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Autumn Colour Inspiration

When it comes to Autumn, most of us think colour. With over forty per cent of the nursery growing deciduous containerised stock, we have many great options to suit your likes and needs. Here's our magnificent seven for planting right now!

	Quercus coccinea Scarlet Oak A highly ornamental, fast-growing, deciduous Oak which has an open, wide spreading habit. It is more rounded than Pin Oak with larger foliage showcasing a brilliant display of colour in autumn when the leaves turn an intensely vivid scarlet colour before falling. Spring sees glossy green, deeply lobed new foliage and acorns produced can take up to two years to mature starting off green and turning pale brown with a deep cap covering them by half. Young bark is relatively smooth and grey, darkening with maturity.
	Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Natchez' Crepe Myrtle (white) This small, deciduous tree creates great interest throughout the year. In summer, clusters of spectacular white, crepe-paper like flowers are produced. Following this, the dark green leaves add further interest as they transition into autumn, turning a rich bronze-red colour before falling. Bark also provides colour as the tree matures, with its flakiness revealing the rich, brown underbark. A beautiful growth habit and resistant to mildew, this variety will tolerate periods of dryness once established.
	Sapium sebiferum '(syn. Triadica sebifera)' Chinese Tallow Tree A deciduous tree with beautiful autumn colour. The green heart shaped leaves change in autumn, displaying a brilliant array of colour in shades of crimson, yellow and orange. A fast growing small to medium tree with a distinct main trunk and grey bark with furrows which run from top to bottom. This variety starts off as a pyramid shape when young and develops a medium domed crown as it matures. In spring, yellow-green catkins are produced, followed by small capsules which open to reveal white, waxy seeds.
	Pyrus ussuriensis Manchurian Ornamental Pear This Manchurian Pear is a very popular selection largely due to the brilliant display of colour in Autumn. The dark green foliage is oval in shape with serrated edges and the onset of Autumn sees this leaves turning to a rich, dark red. Wider spreading than the 'Capital' or 'Cleveland Select', this form has a dense, rounded habit maturing to be a broad, medium-sized tree. Very early flowering, dark brown buds begin to open revealing a light pink colour before bursting into a beautiful spring show of white flowers. Small fruits follow the flowers, and although they are generally unpalatable to humans, birds and other wildlife have been known to feed off them.
	Pistacia chinensis Chinese Pistachio This lovely small, deciduous tree has a moderate growth rate and great autumn colour in shades of orange, yellow and red. Bark is dark grey with shallow furrows and this variety is capable of withstanding relatively harsh conditions. Interesting pinnate leaves emerge green and leathery and although inconspicuous, clusters of small white flowers are borne in summer, followed by red drupes which mature to blue.
	Ginkgo biloba Maidenhair Tree This is a very slow growing and long-lived, deciduous tree with a large and elegant habit. Considered quite an ancient tree, it is known to have origins dating back to Jurassic times and is often referred to as a living fossil. Specimens exist in its native origin, China which are estimated to be over 1000 years old. It has unique, double-lobed, fan-shaped leaves with veins which spread from the stalk of the leaf. Short catkins are produced, followed by yellow fruit and the foliage is a rich green, which turns a golden yellow in autumn.
	Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Cimmzam' Cimmaron Ash This is a striking feature tree which provides great summer shade. It has a uniform branch structure with bark which becomes deeply furrowed as it matures. Attractive dark green foliage is lighter on the underside and transitions through an array of colours starting with yellows, fiery reds and rich burgundy as the weather cools in autumn. The leaves hold onto the tree longer into winter than other varieties of this species.

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