Ivan Garbuio of Garbujo Giardini, near Treviso, Italy, has named a new dark leaved cultivar of this tree species "Spring Purple". Its dark wine-coloured foliage was spotted by Ivano amongst green-leaved varieties that he raised from seed of Chinese origin. English Plantsman, Roy Lancaster, considers L. obtusiloba as one of the best large, deciduous shrubs for autumn colour. The new cultivar should be available commercially in 2004. Fax +0423 748099 E-mail: garbujogiardini@tiscalinet.it