Autumn colours deepen when the temperature drops quickly. so frosts encourage the colours. Its been quite mild so that will be why.

The best years for autumn colour is when we have warm days and cold nights. As Sbg says, we didn't have those conditions this past autumn

Does it colour up less well if the soil it's planted in is not acid?

Yes - it does prefer acid soil. I give mine a good drink of Sequestrine in the Spring, which helps a bit, and I do get good colour (my soil is alkaline/neutral).

I keep not quite buying one, I have to wait for something else to die first since it has little benefit for wildlife compared to the other stuff on my theoretical shopping list, but they are so gorgeous. Thanks Sheilabub.

Oh gosh, that list of things I'm not quite buying.....I just spent £100 (in my dreams) looking at the new Burncoose catalogue, and that was only half way through it.

If you can spend £100 with Burncoose, DON'T look at Rare Plants!!

Love that Burncoose catalogue Stera . . . so much, it had to go to recycling, lol.

My liquidamber Worplesdon was never any good for colour. It grew fast and dropped it's mediocre coloured leaves early. I think it was Spritzhenry, or maybe Bamboo who said that Worplesdon is not a good one for autumn colour. Mine died this summer after 6 years so I don't have to um and ah about whether to keep it! I'm going to plant a hawthorn instead--or maybe a rowan, not for colour, but they are more wildlife friendly.

I can''t actually spend it Andrew but I love marking it up and playing Lets Pretend!
I guess it will be recycled eventually Sheila!
I'd love a liquidamber merry - but we can't have space for everything...hope you get better colour next year.