Japanese maples offer fall landscape splendor
I know many of you have probably had fall come and go but in my area it just getting started. Right out my office the Japanese maples are starting to show their first hints of fall color. The trees were really healthy and exquisite in form.
I was in a town just the other day and noticed several huge lace-leaf or dissected types showing color. I could only guess at their age and for sure a landscape value that was priceless.
I am a believer in Japanese maples and have grown several but there is much mystery associated with this group of plants. These small trees are brilliant in the spring, with new red color, followed by exotic foliage throughout the summer, and often ending with a fall blaze of crimson, orange and yellow.
The Japanese maple is versatile and can be used as a bonsai, a small tub planting or an awesome accent, or several can be grouped artistically. But there are hundreds - if not thousands - of selections that most of us know little about.
The Japanese maple is known botanically as Acer palmatum. Nurserymen usually think of the Japanese maple as having two leaf types: non-dissected and dissected.
Japanese maples can be grouped by three types-uprights, lace-leafs and bush-dwarf types. Among the uprights are the linearilobums, which have long, narrow lobes on each leaf. The lace-leafs, are dissectums with pinnately dissected leaves. The growth habit of the lace-leaf type is usually cascading or weeping. The bush-dwarf group includes maples that are slower growing, and bushy.
One of the most popular varieties in the non-dissected group are Bloodgood, a recognized award winner, Oshu beni and Senaki. Some of those notable in the dissected group are Crimson Queen, Ever Red and Tamukeyama.
A large area in the United States from zones 5 through 8 is fortunate to be able to grow the Japanese maple. They prefer well-drained, moist, slightly acidic soils. I like them best with morning sun and afternoon shade, or in areas with dappled light. Even though I have seen gorgeous specimens in full sun, I still like some shade.
Supplemental water during the summer helps prevent leaf scorching. They take 10 years to reach 15 feet. Some of the oldest plantings of Japanese maples in the United States are in the 50-foot range.
Those in the dissectum group have more of a layered, mushroom shape in the garden, and their heights are usually much shorter.
Newly leafed-out Japanese maples are gorgeous in early spring combined with azaleas, dogwoods and phlox. They are exceptional in rock gardens and in combination plantings with full-size and dwarf conifers like the gold thread false cypress.
The slow growth rate, coupled with the many groups, sub-species and cultivars, intimidate many gardeners from getting started. But once they do many find it becomes a passion.
Standing in front of an old lace leafed Japanese maple creates an indescribable feeling, mostly awe. If you have the opportunity, the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis has one of the best collections and is well worth the visit.
If you don't have a Japanese maple, get one or two. Remember fall is a great time to plant them.
I was in a town just the other day and noticed several huge lace-leaf or dissected types showing color. I could only guess at their age and for sure a landscape value that was priceless.
I am a believer in Japanese maples and have grown several but there is much mystery associated with this group of plants. These small trees are brilliant in the spring, with new red color, followed by exotic foliage throughout the summer, and often ending with a fall blaze of crimson, orange and yellow.
The Japanese maple is versatile and can be used as a bonsai, a small tub planting or an awesome accent, or several can be grouped artistically. But there are hundreds - if not thousands - of selections that most of us know little about.
The Japanese maple is known botanically as Acer palmatum. Nurserymen usually think of the Japanese maple as having two leaf types: non-dissected and dissected.
Japanese maples can be grouped by three types-uprights, lace-leafs and bush-dwarf types. Among the uprights are the linearilobums, which have long, narrow lobes on each leaf. The lace-leafs, are dissectums with pinnately dissected leaves. The growth habit of the lace-leaf type is usually cascading or weeping. The bush-dwarf group includes maples that are slower growing, and bushy.
One of the most popular varieties in the non-dissected group are Bloodgood, a recognized award winner, Oshu beni and Senaki. Some of those notable in the dissected group are Crimson Queen, Ever Red and Tamukeyama.
A large area in the United States from zones 5 through 8 is fortunate to be able to grow the Japanese maple. They prefer well-drained, moist, slightly acidic soils. I like them best with morning sun and afternoon shade, or in areas with dappled light. Even though I have seen gorgeous specimens in full sun, I still like some shade.
Supplemental water during the summer helps prevent leaf scorching. They take 10 years to reach 15 feet. Some of the oldest plantings of Japanese maples in the United States are in the 50-foot range.
Those in the dissectum group have more of a layered, mushroom shape in the garden, and their heights are usually much shorter.
Newly leafed-out Japanese maples are gorgeous in early spring combined with azaleas, dogwoods and phlox. They are exceptional in rock gardens and in combination plantings with full-size and dwarf conifers like the gold thread false cypress.
The slow growth rate, coupled with the many groups, sub-species and cultivars, intimidate many gardeners from getting started. But once they do many find it becomes a passion.
Standing in front of an old lace leafed Japanese maple creates an indescribable feeling, mostly awe. If you have the opportunity, the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis has one of the best collections and is well worth the visit.
If you don't have a Japanese maple, get one or two. Remember fall is a great time to plant them.
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posted by Davor Novakovic @ Thursday, December 01, 2005
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