Japanese Garden Trees - the Maple
How to Design a Garden with Japanese Maples
Landscape architecture and garden design would not be the same without Acer palmatum - the favorite tree of many serious plant collectors.
As we gain specialized knowledge, we often become obsessed with collecting. The car dealer collects vintage automobiles from the past, and the overworked geologist returns from his much-needed vacation with igneous and sedimentary rocks that he couldn't leave behind.
Botanical gardens and private yards are living testament to the plant collector and the quest for rare and unusual plant life. One only needs to stroll through a garden designed by a horticultural purveyor to realize that beautiful trees exist, however hard they may be to find.
As Arbor Day approaches - California celebrates it on March 7, Luther Burbank's Birthday - you may be considering another tree for your yard. In most cases, the generic selection of trees found in stock at your local nursery are there because they deserve to be - forming the backbone of the nursery trade. On the other hand, if you're tired of the generic, look-alike garden - the following is a list of trees that should be used more often.
We'll start with some interesting varieties of Japanese Maples and follow with more articles highlighting other rare and unusual trees to shop for.
- Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum is one of the favorite trees of the plant collector. The original green Japanese Maple luckily has a wide spectrum of genetic variability and has spawned over 800 named cultivars to choose from. It's a pity you often need to mail order to procure many of these gems of the plant kingdom. Experienced landscape designers love working with named varieties because there is such a variety of tree size, leaf color, tree limb structure and leaf shape to choose from. A few of the outstanding varieties are as follows:
- 'Butterfly' is a small, narrow growing variety with beautiful variegated leaves that have a touch of pink mixed in when unfurling in the spring. A good choice for planting by the entry of a home because of its narrow upright form The leaves are a blend of light green with creamy white edges. Fall color will depend on how cold fall temperatures become, but are usually a blend of pinks and reds.
- 'Corollonim' is known mostly for its amazing early spring flush of shrimp pink leaf color. Growing fairly slowly into a bush form rarely seen over 4 to 5 feet tall, this is a landscape show-stopper.
- 'Sumanagashi' is a red -leaf, wide spreading upright form that does a good job holding its red leaf color till late in the summer. Another outstanding feature of this tree is the brilliantly red colored winged seeds (called samaras) that adorn the tree during summer.
- While 'Bloodgood' Acer palmatum has been the most popular red-leaf form for its ability to hold its dark red color, there are some other - better choices now. 'Fireglow' Japanese Maple is a new variety with superior long lasting color, however it's a bit slow. Plant this specimen where it will be back-lit with late afternoon sun as the thin leaves light up and truly do glow for an amazing show.
- 'Emperor One' is another red-leaf variety that's new to the trade. This tree holds its color extremely well, and unlike 'Fireglow' is a very vigorous grower. It grows upright and has leaves so dark they look black from a distance. It is very tolerant to hot climates and seems to do well in full sun. Bark coloration on young trees are dark purple as well.
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