Now is the time to choose smaller trees for autumn colour, says Gillian Vine.
We are lucky in the South to have so many deciduous trees and shrubs that have glorious colourful foliage displays in autumn. Red, orange, yellow, purple and even pink, we have them all.
As gardens get smaller, some lovelies such as scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), claret ash (Fraxinus oxycarpa), Emerald Queen maple and golden ash (Fraxinus excelsior Aurea) grow too large to be considered.
Despite that, there is a long list of smaller trees and larger shrubs that are suitable for small gardens where some autumn colour is sought.
Most are ''twofers'', with attractive new foliage or flowers in spring and some, like flowering cherries and rowans, having bark that enhances the winter garden when there is little to admire.
Now is the time to choose trees and shrubs that look good in autumn, not only because you can observe how they perform in your area but because most deciduous trees and shrubs are sold in winter when they are dormant.
For reliable performance, it's almost impossible to go past the small Japanese maples (Acer palmatum and A. shirasawanum).
There are so many that the only problem is choosing which one.
Crimson Queen (not to be confused with the large Crimson King), the mirror maple O Kagimi, red-stemmed Katsura, Autumn Moon and weeping Stella Rosa all have good spring and autumn colour.
Grow them in a sheltered spot but with plenty of sun to enhance the foliage tones.
Worthwhile small trees include dogwood (Cornus species and cultivars), which need cold winters to flower well.
C. florida Cherokee Princess (4m) and Cherokee Daybreak (3m) have particularly good autumn tones, as does the Cornelian cherry (C. mas), worth growing as the fruit attracts birds.
At 7m, Ginkgo biloba may be a bit big for some gardens, as it needs space to show to advantage and looks great in the middle of a lawn.
One of the oldest trees known, it has been around, with minimal changes, for more than 50 million years.
Often thought of as growing only to about 1m, there are numerous deciduous azaleas that reach 1.5m or more.
Several have been developed at Blue Mountain Nurseries, in Tapanui, including double white Pavlova, which has perfumed flowers.
Others have yellow, red, orange or pink flowers.
Also suitable for very small gardens is Japanese bellflower (Enkianthus campanulata).
Usually cultivated for its cream, pink or red flowers that look a little like lily of the valley, these 1.5-2m shrubs can be shaped like mini-trees and the autumn colour adds to their charm.
Rather out of favour because of its tendency to sucker and likelihood of triggering allergic reaction is sumach (Toxicodendron succedaneum), a member of the same family as the poison ivy Americans dread.
Sumach does have brilliant seasonal colour but is one to think about twice before growing.
More suitable are the tupelos, North American Nyssa sylvatica, which grows to about 7m, and the somewhat smaller (5m) Chinese tupelo (N. sinensis).
Both tolerate quite wet soils and should be sited where the roots will not dry out, so they are perfect for planting near ponds.
Grow tupelos where the roots can be left undisturbed.
Putting on a good show before they fall are the leaves of the shadbush (Amelanchier canadensis), a tough North American native, which will grow to 8m and whose fruit is popular with birds.
Also producing bird-edible fruit are some flowering cherries but it is their spring flowers and autumn foliage that are the factors that appeal to the gardener.
Pink-flowered Accolade, Chinese Brocade, Hillieri Spire, Kanzan, Kiku Shidare Sakura and Southern Gem all have gold or red autumn foliage.
Add the attraction of coloured bark in winter and it's easy to see why they are popular, even if the fruit is more valued by birds than people.
If you want a fruit tree that has bright autumn foliage, cherries are good but even better are apricots.
Depending on variety, most grow 3m-5m, although there are dwarf forms available and being self-fertile, a single tree will produce good crops.
With so much to choose from, no wonder autumn in a small southern garden can be a colourful season.
