red. This deciduous tree has an elegant, rounded form and typically reaches a height and spread of 15-20 feet, making it a spectacular feature in gardens, especially in autumn.

The leaves of 'Osakazuki' are palmate and lobed, displaying a lush green color through spring and summer, before their autumn transformation. These leaves have a uniquely refined texture, enhancing its aesthetic appeal throughout the growing season.

Ideal for small gardens, 'Osakazuki' prefers well-drained, moist soils and sheltered locations to protect its delicate foliage from harsh winds. It can thrive in full sun to partial shade, but for the best autumn color, a location with more sunlight is preferable.

This tree is relatively low-maintenance but benefits from regular watering, especially in dryer periods, and mulching to maintain soil moisture. Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki' is highly resistant to pests and diseases, making it a robust choice for a wide range of landscapes. The vivid, extended display of autumn color, coupled with its graceful growth habit, renders 'Osakazuki' a coveted choice among garden enthusiasts.

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.

Acer saccharinum 'Pyramidale', also known as the Pyramid Silver Maple, is a striking, fast-growing deciduous tree known for its strong, upright form and elegant foliage. Reaching a mature height of 20 to 25 meters with a spread of 10 to 15 meters, it forms a tall, narrowly oval canopy, making it ideal for spaces needing vertical emphasis. Its deeply lobed green leaves shimmer with silvery undersides, creating a beautiful, dynamic effect in the wind. In early spring, small red flowers appear before the leaves, offering subtle seasonal interest. 'Pyramidale' thrives in a wide range of soils, including wetter areas, and is highly adaptable to urban conditions. It provides quick shade, adds architectural interest, and brings year-round texture and movement to landscapes and parks.

Acer platanoides 'Emerald Queen' is a robust and fast-growing cultivar of the Norway maple, widely valued for its adaptability, dense canopy, and year-round visual appeal. This deciduous tree typically reaches heights of 40 to 50 feet with a broad, symmetrical crown that provides excellent shade, making it a popular choice for streetscapes, parks, and large gardens.

Its glossy, dark green leaves create a lush summer display and turn a brilliant golden-yellow in autumn, offering striking seasonal interest. 'Emerald Queen' is tolerant of urban conditions, including air pollution, compacted soils, and drought once established, making it ideal for city planting. It also requires minimal maintenance and is relatively pest-resistant.

This cultivar prefers full sun and well-drained soil but is adaptable to a wide range of soil types and conditions. Acer platanoides 'Emerald Queen' is perfect for those seeking a hardy, attractive shade tree with strong structure and reliable performance throughout the seasons.

Acer cappadocicum 'Rubrum', commonly known as the Red Cappadocian Maple, is a beautiful deciduous tree admired for its vibrant seasonal colors and elegant form. It typically reaches heights of 30 to 50 feet with a broad, rounded crown, making it an excellent choice for parks, large gardens, or as a standout specimen in open landscapes.

In spring, the tree features eye-catching reddish young shoots that contrast strikingly with the emerging green foliage. The broad, lobed leaves mature to a rich green during summer, providing a dense, cooling canopy. As autumn approaches, the foliage transforms into a dazzling display of golden yellow, often flushed with vivid red and orange hues, creating a spectacular seasonal highlight.

'Rubrum' thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soils, although it can tolerate a range of conditions. With its bold color, strong structure, and low maintenance needs, it adds year-round interest and beauty to any landscape.

Acer campestre 'Elegant' is a refined, compact cultivar of the field maple, perfect for urban landscapes and smaller gardens. Growing to a height of approximately 7 to 10 meters with a spread of 4 to 6 meters, it has a naturally upright, symmetrical form that requires minimal pruning. Its fresh green, lobed leaves create a soft, attractive canopy through spring and summer, turning warm golden-yellow in autumn. 'Elegant' is highly tolerant of drought, pollution, and compacted soils, making it an ideal choice for streetscapes, parks, and residential gardens. Hardy and adaptable, this tree offers year-round beauty with a clean, controlled shape, fitting well into formal or naturalistic designs. It also provides excellent support for local biodiversity.