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Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette'

Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496
in Plants
I have two Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette' trees.  Bought from two different suppliers in different years and sizes.

They are somewhat different!!  Planted in the same garden roughly 5mtrs apart in full sun.

The smaller has smaller leaves which are pale in colour.  The second has larger leaves that are much larger and darker.

The foliage on these trees are supposed to turn yellow then shades of dark orange and red in the autumn!  The first two years they turned a disappointing pale yellow before falling to the ground, and it looks as though they are going to do the same this year.   Several plants in my garden are now showing signs of early autumn colour already!! I think this is due to the prolonged cooler, cloudy and wet weather we have just had.

What can i do if anything to encourage these trees to sport brighter orange/red foliage?

Or is it simply a waiting game and age may have to play a part in the process?

Posts

  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @Cottage Compost,

    I have a Liquidambar styraciflua 'Lane Roberts'  ... planted 2 years ago.

    The first autumn we did get nice autumn red foliage, so I'm hopeful for this year.

    At the moment the leaves are still green, but with a tinge of yellow beginning to show.

    I've kept it well watered during any dry spells, although our water table is quite high here anyway as we are in a valley.
    I gave it some liquid seaweed a few times earlier in the growing season.

    Hope your trees start to perform.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Well it’s possible one isn’t Slender Silhouette but it could just be the larger leaved one has struck better soil where it is. A village near me grows an avenue of them and the leaves are quite large, the autumn colour changes spectacular with a fairly long-lasting display. Are they getting enough water? Young trees do need a huge amount to establish and the yellowing and leaf drop before they have a chance to change colour could be a response to that.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496
    Thank you to those that have replied thus far.
    Just googled Liquidambar styraciflua 'Lane Roberts' and it's amazing how often you find the same photos being used to resell different varieties of the same group!!

    The two trees are of the same stature, shape and form. The leaves are the same shape.  Different size and colour though.   Both are well watered with rain water, both were fed in the spring with a few chicken pellets and fish, blood and bone.  They are growing well and look healthy.   They have had an awful lot of rainwater this last few weeks too, the ground is well hydrated but not saturated.

    I'm just disappointed that they are not turning shades of orange and red, this was why i bought them.


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