Japanese Maples, which are called ‘Acer palmatum varieties’, are very popular and new varieties appear annually. We’ve picked five different varieties that we feel are five of the best. They all have similar needs, that is:
- sun/partial shade,
- a spot out of the wind,
- free draining soil (especially in winter), we recommend acid to neutral soil (pH5-8) for the best results.
- no sun on the new spring leaves (plant facing west so that the morning sun doesn’t reach the leaves until mid to late morning).
Acer Bloodgood
These small, wonderful trees that lose their leaves in winter but before they do show off with amazing reds and oranges. The summer leaves are purple red on a fairly erect small bushy tree. Height and spread in 10 years 3m x 2m (10’ x 6’6”) approximately.
Suitable for large pots using John Innes Ericaceous compost & keep well watered in summer.
Acer Beni-komachi
A truly Japanese Maple that means “Red beautiful little girl’ with bright red spring leaves on a small tree. It only reaches 1.5mm x 1m (5’ x 3’6”) approximately in ten years. The new red leaves turn dark green with purple edges for summer and amazing autumn red and orange tones for autumn. Avoid very hot sunny spots like a patio. Given partial shade it will grow wonderfully.
Suitable for large pots using John Innes Ericaceous compost & keep well watered in summer.
Acer Katsura
This has become a very popular Acer due to its amazing yellow leaves tipped in orange that turn green in summer followed by the characteristic maple autumn show. A small tree reaching around 2m x 2m (6’6” x 6’6”) approximately in ten years.
Suitable for large pots using John Innes Ericaceous compost & keep well watered in summer.
Acer Sango –kaku
The coral bark maple, has amazing young stems of coral coloured bark. The spring and summer leaves emerge pink/green changing to a bright green and the autumn leaves golden yellow. The coral stems glow in winter sun. an upright tre growing to 4m x 2m (13’ x 6’6” approximately in ten years.
Acer Phoenix
This is a different Acer for your garden producing orange and stripped bark on the younger wood. The branches are covered green leave from spring which explode with autumn golden hues before they fall. This reveals the coloured bark for extra interest in winter.
The bark is a faint green/yellow in the summer and brightens to a vivid pink, yellow and orange with silver snake-like lines in winter. It is a bushy shrub like tree growing to 3m x 3m (10’ x 10’) after 10 years.
