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Ask a Gardening QuestionGardening Questions & Answers: How to garden questionsTrees for autumn colour

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Trees for autumn colour

#1 · 23rd March 2024, 5:14 pm

Hi Lee and fellow gardeners.

I'm hoping someone can help me. I have spent so long researching for a smallish tree for my garden, and finally came across a beautiful Sorbus Olympic Flame, although I've since found out the flowers have a very pungent and not particularly nice scent and attract flies. I wanted to attract wildlife, birds and bees etc but not so keen on smelly flowers and flies 😢.

I'm now back to the drawing board again and just seem to be going in constant circles.

I would love it to have all year round interest but top of my list is the autumnal leaf colour. I don't want anything that takes up too much room and is capable of being kept at a reasonably small size e.g. 3x2 metres maybe.

I am based in Suffolk so we usually have a mild winter here. My garden is north facing and has sandy soil but the place where it would be planted gets a good 6 hours plus of sun from now until late summer.

Any help would be very gratefully appreciated.

Claire