When discussing trees with clients there’s one that often comes up as being particularly admired – the Japanese Maple, or Acer palmatum. It’s easy to see why it’s so popular – the leaves are pretty and often change colour more than once from spring to summer and on into autumn. If your garden’s exposed and windy, there are other trees that can work very well for you, but if you have a sheltered site, even if it’s very small, the Acer palmatum is well worth a try.
There are literally hundreds of cultivars of this pretty tree – a cultivar being a cultivated variety – so it’s worth doing your homework before buying, as there’s huge choice in terms of eventual size, colour and even leaf shape. Any cultivars with ‘purpureum’ in the name will tend to have purplish or dark maroon leaves, while ‘dissectum’ means the leaves will be finely divided giving a delicate effect.
‘Sango-kaku’ is one of the best known – its leaves emerge pinkish green in spring, turning deeper green in summer and then finishing up in autumn a strong, bright yellow with orange highlights. The newer shoots have beautiful coral-coloured bark, so when bare in winter it’s still really attractive. Most cultivars of Acer palmatum are inclined to a bushy habit, and Sango-kaku will eventually spread to about three metres wide but could get to twice that in height. Full sun won’t suit it, so a partially shaded spot with moist but well drained soil is the way to go.
Anne’s Tip of the Week: In a more compact garden, Acer palmatum will grow very happily in a container – as long as it’s big enough and doesn’t dry out. I’d always recommend a loam based compost such as John Innes No 3, rather than a multi- purpose compost. This will be heavier, giving more stability in windy conditions, and less inclined to dry out, with better nutrients – after all, a tree will be living in the container for several years, whereas seasonal plants are just stopping by for a few months.
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