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ACER
Commonly known as Japanese maple
SPECIMEN SIZED VARIETIES OF ACER PALMATUM ARE IN 7.5 OR 10 LITRE POTS AND ARE ALL APPROXIMATELY 4-6 FEET IN HEIGHT.
SPECIMEN SIZED VARIETIES OF ACER PALMATUM DISSECTUM ARE SMALLER GROWING AND THEREFORE CONSIDERABLY SMALLER IN SIZE ALTHOUGH OF A SIMILAR AGE.
Genus of 120 species of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, from woodlands mainly, in Europe, northern Africa, Asia and North and Central America.
Some form large trees and others are understorey plants. The most popular decorative forms are from the palmatum group, Japanese maples which have been cultivated in Japan for centuries and is a well-known temple tree and bonsai subject . They have appeared in art forms for centuries.
Palmatum (hand-like) was the name given by Swedish doctor-botanist Carl Peter Thunberg late in the 18th century, following the ancient Japanese where they were likened to hands of frogs or hands of babies.
The UK representative is the field maple, A. campestre, a medium-sized tree favouring chalk soils but widely planted. It is a wildlife plant attractive to aphids which are preyed on by ladybirds, hoverflies and birds. Caterpillars eat the leaves and the nectar and pollen in the flowers attract insects as well.
The wood has the highest density of all the European maples and is used for veneers and harps.
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DeciduousDelicate, filigree leaves, dark-green in summer.
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Height4m (13ft) -
Spread4m (13ft)
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Tall ShrubBushy-headed shrub with purple stems. Inconspicuous flowers in spring. Winged fruits in autumn
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Hardy - very cold winterHardy in all of UK and northern Europe. Plant can possibly withstand temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F) -
Partial shadeShelter from cold winds and late frosts
- Details
- Mature Size
- Tips and Advice
- Goes Well With
- Planting Combinations
- Other Suggestions
- See Also...
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Additional Features
Good to knowMaximum size in 10-20years
Pests & DiseasesAphids, mites, scale insects, caterpillars, Verticillium wilt, leaf scorch, honey fungus.
Place of originChina, Korea, Japan. -
Garden Location/ConditionsPatio / pot plantsSuitable for small gardens
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HardinessFully hardy
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Leaf Colour (if not green)Red
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Pruning group
Pruning group 1Suitable for: Deciduous and evergreen trees, and some deciduous shrubs.
Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Prune wayward or crossing branches to maintain a healthy framework.
When: When dormant in the late winter/early spring. Some in the summer/autumn to prevent bleeding of sap.
Late autumn to midwinter -
Seasonal InterestAutumnSpringSummer
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Soil ConditionsFertile moist well-drained soil
- Garden Cultivation
- Pests & Diseases
- Propagation
- Further Reading
- Scorching & Dieback - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Allergic reactions and pollen
- Plants which produce masses of pollen - to avoid
- Plants producing little pollen - relatively safe!
- How to plant/move a shrub
- How to plant/move a shrub - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Fertisiling shrubs - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Mulching - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Pruning a shrub - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Summer propagation - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Taking semi-ripe cuttings -Video Tip ondemand_video
- Self-sown seedlings - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Trimming a shrub - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Weed spraying - Video Tip ondemand_video
- When is the right time to collect seeds?
- When are seeds actually ripe and ready for collection?
- Magnolia seed collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Cornus capitata seed collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Lithocarpus Seed Collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Rhododendron seed collecting - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Camellia seed collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Storing seeds over winter
- Embothrium Collecting and Storing Seeds
- Decaisnea Seed Collection & Potting
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4m (13ft)
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4m (13ft) |
Buy Varieties of ACER
ACER palmatum 'Red Emperor'
red foliage in spring and summer turning crimson-red in autumn. Upright habit
ACER palmatum 'Sango-kaku'
('Senkaki') - young branches coral-red. Good yellow autumn colour
Gift-wrapping available
ACER palmatum 'Shaina'
upright growing compact and dense variety with bright red new foliage which matures to deep maroon red
Gift-wrapping available
ACER palmatum 'Shindeshojo'
brilliant glittering scarlet spring foliage becoming shrimp pink and bronzy-green then orange in autumn
ACER palmatum 'Shirazz'
pink-margined pinkish-green leaves turning scarlet in autumn
ACER palmatum 'Skeeters Broom'
foliage maroon to red in spring turning bright red in autumn. Dense upright habit
ACER palmatum 'Sumi-nagashi'
red new growth turning bronze-green
ACER palmatum 'Summer Gold'
golden yellow leaves in summer. Shows good resistance to heat and sun
Gift-wrapping available
ACER palmatum 'Trompenburg'
purplish-red young leaves, later green with red autumn colour
Gift-wrapping available
ACER palmatum 'Ukigumo'
a striking variegated leafed form with the leaves mottled and edged white and pink. Needs to be grown in the shade to avoid scorching
ACER pectinatum var. forrestii
striped bark and red petioles. Good autumn colour.
Gift-wrapping available
ACER pensylvanicum
young stems striped white and pale green, leaves yellow in autumn
Gift-wrapping available
ACER pensylvanicum 'Erythrocladum'
a very attractive slow growing form with pale yellow summer shoots turning red in winter
ACER platanoides
leaves turn clear yellow in autumn
Gift-wrapping available
ACER platanoides 'Crimson King'
purple Norway maple, wind tolerant
Gift-wrapping available
Useful extras...
