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Shrub with good autumn colour

turmericturmeric Posts: 830
in Plants
Any suggestions for a shrub that won't get too big (eventual size approx 1m x 1m ish?) that has good reddish leaf colour in the autumn but also gives something else during the year (eg. flowers in summer or spring).  I'm trying to plant up a south facing mixed border for my mum.  I was looking at Viburnum nudum 'Pink Beauty' but it gets really big and I don't know how to keep it small or even if it can be kept small.  I'd rather choose something and let it grow to the height it wants to be.  Thanks everyone for any suggestions. :)
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  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Euonymus Alatus Compactus - dwarf spindle tree? Eventual height is stated at 1.5m but I believe it’s quite slow growing, has fabulous orangey-red foliage in autumn/winter. I recently bought one for my south facing border, but it’s quite small at the moment so it’s in a pot for now - I am looking forward to seeing the colour!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • turmericturmeric Posts: 830
    Hi Nollie, I've seen that one but the colour is quite vivid.  I was looking for something not quite so breathtaking.  I'm already planning to use Cotinus in the border, so the Euonymus might be too bright a contrast. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Duh!  I was going to say Cotinus  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • turmericturmeric Posts: 830
    The idea is to try to pick up the colour of the taller Cotinus with a shorter shrub in the border Dove.  Pittosporum 'Tom Thumb' sprang to mind but it's more black than autumnal brown.  Viburnums are good plants and nudum would be perfect but it seems to get really big.  Can't believe I can't think of a smallish flowering shrub with autumnal leaf colour, what is wrong with me!!
  • turmericturmeric Posts: 830
    I also thought of Physocarpus 'Diablo' but again it gets really big.  You can bet your bottom dollar when I'm looking for a tall shrub in 6 months I won't remember any of these!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    There's a little shrubby prunus with gorgeous delicate spring blossom and beautiful plummy red autumn colour ... but I can't for the life of me think of the name ... Kojo something???? 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • turmericturmeric Posts: 830
    Ooh, P. incisa?  I saw that at the garden centre a few months ago.  I shall take a look online.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    That's the one .... absolutely gorgeous, and stays fairly small  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • turmericturmeric Posts: 830
    I'm looking at it now Dove (where have you found the time to do over 44k posts!?!).  Seems to have the potential for 2.5m but the RHS website says it takes 20-50 years to do so, so that's quite slow growing.  Could be a possibility - thanks :)
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi tumeric,
    Would Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey' fit the bill?

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
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