What causes the leaves to fall in autumn? Basically it’s an ageing process where a plant hormone which is produced in the leaves during the growing season reduces allowing an ethylene gas to weaken the cell walls in the leaf stalk. In addition Chlorophyll, the green colour essential to photosynthesis (the manufacture of food by green plants) breaks down and the leaves change colour.

Weather conditions through the spring, summer and right up to early autumn can influence the time and rate of leaf colouring and you can never guess which trees will provide the year’s best show of colour. Regular visitors are aware that part of the fascination is that every year is different from the last.

Japanese maples are particularly well known for the vibrant autumn colour. They are relatively small plants and are good for any small garden and even do well in pots if protected from frosts (for the dedicated specialist they can also make a superb Bonsai specimen). For leaf colour the Acer palmatum “Atropurpureum” (up to 20ft) as a shrub or small tree which has purple foliage which turns a vivid red in autumn. Acer japonicum is a larger subject with green foliage maturing to red in autumn. Though the leaves of Acer davidii may turn yellow or orange at this time of year it is often grown for its green and white branches. For the best autumn colour from Acers need neutral to acid conditions and prefer a lightly shaded spot away from cold winds.

Oaktree’s Maples

With many specimens of maple at Oaktree and over 60 varieties it is no wonder that we associate autumn with this group of plants.

Visit Oaktree and take one home for yourself!

See our Acer page here.