THE SEASON’S DAZZLING STAR
The Japanese acer is guaranteed to stand out in the autumn garden with its unrivalled riot of colour
S THE GARDEN changes into its autumnal dress, one small tree in particular outshines the rest. In its brightest finery of orange-crimson, deeply-lobed leaves, a Japanese maple puts on a brilliant display, dramatically silhouetted against the lawn beyond.
Few plants can even come close to the fiery beauty of a Japanese maple in its full autumnal glory. These graceful trees, with their majestic forms and truly breathtaking colour, are sure to steal the spotlight in any October garden.
Slow-growing and long-lived, these deciduous trees are the chameleons of the plant world; their foliage changing colour throughout the year. In late spring, tiny inconspicuous flowers are borne in stalked, umbrella-shaped clusters, giving way to small winged fruits of approximately ¾in (2cm), enclosed in a papery, fibrous tissue. These ripen in early autumn before being scattered by the wind; reminiscent of miniature helicopters. Even after their leaves fall, the delicate tracery of their branches continues to bring interest, and some cultivars even have brightly coloured branches. But Japanese maples are at their most spectacular in autumn.
The foliage varies enormously in both shape and hue, depending on the cultivar; from simply lobed to finely cut. Some have an almost jagged appearance, while others are long and feather-like. Colours include lime, green, marmalade-orange and red, right through to deep maroon and almost black. Some have mottling in pink, cream, green or white; others are splashed with gold or edged in red as they change colour in spring and again for their autumn crescendo. Even the trees themselves vary considerably,
Aranging from upright to weeping or cascading in form.
Acer palmatum, with its many cultivars, is the most popular and more widely sold of the Japanese maples, but very attractive forms of Acer japonicum and the full moon maple, A. shirasawanum, are also available.
As well as Japan, Acer palmatum also grows wild in Eastern China, Taiwan and Korea, thriving beneath the protective mantle of taller trees. But it has been part of Japanese history for centuries and is synonymous with oriental gardens. The species name ‘palmatum’ refers to the hand-like shape of its leaves.
Acer palmatum was introduced to Britain in 1820. Later, in the early 20th century, Ernest ‘Chinese’ Wilson collected seeds in China, although these produced rather ordinary trees. The Japanese, meanwhile, had already named approximately 200 unusual forms collected in the wild across a 300-year period, and it is these named trees that are most popular today. Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire holds a national plant collection of 297 cultivars, some more than 100 years old, creating an explosion of autumn colour.
Of the varieties that are more regularly available, the dark red Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’ and inky purple ‘Garnet’ are particularly highly regarded. ‘Seiryu’ produces highly divided golden leaves in autumn on a more upright tree, and ‘Sango-kaku’ has golden autumn colour and red stems that glow in winter light. The new foliage of ‘Sumi-nagashi’ emerges purple in spring, turns bronze-green in summer and crimson in autumn.
Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’ leaves are so divided, they resemble long feathers. Most form a low mound, giving a waterfall effect that looks spectacular in a pot or shady woodland planting. ‘Dissectum Atropurpureum’ is an eye-catching purple-red form.
Best growing conditions
Japanese maples are very versatile and will fit into any size or style of garden; their compact shape making them ideal for even small spaces. They work just as well in pots on a patio as in a woodland setting or gracing the side of a garden pond. But wherever they are planted, they should be given plenty of space around them. While this allows their elegant shape and rich colours to be fully appreciated, these are shallow-rooted trees, and they will do better if there is no competition from other plants in the immediate growing area.
These acers are best placed in a spot which offers some shelter from the wind. The new spring growth of the finer-leaved varieties, such as Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’, are less wind tolerant, so more prone to scorching than those with broader lobes. While this does not cause long-term damage, it spoils the look of the leaves for the rest of the year.
Japanese maples prefer moist, well-drained soil and high humidity. They are used to warm, wet summers in their native Asia, so should be watered regularly from May to August. Mulching will help keep moisture in, but it should not cover the trunk of the tree, as it may cause it to rot.
While it is true that acers prefer slightly acidic conditions, they will tolerate most soil types, although growth rate may be slower in clay or sandy soils. If growing in clay, planting the tree at an elevated level is recommended, so that the water drains away better. Wet or boggy ground should be avoided.
Green and variegated types, such as ‘Uki-gumo’, fare best with some shade, to prevent the leaves becoming scorched in strong sun. The darker-leaved varieties, such as ‘Bloodgood’, however, require plenty of sunlight to boost the leaf colours.
If a mulch is applied on top of the soil, maples are winter hardy down to -20°C once the root system is established.
Buying and planting
Older specimens establish more easily, although they tend to be expensive because these trees grow so slowly. Buying the