Favourite trees

Helping a client select the right trees for their outdoor space is a very rewarding part of my job. After all, together we are helping shape the landscape for years to come and enhancing it with beauty. Of course we all have favourite trees that we like to plant and my top 3 are Liquidambar styraciflua, Parrotia persica and Acer campestre and it’s no surprise that all these 3 deciduous trees are noted for their stunning autumn colour.

Commonly known as Sweet Gum, Liquidambar is a broad-crowned medium-sized tree with maple-like leaves which turn to a spectacular deep orange and yellow in the autumn. Parrotia persica also has stunning autumn foliage with the leaves turning yellow red and purple. Unlike Liquidambar though this plant is more of a large shrub, growing to 8 metres tall, often multi stemmed. If you have a large space then this plant is a must. The final plant in my top 3 is Acer campestre, commonly known as field maple. This is a medium sized tree with a compact bushy crown and the leaves turn yellow or red in the autumn.

Of course there are many more trees that provide a spectacular show in the autumn and one of the best places to catch autumn colour in a classic garden setting is the National Trust garden, Sheffield Park. Located at Uckfield in Sussex, this is a ‘must visit’ as the stunning design of the garden really enhances the autumn colour of the wonderful tree collection. It’s definitely on my list to visit once it’s safe to travel again.