Autumn Colour in the Irish Garden
- Elaine Staveley
- Oct 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 7
One of the best things about autumn is the beautiful array of colour in many deciduous trees and shrubs. Trees and shrubs are generally low maintenance and provide strong structure to the planting scheme in a garden.
Here are a selection of trees and shrubs looking brilliant in Dublin in autumn - a mix of well-known favourites and more unusual varieties.
For a small garden or patio...
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Japanese maples are the stars of autumn in many Irish gardens. They don't like wind or too much sun and I recommend them for more sheltered, semi-shaded spots in my clients' gardens.
A great Japanese maple for autumn, Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’ turns a gorgeous shade of crimson. It grows to about 3 metres, forming a rounded shape ideal for smaller or urban gardens.
Acer palmatum var. heptalobum is a larger Japanese maple, growing to about 5 metres. Its leaves turn a fiery ruby as the temperatures drop in autumn.
Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Grace’)
During the summer, the smoke bush shrub has a haze of pinkish “smoke” from its fluffy flower plumes. As autumn arrives, the leaves turn red and amber - the beginning of which can be seen in the photo above. Growing to around 3–4 metres, ‘Grace’ is ideal for smaller or suburban gardens. It thrives in sun and well-drained soil. Prune in spring, only if required to reduce size or change shape.
Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus)
There’s no mistaking the scarlet display of Viburnum opulus in autumn. Its leaves turn rich crimson and orange, complemented by red berries. It grows to around 3- 4 metres tall, forming a graceful multi-stemmed shrub. It grows best in moist soil, in sun or partial shade. Prune in spring and only if required to reduce size or change shape. It is also native to Ireland. I try and include native Irish plants in all my planting schemes as they are usually hardy and resistant to local pests such as slugs!
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia ‘Autumn Spire’)
Sorbus aucuparia ‘Autumn Spire’ is great for smaller urban gardens, as it tolerates city pollution and has a slender, upright form - reaching around 4 m in height but only about 1 m in width. In October and November, its foliage transforms into brilliant shades of red. The tree shown in the photo is from my front garden. It is still young, currently standing at about 2 m tall.
Peony - Hybrid
The Itoh peonies are hybrids between tree and herbaceous peonies and combine the best traits of both: sturdy stems, lush foliage, and long-lasting flowers. In autumn, their leaves turn red with hints of bronze, providing an elegant, low-growing shrub. It grows to around 75 cm and is perfect for smaller gardens or the front of a border. Cut back to 10-15 cm from the ground in autumn.
For a medium sized garden....
Pride of India (Koelreuteria paniculata)
A less common tree, the Koelreuteria deserves to be more popular in Irish gardens. After yellow flowers in the summer, the papery seed pods turn warm amber and rose in autumn. The leaves themselves turn yellow, as seen in the photo above, creating a nice contrast against the grey sky behind it. Maturing at 7–10 metres, it’s an excellent choice for a medium sized urban garden, tolerating pollution and poorer soils.
Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’)
Few trees rival Liquidambar for sheer intensity of colour. ‘Worplesdon’ is a variety that is particularly good in the Irish climate, as it is slightly hardier than other varieties. It turns various shades of crimson, purple, and gold as we get further into autumn. Reaching around 12–15 metres, it’s suitable for medium to larger gardens.
Dogwood (Cornus)
Cornus are great trees for for a small or medium sized urban garden. In spring, tiny creamy-white flowers appear, followed by small fruits, followed by beautiful autumn colour. The tree grows to around 6–8 metres and copes well with a range of soils and partial shade.
For a large garden...
The Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum var. imbricatum ‘Nutans’)
Most cypress trees are evergreen, but the bald cypress is deciduous and is a sight to behold in autumn. It turns a russet-bronze colour before shedding its feathery needles. ‘Nutans’ has a narrow, upright habit and can reach 15–20 metres in height, so it is only suitable for larger gardens or large public spaces, particularly where the soil stays moist.
From the fiery reds of the Acers to the burnished golds and coppers of Liquidambar and Viburnum, there’s an autumn colour for your garden!
If you would like any assistance with choosing plants that provide gorgeous autumn colour or any other aspect of your garden planting scheme, please fill out this form or email me at asktheplantplanner@gmail.com
