It thrives best in semi-shade and is specially effective in coastal gardens as well as those in towns and cities where it appears oblivious to dull skies or pollution. The flowers attract an interesting clientele of late flying insects which add to rather than detract from its charms. In the same family, though again quite different in general effect, is Arala elata, the angelica tree. Left to its own devices it will develop a main stem branching in its upper half to form a small tree. It may, however, be hard pruned to ground level or at least to a short stem to encourage a more shrubby habit. So treated, the prickly stems in spring will put forth huge, much divided leaves, often a yard or more long. During September the large panicles of creamy-white flowers appear from the tips of the strongest shoots, lasting for several weeks until replaced by glistening black berries. There are two cultivars of this hardy shrub, one with creamy-white margined leaflets the other yellow-margined but becoming creamy-white later. They are sometimes hard to acquire but are well worth searching for. Early in autumn Clerodendrum trichotomum is in full flower, its fragrant white flowers protruding from maroon calyces. These are followed by beautiful turquoise berries which last into winter. It makes a large shrub or a small low tree even and needs plenty of room in which to develop its spreading head. Requiring less space but unfortunately less hardy is C. bungei, a suckering shrub producing clumps of erect stems to 6ft(2m) or more clothed with bold, heart-shaped leaves and bearing dense terminal heads of rosy-red, fragrant flowers which attract any butterfly which happens to be passing. A cold winter will cut its stems to the ground but then it seems quite happy to behave as an herbaceous perennial. Most deciduous shrubs, in a good year, will give autumn leaf colour. Many of the shrubs already discussed can be expected to contribute in this way to the garden in autumn, i.e., Amelanchier, Enkianthus, Viburnum. There are, however, a good number of shrubs whose main contribution to the garden is the colour of their autumn foliage and all but the smallest gardens should include at least one of these. A prime candidate for such an honour must be Hamamelis vernalis 'Sandra', an erect-stemmed shrub to 6ft(2m), eventually opening out. Its leaves emerge purple gradually turning green as they age. In autumn, while the leaves of the type turn clear yellow, those of 'Sandra' exhibit a brilliant mixture of red, scarlet and orange to create a striking bonfire effect. Few other shrubs offer the same intensity of colour. Like others of its clan it prefers an acid soil if it is to give of its best. Almost if not as brilliantly coloured are the leaves of the American Fothergilla major, whose creamy-white clusters of flowers in April, while attractive, are no match, in terms of attraction, for its autumn foliage in which yellow, orange and red combine.