How to choose the right variety of Japanese maple?

How to choose the right variety of Japanese maple?

How to choose the right variety of Japanese maple for our yard?

The Japanese maple (Maple palmate) is one of those plants, which can stop the gaze of any passerby. However, when you decide to buy such a piece of jewelry, you quickly find out, that there are hundreds of varieties with different shapes, sizes and colors. It is easy to get confused in the nursery and choose a plant, which after a few years will either decrease in size, or it will lose its beautiful color. Let's take a look at how to choose the perfect variety for your yard and location needs, which you have.

Content

Upright varieties: Living sculptures in the courtyard

If you are looking for a classic small tree, which will be a central accent in the garden, focus on the upright shapes.

  • Bloodgood: The most popular and durable variety. There are saturated, dark purple leaves, which turn bright red in autumn. It reaches approx 4-5 meters high.
  • Sango Kaku (Coral Maple): An extremely spectacular variety, whose branches turn bright coral-red in winter. Its leaves are light green, and in autumn they turn golden.

Crying (cascading) varieties: Elegance at a low level

These varieties (usually of the Dissectum group) have finely cut leaves, lace-like, and twigs, which cascade down like an umbrella. They grow much more slowly and rarely exceed 1.5 – 2 meters high.

  • Garnet or Inaba Shidare: Lovely weeping forms with deep red leaves, which look magical next to water effects, rocky corners or planted alone in the grass.

The color of the leaves: Red, green or variegated?

Often people buy red maple, which in summer "greens". This is happening, if the plant is in too deep shade - it needs a little morning sun, to maintain its bright pigment. The green varieties (like Osaka) but they look more ordinary in the summer, but in autumn they offer the brightest and fiery red, which you can imagine.

Which varieties are ideal for planters and terraces?

If you don't have a big yard, the slow-growing weeping varieties such as Garnet or dwarves like Koto-no-ito are perfect for large pots. They feel great in limited root space, as long as you water them regularly and don't leave them in the hot July sun.

Frequently asked questions

1. Which variety is the most resistant to the sun?
Varieties with red leaves and denser foliage (such as Bloodgood and Emperor 1) tolerate the sun a little better than those with finely cut lace leaves, which burn easily.

2. How fast do Japanese maples grow??
Pretty slow. They usually grow by approx 15-30 cm per year, making them easy to control and keep in shape.

3. Can I plant a Japanese maple in clean garden soil?
Better not. When planting, always mix garden soil with acidic peat and sand, to provide a cure, drained and slightly acidic medium.

Conclusion

Choosing the right variety of Japanese maple depends on the space, the climatic conditions and the desired effect, that you want to achieve in your garden. With the rich variety of forms, sizes and colors, Japanese maple can become a real accent in any yard or green space. When you choose the right variety and provide it with the necessary care, това красиво декоративно дърво ще ви радва дълги години със своята елегантност и впечатляваща сезонна окраска. Правилният избор е ключът към хармонична и стилна градина.

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