Acer palmatum

Japanese maples are the „créme de la créme“ of every garden. A majestic looking tree needs no pruning at all and we recommend to let is form its own shape.

The species of Japanese maple is a green-leaved tree or rather a large shrub. End even though among landscapers and general green-finger-public the red-leaved versions tend to be more popular I suppose that this is the most beautiful and elegant tree of our climate. With its naturally green leaves it "plays no games" and shows what it is like to be a part of nature.

The leaves are deeply lobed, have 5 or 7 tips and offer a wide range of colours throughout the year should “just green” sound too boring to you. They are bronze as they emerge, changing to soft, mid green in summer, and turning golden, orange, pink and purple in autumn.

It grows slowly about 3-4m tall and wide, and forms a multi-stemmed shrub with a canopy crown. Pruning is not needed, however, you can help younger plants achieve a mature shape sooner by clearing the numerous small twigs around the main vertical stems to about two thirds from the ground. Thus it will make a dense, irregular umbrella-shaped crown. It is an easy-care, hardy plant, which does not need much maintenance. It does well in full sun, too. It requires slightly acidic, semi-fertile, moist but well-drained soil to establish extensive root system. Young plants need mulching for winter.

This maple deserves more attention especially by landscapers who offer plants for customers´ gardens as it is an easy and fully hardy plant in our climate that, owing to its slow growth rate and reduced size, is ideal to any, even the smallest of gardens. Fully hardy to USDA zone 5b (about -28°C).

Last update 31-12-2007