Four seasons: Victorian grown to perform | Warners Nurseries

Four seasons - Victorian grown to perform 1. the best performers...

As summer ends and the days shorten, shadows lengthen, and the temperature drops, our winding country roads, tree-lined suburban streets, and botanical gardens glow red, yellow, and orange signalling the beginning of autumn. Our interest in seasonal colour is never more evident than with the boost to regional tourism in Victoria as holiday makers flock to areas like Bright and the Macedon Ranges to experience the warmth of autumn colour emerging from a blanket of fog.

With our temperate climate and true seasonal change, Victoria is a gardener’s paradise. Regarded as “The Garden State” since the early 1900s, we are often spoilt for choice, as our climate allows us to grow a seemingly endless assortment of plants. Often when we think of gardens bursting with colour, our thoughts tend towards the myriad of colour that reflects the seasonal flowers, perennials, annuals, and flowering shrubs. It is no surprise that some of the most stunning seasonal statements can be created with feature deciduous trees which sit proudly as a focal point, a living sculpture, with year-round interest in leaf colour, blossom, and bark.

There are more varieties of deciduous trees to choose from than there are shades of autumn colour. It helps to understand which are best suited to our climate and growing conditions and what to plant where, to thrive in your client’s garden. Warner’s Nurseries have been growing trees in Victoria since 1914 and are well-known for selecting and nurturing the best Victorian grown performers for landscapers. The benefits of locally grown plants were highlighted when supply from other states were interrupted due to border closures. Despite this and the uncertainty of supply, local landscape designers can continue visiting our local production nurseries to hand pick feature trees with the client’s site in mind.

With autumn well and truly here, it is a good time to reflect on some of the best Victorian performers to celebrate the stunning change in seasons: 1. Ginkgo biloba 'Piedmont Pillar' – With evidence of its survival for over 200 million years, the Ginkgo is considered natures living fossil. A tall, narrow tree with distinctive twolobed foliage that changes from a deep green to golden yellow in autumn. The leaves tend to fall rapidly as the temperature drops creating a golden bed around the base. It’s fastigiate upright nature is perfect for smaller spaces and courtyards.

2. Pyrus Cleveland Select - An ever-popular, narrow pyramidal tree with a dense growth habit and attractive symmetrical branching. It produces long lasting brilliant orange/red foliage during autumn, followed by attractive white flowers in spring and a magnificent glossy green shade canopy in summer. This is ideal for narrow areas like driveways or garden boundary plantings.

3. Crepe myrtles offer something all year round with flower in summer, autumn colour and gorgeous bare mottled trunks in winter. They perform well in hot, dry conditions, making them perfectly matched for Melbourne’s hot summers. Crepe myrtle is a stunning addition to any garden, making a great small feature tree. Pair them with edibles such as olives, citrus or ornamental pears, or shrubs like Rhaphiolepis ‘Spring Pearl’ or Nandina Moonbay.

4. Malus gorgeous - The crab apple features burning orange, flame red leaves in autumn to stunning blossom covered branches in spring when bright red fruit contrasts against golden autumnal leaves against a crisp blue sky. It is a small tree with a spreading growth habit. The branching structure of this tree is very attractive during winter and its compact nature makes it suitable for planting in small formal gardens, large containers or anywhere that space is limited. IAN FIRTH, WARNERS NURSERIES

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