All Species
Acer palmatum atropurpureum
Japanese maple (purple) Ht 5-10m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly spreading, deciduous. Purple leaves throughout the season, turning red in autumn. Shelter from strong winds with tougher species.
Acer platanoides nigrum
Norway maple - dark purple Ht 20-25m
Medium tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Tolerates limestone soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly columnar, deciduous. Vigorous grower. Dark purple leaves through the growing season turning reddish purple in autumn. An alternative to Copper beech.
Betula pendula f. nigra
Dark purple leaved Silver birch Ht 8-12m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
A dark purple foliaged selection of Silver birch, the vibrant colour maintained through the summer. Slower growing and likely to form a smaller tree.
Cornus controversa
Table dogwood Ht 10-15m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Attracts bees / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
East Asia. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Distinctly layered branches. Creamy flowers in flattened heads in early summer followed by blue-black berries loved by birds. Purple-red autumn colours.
Cornus kousa
Japanese dogwood Ht 4-10m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly spreading, deciduous. White flower bracts turn reddish as they age. The leaves smaller and tinged bronze. Red compound fruits in March - food for birds. Autumn colours purplish to red.
Cornus kousa chinensis
Chinese dogwood Ht 4-10m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Shelter / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly spreading, deciduous. Larger leaves than C. kousa. White flower bracts very showy and last twice as long as C. florida. Compound fruits pinky-red food for birds. Autumn colours are variable - purplish to bright red.
Cotinus coggygria purpurea (OG grown)
Purple smoke bush Ht 2.5-4m
Shrub / Deciduous / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Attracts bees / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly spreading, deciduous. Plume-like purplish tinged flower heads in profusion. Vibrant dark purple foliage. turning red in autumn.
Diospyros kaki (PLUG grown)
Chinese persimmon Ht 6-12m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Attracts bees / Edible fruits and seeds / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
From China & Japan. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Round crowned tree. Flowers yellowish-white and fruits orange to gold-brown. Understock for named varieties.
Fagus sylvatica purpurea 1/1 & 2/0
Copper beech (2 yrs old) Ht 25-30m
Large tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - brown / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Edible fruits and seeds / Timber / Firewood / Shelter / Hedging / Tolerates limestone soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly spreading, deciduous. Leaf colour ranges from red to dark purple. A hedge is very special with vibrant colours in spring and summer. Similar to F. sylvatica in autumn and winter. Add lime to acid soils to improve growth. 2 years old - HEDGE spacing 40-60cm
Fraxinus angustifolia (syn. F. oxycarpa)
Mediterranean ash Ht 20-30m
Medium tree / Deciduous / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Firewood / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Central & Southern Europe, N.W. Africa & S.W. Asia. Medium sized deciduous pioneer species. Tolerates dry and hot soils but best growth on deep moist soils, casting a heavy shade. Can be pollarded for stock feed. Buds pale brown, Leaves with 7-13 narrow leaflets, purplish autumn colour on some trees. Flowers in early spring, developing into bunches of brown samaras. Timber inferior in strength & elasticity to F. excelsior.
Fraxinus nigra (OG grown)
Black ash Ht 12-18m
Medium tree / Deciduous / Tolerates wet sites / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Firewood / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Eastern Canada & NE USA, growing in swampy soils, cold tolerant. Autumn colours yellow or purple, leaves falling early. Threatened in the wild by the introduced Asian emerald ash borer. Timber is used for basket making and musical instruments. Rare in NZ.
Liquidambar styraciflua (PLUG grown)
American sweet gum Ht 25-35m
Large tree / Deciduous / Tolerates wet sites / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
E USA. Broadly conical, deciduous. Renowned for its autumn colours of yellow, orange, red and purple. Prefers moist soils and can tolerate periodic inundation. Wood is valuable. 1 year old (covered through winter).