Japanese maple trees add beauty and grace to the garden through the seasons.
Some of these are particularly spectacular in the fall. Here are a few suggestions.
‘Trompenburg’ Japanese Maple
Acer Palmatum ‘Trompenburg’
Mature Height: 18-20 feet
Mature Width: 18-20 feet
Sunlight: Full or partial
Water: Medium (avoid hot dry areas.)
Fall color: Red
Very fast growing and more heat-tolerant than other Japanese Maples, Trompenburg’s resilience and elegant form make it a must-have specimen. The leaves will darken through the summer and then turn crimson in the fall. This tree benefits from pruning and shaping when it is young to maximize its lovely form.
Green Cutleaf Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Viridis’
Mature Height: 6-10 feet
Mature Width: 6-10 feet
Sunlight: Full or partial
Water: Medium (avoid hot dry areas.)
Fall color: Red
‘Viridis’ Japanese Maple is also called Green Threadleaf maple. The finely textured leaves are bright green in the spring and summer and turning yellow, orange, and red in fall. The ‘Viridis’ grows slightly larger than the ‘Red Dragon’ with a mature size of between 6-10 feet tall and wide.
Red Threadleaf
Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Red Dragon’
Mature Height: 6-8 feet
Mature Width: 6-8 feet
Sunlight: Full or partial
Water: Medium (avoid hot dry areas.)
Fall color: Red
A dwarf, mounded, small tree with a weeping habit. Also called a Threadleaf maple, the leaves are finely dissected (ribbon-like) and come in many different varieties—too many to name! Well-drained soil is a must. Planting in a raised bed with good drainage (and even slightly sandy soil) is recommended. This tree is particularly stunning when it cascades over the edge of a garden pond.
‘Butterfly’ Japanese Maple
Acer Palmatum ‘Butterfly’
Mature Height: 7-12 feet
Mature Width: 4-8 feet
Sunlight: Full or partial
Water: Medium (avoid hot dry areas.)
Fall color: Magenta
Bloom: Spring
‘Butterfly’ is small, ornamental variety of Japanese Maple with variegated foliage that is green and white and edged with pink in spring. Look closely in April and you will notice the small reddish-purple blooms too! An eye-catching tree all summer long, in the fall it puts on an extra little show—the white portions of the leaves turn a brilliant magenta.
Victoria is owner-operator of Victoria Gardens, a nursery and garden center in Rosendale that will delight gardeners, professionals, and novices alike.
Check out the website at victoriagardens.biz
