Every morning I wake up it feels as though we are enjoying one of the greatest autumns on record.
As I walked down the hill this morning, my head was swivelling left and right taking in the amazing autumn colours in nature’s palette. Who doesn’t want a tree or shrub to show off its beautiful colours in the fall?
Perhaps this tempts you to plant a tree in your yard, but before you rush out to the store to buy your little slice of heaven, remember that you need to do a bit of research to find the right tree for the right spot. I’ve said it before but it’s worth repeating, all trees and shrubs look great in a three-gallon pot, but you need to research the maximum height and width of the tree or shrub you plan on buying and consider your space carefully. Also make sure your proposed site meets the requirements of the plant material: Sun, soil and exposure are all important elements when choosing a tree.
“Small” trees are considered to be so if they reach no higher than 25 feet. Look at the mature height and width of trees you are considering and make sure they don’t impede on your neighbour, a fence or a powerline.
Maples are a popular tree in the West Coast garden for good reason. They love our acidic soil and provide a wide variety of options. One of my favourites is the amazing acer griseum (or paperbark maple). This little maple gets top marks for its shape, canopy, fall foliage change and its cinnamon-coloured, peeling bark. It truly looks good in every season, and I love to see mine with white lights twinned in its bare branches in the winter.
Originating in China, the acer griseum reaches a height of 25 feet and likes early morning or evening sun. It can thrive in full sun to part shade and prefers well drained soil. It leafs out relatively late in the spring and spends most of the summer looking cool and dark green when in full leaf. When the temperatures start to drop and if your tree is sited in a sunny spot, you will be treated to a show of orange then brick-red colours. Even in a shadier site, there is still a lovely turning, with shades of apricot and butter yellow leaves gracing the branches.
Another choice is ginkgo biloba (“Autumn Gold”), a beautiful deciduous tree that lives up to its name each fall. The ginkgo species has been around for a cool 200 million years. Clearly it has a proven track record.
If you happen to be driving down Skyline from the Highlands, look to your left as you approach the stop sign on Garibaldi Way and you will see the majestic golden form of the ginkgo tree in all its glory.
The ginkgo is a tough tree that can grow in a wide variety of conditions. It can also reach very large heights at full maturity (but let it be known, it grows incredibly slowly), so check out the different cultivars before you make a final choice for your garden.
Shades of red and gold carry us through the beautiful days of autumn. Enjoy before winter begins.
