Red, Redder, Reddest

16 comments

As we approach Bonfire night, three woody plants in my garden vie to provide the brightest red autumn colour. So here they are in ascending order.

In third place is the shrub, physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’

The runner-up is a dwarf form of the oriental spindle bush, euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’

But the clear winner is a Japanese maple, acer palmatum ’Osakazuki’

Who needs fireworks when you get displays like this every year?

3 Nov, 2010
13 likes

Comments

Whistonlass

Very seasonal, Andrew. I'm enjoying so many of the photos of Acers here on GOY....well all the trees with such glorious tones of colour this year :)

Yes, who needs fireworks with all this colour in the garden? Nature at it's best!

3 Nov, 2010

Cristina

totaly agree fab

3 Nov, 2010

Clarice

Agree aswell.FAB

3 Nov, 2010

Stickitoffee

brilliant ~ lasts longer than a firework too!

3 Nov, 2010

Motinot

Beautiful Autumn colour Andrew...

3 Nov, 2010

Linda235

Isn't nature amazing?

3 Nov, 2010

Stroller

Isnt nature wonderful, better than an artists palette.

3 Nov, 2010

Sanbaz

it has to be the acer for me andrew, stunning colour and i love them all :o)

3 Nov, 2010

Grannysue

Love your plants but the Acer wins any contest at the moment Andrew. Beautiful!

3 Nov, 2010

Bjs

Andrew
How dwarf is dwarf regarding the spindle bush,did not know there were dwarf forms.I have four I grew from seed I collected in autumn 2008 they are about 2ft high now and know the tree I took the seed from is about 8-10 feet which is alright for where i want them to grow.But not everyone can accommodate that size.I will be interested to know.

3 Nov, 2010

Sanbaz

just looking myself Bjs and says about 5ft/3ft so still not dwarf enough for my garden lol

3 Nov, 2010

Karensusan63

I'm not surprised we're all hankering after that spindle tree. Wow, after seeing Lori's and now Andrew's I would really like one too! The Acer is absolutely amazing and I have it on authority from a GOY member that this is the reddest of all the Acers...a great one to get your hands on if you can! My Physocarpus 'diabolo' has not yet changed colour much at all. it's still black...strange...must be because it gets quite a bit of shade...

3 Nov, 2010

Andrewr

Bjs - Sanbaz is right about the size of the euonymus, about three or four feet. It is something of a passenger for the rest of the year though so I might think about a climber to grow through it to give some more interest.

Karen - you are right about this acer giving the best red display, that's why I chose it. My 'Diabolo' is in full sun which is probably why it's changing and yours isn't

3 Nov, 2010