Autumn Colours

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

Autumn Colours

Glowing, Garden Tints j * nECIDUOUS trees furnish one of the most beautiful sights of autumn, with their changing colours. It should be realised, however, that their full beauty can only bo obtained when planting has been carried out with dis- j cretion. The colouring of leaves in j autumn depends entirely on the season, j A trC'e should not be condemned be-; cause it fails in this respect for one, | <ir even two seasons. The depth and j nature of the soil, the: weather and; age of a tree alt have a bearing on I 'the richness of the colouiing. Every j garden cannot accommodate a giant copper beech or a scarlet oak, but fortunately there are smaller counterparts of these trees suitable for small gardens. A fine substitute for the copper beech is I'runus I'issardii, which be grown as a standard or as a bush. The purple leaves are all ths more effective if placed next v.o some shrub with golden foliage. Few genera have more gorgeous tints than the maples, which vary greatly in habit, size and leaf. If a bit of j colour is needed to improve the rock, gardeh, some of the more spreading'j varieties will supply it, but a feature could be provided in a garden of reasonable size by a group on the lawn by a lily pool. "A sloping bank is also attractive when planted with various kinds of acers. The acers or maples are divided into several grouus, and that known as pa lm atu 111 should be largely represented in tlbe collection. It includes the rich purple atrosanguineum, the purple red sanguiueum and the golden yellow aureum. Dissectuni atrcpurpureum has the leaves very finely cut and the colour is dark red. In all respects this is 9ne of the most desirable of the varieties. Unfortunately, it is rather slow in growth ( and has a pendulous habit which ' precludes its being planted among other shrubs. For an autumn effect, A. japoniciim is noteworthy, as also is rubrum, the red maple of North America. Amelianeher canadensis will make a nice small tree, and fills a dual role, being a good flowering subject in spring and exceptionally brilliant iu autumn with its orange scarlet foliage. The tulip tree needs a good deal of space to be seen, at its best, but _if space can be found it should be included. In autumn the leaves change to a bright yellow, which is an effective contrast to the scarlets and purples of the maples. The genus lUius contains tnanv species of brilliantly coloured foliage for the small garden. Popularly known as sumachs they are quite distinct, and desirable. The long, graceful lfeaves of Hints tvphina assume a rich orange scarlet colour that lasts for a considerable time. This shrub will thrive and produce a good colour 011 a poor soil; in fact, it is quite at home on a stony bank. Plius cotinoides and its variety, atropurpurea, also produce a gorgeous autumn display of colour that' few other shrubs will equal. One of the most striking of autumn trees the Liquidanibar, or Sweet Gum, of North America. This tree is often mistaken for a inaple from the shape of the foliage. From a bright green the foliage passes through all the shades of copper, bronze, orange and red before finally falling. Cercidiphvllum is a Japanese tree of rich colouring which should do well in the Auckland climate, as it requires rather more warmth than the majority of trees and shrubs previously mentioned. So long as It is sheltered from cutting winds and frosts in spring, the rest of the year it is of very little 'trouble.