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.

Normally photos of Lagerstroemia 'Natchez' are summertime shots where you can see the brilliant display of white flowers. In autumn, this is the view. Of reds and burgundy foliage before completely defoliating to reveal smooth pale limbs. Lagerstroemia is truely one of those magnificent trees that can feature the entire year round. We have 30cm, 50cm, 100 & 200 litres. 25cm 30cm/14L 40cm/27L 50cm/52L 100L 200L
This is a favourite tree for many people. Wonderfully attractive large green leaves give way to yellows and golds as autumn turns toward winter. We have straight Liriodendron tulipifera as well as its fastigiate form in a mix of sizes, from 40cm through 100 litres. 40cm/27L 50cm/52L
Here is the gorgeous colour of Pyrus calleryana 'Capital' in autumn. Here leaves are only starting to turn giving a range of colour experience between green and burgundy. 'Capital' is a great selection for tighter areas and looks fabulous along driveways, walls and fences. We stock Pyrus 'Capital' in a number of sizes including 30cm, 40cm, 50, 100 and 200 litre. 40cm/27L 50cm/52L 100L 200L
Lagerstroemia 'Sioux' is a hot pick flowering Crepe Myrtle during the warmer months but a blaze of reds and burgundy foliage during autumn. There trees shown here are mutiplanted 300 litre stock and looking radiant. 25cm 40cm/27L 50cm/52L 200L
It isn't any wonder why these trees are commonly referred to as Scarlet Oak. Its foliage is a unique blend of shape and colour, highlighted during autumn when the whole tree is a blend of burgundy and purples. We traditionally hold a good number of 50 litre material at any time of the year. 40cm/27L 200L
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 200L
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. 40cm/27L 100L 200L
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. 25cm 100L 150L
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 of a similar size to ‘Cleveland Select’ but with a wider, more open form. 40cm/27L 50cm/52L 200L
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. 30cm/14L 40cm/27L 50cm/52L 100L 200L

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