what a gorgoeus range of colours bluespruce.
could it be a cotinus? i dont supose you have a close up?

No not a Cotinus, although it does look like one from this shot, and unfortunately I didn't take a close up...which was a bit stupid of me I know.

well in that case no idea. it is very pretty though.

did you ever know its name?

I know you say its not, but if that's not Cotinus coggrygia Royal Purple, I'll eat my hat (not that I've got one) - the round leaf shape gives it away, and surely that's still some purple leaves in the foreground part of the shrub, towards the bottom?

Just as well you don't have one Bamboo, coz I'd make you eat it ;0)
The leaves were more like cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy', but a lot smaller, my guess is a redbud, but no idea which one.

I once had a Spindle tree that looked like that.

Fothergilla major.

That's the one ,it has white bottlebrush flowers and is deer resistant to. A beautiful shrub :)

Reckon you've got it, Longleaf - it's the only other contender, surely.

I don't think it's a spindle Heron.
I also don't think it's Fothergilla major either, because their leaves are quite heavily veined and toothed, also the purple colouring at the base I doubt is consistent with that plant.

And you don't have a close up? So we're all whistling down the wind... I still think its what I suggested originally, sorry, can't come up with anything else, BS

I could be wrong of course, but I still think it's be a Cercis of some kind.

OK. I'll give up on this one, but what it isn't, is Cotinus 'Royal Purple'.

Have you tried googling sheffield park,there may be some photo's there.They probably introduced it from abroad as parks like to add to their collections.

I went to Sheffield Park in the autumn many years ago and that was the first time that I realised F. major even existed - because if its stunning colours. I agree that the purple leaves are very unusual, but maybe it was a particular form? The picture at http://extension.unh.edu/Agric/AGNLT/graphics/Fothergl.jpg looks like the rest of it.......

My vote is for Cercis.

Looked on the Sheffield Park site Aster, and nothing there that I could see.
Longleaf, I agree they both have a similar form and colour, but I'm pretty sure the leaf shape and texture are different, although I do realize you probably can't see that from my photo.

What about a 'burning bush': Euonymus alata ...(winged burning bush or winged spindle tree).

I'd go with fothergilla:-)

Not Euonymus alatus Ktm, as the leaves would be smaller and more oval in shape for that shrub.
Thanks everyone for your input, I know it's not easy, In fact it's very hard trying to give a positive ID
for this shrub especially without a close up of the foliage. I personally don't think it's a Fothergilla, because the leaves on this shrub were smoother on the edges, more heart shaped like Cercis, and not slightly toothed/serrated like Fothergilla, from what I can remember anyway. On the other hand I wouldn't completely rule it out either...Because I just don't know :0)

I think it's a good excuse for another visit so that you can take a close up :))

Looking at photo's of cersis,it has the purple leaves and heart shape that you describe. I think it's a good excuse for another visit for a close up pic :)) Sorry can't delete previous comment !!

Hi Aster,
I think you're probably right. Sheffield Park is a jewel in the crown, especially if like me you appreciate trees and shrubs a little more than flowers, and well worth another visit in the near future.
Unfortunately with my photo, it's one of the very few occasions I actually re-sized it to 800 x 600, so can't even zoom in on the foliage and crop it without the pixels breaking down, and then re post it.

Ok, I've got another one, disanthus cercidifolius, just thought I'd throw it in. I think it's a contender:-)

A possibility Bornagain, the leaf shape and colour are about right, but I've always assumed that plant was a little more upright in growth habit ?

I've seen pictures of them with a similar shape to your mystery plant Bs, perhaps it depends on pruning techniques ? :-)

Looks like another trip to the park, whatever it is I'll bet it likes acidic soil. It's a corker.

I vote for Bornagain's "Disanthus cercidifolius". It's got all the colours. What an excellent idea for a dry winter's day - to go to Sheffield Park and play "Hunt that Shrub". It's a shame that it's too far for me.....

I could pick you up on the way ? :0)