Acer palmatum
Japanese maple, Smooth Japanese maple
- Height × spread
- 0.5m – 8m × 0.4m – 7m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This Japanese Maple has the most beautiful foliage with spring and autumn colour, it's a must for oriental style gardens. An array of elegant shapes, upright fans, domes and weeping forms. Small spring flowers are followed by winged seed pods. They vary in size from 0.5m to 8m, so there's one to suit every garden. A stunning centrepiece plant for borders and some work well in pots.
- Flower colour
- Red
- Foliage colour
- Brown, Green, Grey, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White, Yellow
- Fruit colour
- Brown, Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell, Cone, Dome, Fan, Horizontal, Round, Weeping
- Height
- 0.5m – 8m
- Spread
- 0.4m – 7m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Winter garden, Small scale garden, Shady court, Rock garden, Exotic garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, likes light shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam (normal), Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous), Neutral
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Structural, Coloured stems, Architectural
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Winter
Winter · Planting
Prune to maintain the plant
Pruning is done in winter when the plant is dormant as otherwise it can 'bleed' badly when cut. Keep the plant looking attractive and healthy by removing dead branches, removing branches that cross or rub each other, and those which spoil its appearance.
The plant is encouraged to develop a pleasing shape by removing deviant or dead growth. It is much more likely to remain healthy if branches that rub, or can rub each other are removed since rubbed spots can be places where disease is introduced.
Planting & general
Planting
Protect & support young trees
Attach a newly planted tree or tall shrub over 1m to a tree stake to give support and prevent windrock. Use a tree guard to stop tree bark being eaten by animals, especially in areas with deer - removing bark injures a tree and in worst case can kill it.
Found in
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Acer
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Acer 'North Wind®'
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