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October: Acers and Autumn Colour

Acers or maples are among the best trees for autumn colour. In a good year their canopies glow with a blaze of colour. There are about 150 species of mostly deciduous, with some evergreens, trees and shrubs and many selected cultivars. They are essentially woodland plants either as large trees or forming part of the understorey. There are a wide variety of Acers to suit most gardens provided the soil is not too dry and the site is reasonably sheltered. The very small ones are excellent in pots or even as bonsai. Some Acers prefer acid conditions and most dislike very alkaline soil.

Acer is the Latin name for a maple tree, but the word also means sharp and refers to the hardness of the wood, which the Romans used for spear shafts.

Acer palmatum ‘Red Pigmy’ is one suitable for pot cultivation, slow growing eventually reaching around 5 feet in height and spread. It is vase shaped with well dissected dark red leaves which turn a deeper maroon during the summer, finally a rich yellow/gold in the autumn.

One of the best for a smallish space is Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’. This is acknowledged to be one of the most impressive and reliable of its kind. It is rounded and bushy with seven lobed leaves, attractive when young, that turn a brilliant scarlet colour in the autumn. In a large garden a group of three looked impressive for several weeks. This tree will eventually grow to around 20 feet by 20 feet.

Another good Acer for autumn colour is A. davidii ‘Serpentine’. This is a slightly smaller tree, probably at its most effective as a multi stemmed specimen. It has good white and purple/green striated bark which is a bonus after the autumn colour has gone. The colours are glowing orange and red and start to turn in late September.

One named for the season is Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’ which will colour best in acid soil. It is a medium tree, maybe getting to 50 feet high and 25 feet across. This cultivar has dark green glossy leaves in the summer which turn bright shades of red in the autumn.

Some reasonably local places which have good collections of Acers to see in their autumn glory are Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury, Batsford Arboretum near Morton-in-Marsh and Hergest Croft Gardens near Kington.

CAF