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A Guide to Planting Trees for Autumn

A Guide to Planting Trees for Autumn

Five autumn-colour trees and how to plant them for the strongest first display.
Autumn ColourDeciduousFeature Tree

Autumn colour comes down to species selection and dormant planting. Plant in winter while the trees are dormant for the strongest first display the following autumn.

1. Acer palmatum Japanese Maple

The headline crimson autumn show in a compact frame.

2. Pyrus nivalis Snow Pear

Silver summer foliage turning gold in autumn.

3. Lagerstroemia 'Natchez' Crepe Myrtle

Bridges summer flowers and red autumn colour.

4. Ginkgo biloba

Brilliant gold autumn colour. Choose male grafted forms.

5. Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum

Dramatic red, purple and gold autumn colour on a grand frame.

When and how to plant

Plant in late autumn or winter while dormant. Dig wide, plant at grade, water in deeply and mulch. Wait until the following autumn for the first major show.

Compare at a glance

CultivarHeightWidthFormFoliageBest if you…
Acer palmatum
Japanese Maple 		3 to 5 m2 to 4 mSpreadingPalmate turning fiery red autumnAutumn planting for fiery colour.
Pyrus nivalis
Snow Pear 		6 to 8 m4 to 5 mUprightSilver-green turning gold autumnGold autumn highlights.
Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez'
Natchez Crepe Myrtle 		6 to 8 m4 to 5 mVase-shapedGreen turning red autumnLong-flowering summer-to-autumn colour.
Ginkgo biloba
Maidenhair Tree 		8 to 12 m4 to 6 mUprightFan-shaped turning brilliant goldBrilliant autumn gold.
Liquidambar styraciflua
Sweetgum 		12 to 20 m6 to 10 mPyramidalStar-shaped multicoloured autumnLarge autumn statement trees.
Acer palmatum

1. Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)

Japanese Maple delivers the headline autumn show in small gardens.

Type
Deciduous feature tree
Height
3 to 5 m
Width
2 to 4 m
Growth rate
Slow to moderate
Foliage
Palmate turning fiery red autumn
Form
Spreading
Conditions
Part shade
Maintenance
Low
Best for
Autumn planting for fiery colour.

Why choose it

Crimson autumn colour in a compact frame.

Perfect pair

Japanese Maple feature with a Bay hedge.

Tips for planting

Plant in winter while dormant.

Autumn drama.

Shop Acer palmatum
Pyrus nivalis

2. Pyrus nivalis (Snow Pear)

Snow Pear adds gold autumn colour and silver summer foliage.

Type
Deciduous feature tree
Height
6 to 8 m
Width
4 to 5 m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Silver-green turning gold autumn
Flowers
White spring
Form
Upright
Conditions
Full sun
Maintenance
Low
Best for
Gold autumn highlights.

Why choose it

Combines silver summer with gold autumn.

Perfect pair

Snow Pear feature with a Bay hedge.

Tips for planting

Plant in winter.

Silver and gold.

Shop Pyrus nivalis
Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez'

3. Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez' (Natchez Crepe Myrtle)

Crepe Myrtle bridges summer flowers and autumn colour.

Type
Deciduous feature tree
Height
6 to 8 m
Width
4 to 5 m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Green turning red autumn
Flowers
White summer
Form
Vase-shaped
Conditions
Full sun
Maintenance
Low
Best for
Long-flowering summer-to-autumn colour.

Why choose it

Long summer flowering plus red autumn.

Perfect pair

Crepe Myrtle feature with a Magnolia hedge.

Tips for planting

Plant in winter.

Summer to autumn bridge.

Shop Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez'
Ginkgo biloba

4. Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree)

Ginkgo is the dramatic gold autumn feature tree.

Type
Deciduous feature tree
Height
8 to 12 m
Width
4 to 6 m
Growth rate
Slow to moderate
Foliage
Fan-shaped turning brilliant gold
Form
Upright
Conditions
Full sun
Maintenance
Low
Best for
Brilliant autumn gold.

Why choose it

Stands out from red-autumn neighbours.

Perfect pair

Ginkgo feature with a Bay hedge.

Tips for planting

Choose male grafted forms.

Autumn gold.

Shop Ginkgo biloba
Liquidambar styraciflua

5. Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)

Sweetgum carries dramatic red, purple and gold autumn colour.

Type
Deciduous shade tree
Height
12 to 20 m
Width
6 to 10 m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Star-shaped multicoloured autumn
Form
Pyramidal
Conditions
Full sun
Maintenance
Low
Best for
Large autumn statement trees.

Why choose it

Carries multiple autumn colours simultaneously.

Perfect pair

Sweetgum feature with a Bay hedge.

Tips for planting

Allow space.

Multicolour autumn statement.

Shop Liquidambar styraciflua

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