Autumn is a great time for trees

Summer is over, sit back and watch the show! Deciduous trees provide real wow factor once the weather turns. Autumn brings bright clear days and chilly nights, along with brilliant colour before the trees shed their leaves. So many great choices!

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Among strong greens of evergreens and the blue/greys of natives is the wonderment that is autumnal colour. Deciduous trees put on a spectacular show this time of year, most noticable along avenues and city streets, botanical gardens and in front yards of homes embracing the change of seasons. Against the blue sky, pale yellow sun and cooler temperatures of that perfect autumn day, these trees are certainly on show for all to see.

The reds, purples, and colour combinations in between that decorate autumn foliage come from a group of pigments in the cells of leaves called anthocyanins.

During the summer growing season, phosphate is at a high level. It has a vital role in the breakdown of the sugars manufactured by chlorophyll. But in autumn, phosphate along with the other chemicals and nutrients, move out of the leaf into the stem of the plant. When this happens, the sugar-breakdown process changes, leading to the production of anthocyanin pigments.

The brighter the light during this period, the greater the production of anthocyanins and the more brilliant the resulting color display. When the days of autumn are bright and cool, and the nights are chilly but not freezing, the brightest colorations usually develop.

These images will leave no doubt about the precious beauty of deciduous trees during autumn.

This tree is a definite feature in autumn. The Pistashio tree (Pistachia chinensis) offers a beautiful blend of interesting leaf shape with sensational autumnal colour. Growing around 8 metres tall, it makes a knock-out feature tree for domestic or commercial landscapes. We have good numbers most of the year in 40cm and 50 litres.

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. 40cm/27L 50cm/52L 100L 150L 200L
Liriodendron tulipifera fastigiata Upright Tulip Tree
A smaller tree which is more upright than it is wide, forming a tear drop shape with age. It offers the same beautiful characteristics as straight L. tulipifera but its growth habit is much narrower with erect, upright growing branches. From late spring to summer, large yellowish-green, tulip-like flowers decorated with orange markings appear. In autumn the large lime green leaves turn a rich, golden-yellow before falling. This variety is suitable for smaller gardens due to its narrow growth habit. 40cm/27L 50cm/52L
Pyrus calleryana 'Capital' Capital Ornamental Pear
This tree has a narrow growth habit with luscious shiny green leaves that hang vertically from branches. An attractive curl in the foliage adds further interest and the slender, columnar shape lends itself well to tight spaces. In autumn, leaves turn a purpley-red colour and spring brings a beautiful display of lovely white flowers followed by small, russet coloured fruits. 40cm/27L 50cm/52L 100L 150L 200L
Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Sioux' Crepe Myrtle (musk pink)
Creating quite the visual impact over a lengthy period, this variety has a great trunk and offers masses of intense, musk-pink flowers over summer, followed by stunning, rich foliage colour in tones of yellow, red and orange through autumn, before shedding its leaves. When mature, the bark of this variety will peel, creating a mottled effect to reveal the beautiful caramel-pink colour of its underbark. 40cm/27L 50cm/52L
Ginkgo biloba '(Male)' 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. 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. 40cm/27L
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. 40cm/27L 50cm/52L 200L
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. 40cm/27L 50cm/52L 100L 150L
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.
Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat' Aristocrat Ornamental Pear
This is a broad form of ornamental pear with horizontal branching. It has attractive dark green foliage with a wavy margin. In autumn foliage colour changes to a ranges of shades between yellow and red. In spring it produces an abundance of white blossom-like flowers that cover the tree. It is a similar size to ‘Cleveland Select’, but with a wider, more open form. 50cm/52L
Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Urbdell' Urbanite Ash
This tree is attractive and tough. It has a pyramid shape with a strong, upright trunk and develops grey brown bark which becomes deeply furrowed as it matures. Yellowish-green flowers are produced in spring and in autumn, dark green, glossy foliage turns a beautiful bronze colour before falling. Suitable to a wide variety of both residential and commercial projects, it has a moderate growth rate and adapts to most soils and conditions. 40cm/27L 50cm/52L 100L 150L 200L
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