Autumn colours are worth seeking

Press, 25 February 1977, Page 10

Autumn colours are worth seeking

Autumn colour can help to add interest to any property, and comes at a time of the year when there is not much in flower in the average garden. The colder parts of the South Island will induce the best exhibitions of colour from the deciduous species which are renowned for their autumn foliage, but these same trees and shrubs will not produce anything like as good a display in the warmer regions.

Many factors influence both the depth and duration of the colour so that it is rarely ever of the same intensity two years running.

Warm, sunny summers and long, fine, cool autumn days are the most conducive to producing this end. Young specimens are less inclined towards achieving this, but this should not cause doubts about their capabilities as such for it is a characteristic which improves with maturity.

The most spectacular effects are created by some of the larger trees such as the deciduous oaks, ashes, ginkgo, liquid amber, liriodendron and poplars, but there are also smaller trees and shrubs which share this virtue.

Acers, ?enerally referred to as maples, mostly take on good autumn colour with many of them attaining a height of 6m or less, with some of the varieties of A. palmatum at 2m. Other good species are A. ginnala, A. hookeri and A. japonica. , Protection from the wind is a particular desirability in siting maples and a cool, moist root run is preferred.

Azaleas and rhododendrons may not be included, in most lists of plants possessing good autumn colour, but many of these ever popular subjects really do have some merit in this r espect. Most of the deciduous species of azaleas (which should perhaps more correctly be called rhododendrons) colour up well before their leaves fall. Although the hybrid groups of Mollis, Ghent, and Glam are notable, the colour is most intense in some of the species. Like all members of their family they require an acid medium, with moisture and light shade.

Ameianchier canadensis (Shad Bush) makes a large shrub or small tree of an ultimate heigh* of 3-Bm. A good sized specimen will draw attention almost all the time for apart from its rich golden yellow to russet red autumn foliage,

the young leaves are a bronzy colour in early spring and it smothers itself in drooping racemes of starry white flowers shortly afterwards. As a bonus there are small, dark red, edible fruits which are eagerly sought after by birds. It likes a lime-free soil.

Liquidambers have a permanent niche in any recommendations that would qualify for “outstanding autumn foliaged plants”, and this is reinforced by the introduction of such forms as Liquidamber styraciflua “Golden Treasure,” L. styraciflua “Moonbeam” and L. styraciflua “Festival”. These trees between them display shades of orange, red, pink and burgundy prior to leaf fall, while also making a most noteworthy and effective contribution to the landscape before autumn. These are not trees to be recommended for windswept positions and they do like a moist, cool soil to grow in.

Coti n u s americana (Smoke Bush) also called Rhus cotinoides can make a rather large spreading shrub if allowed to grow unchecked. Occasional hard pruning back will help to keep it in bounds. The leaves are almost round and turn orange to orange-red before they fall in some seasons, providing one of the most spectacular of all such displays. The flowers appear like puffs of smoke (from which stems the common name) encompassing the foliage. An apparent indifference to soil makes this plant suitable for growing almost anywhere. It is not possible to mention here even a fraction of the flora which is highly regarded for its autumn foliagt and so the line is drawn on a much less than common garden choice and one which could be described as a rarity in such surroundings. Stewartia ovata is probably the smallest species of this family — all of which colour up well — and grows about 3.4 m. The foliage turns red or crimson before it falls. It bears almost strap-like solitary white flowers in late summer. A cool, moist, acid soil is needed for it to flourish well.

Oxydendrum arboreum is the only species of its genus and will attain a height 6-Bm. It displays almost unbelievable autumn tints on its oblong, lanceolate pointed leaves, ranging from yellows to reds. Small lily-of-the-val-ley like flowers are carried in drooping panicles in summer. A sheltered position and conditions generally favoured by rhododendrons and most other members of the genus Ericaceae are a prerequisite for satisfactory development.

Softball.—The former Wellington Softball Association president, Mr Norman Laws, has been granted a posthumous distinguished service award for his contribution to the sport by the New Zealand Softball Association’s council. It is the highest honour it can bestow upon people who have been prominent in the game.