Amazing acers

With their breathtaking colours, Japanese maples provide wonderful colour in spring, summer and, of course, autumn. And now’s the time to plant them, says Hazel Sillver

- Hazel Sillver

SOME of the best autumn trees for the small garden are the Japanese maples (Acer palmatum and A. japonicum), which can be planted now. In October, they burn breathtaking shades of yellow, amber or scarlet before the leaves fall. Their slender multi-branched trunks ensure they look good all year, whether they have the iconic mounded form reminiscent of a Japanese garden or an elegant upright habit.

Native to Korea and Japan, where they grow in the understorey of woodland, these deciduous shrubs and trees were introduced to Britain in the 1800s and are now one of our most popular garden plants. Some have impressive spring leaf colour, others carry variegated or burgundy foliage all summer and most blaze with fiery tints in autumn. Graceful A.p. ‘Uki-gumo’ (the floating cloud tree) has green and white leaves; ‘Inaba-shidare’ bears claret foliage that is crimson in autumn; and the remarkable ‘Sango-kaku’ has pink-yellow spring leaves, golden autumn leaves and coral-red winter stems.

Being slow growing, Japanese maples are excellent in the average garden where space is tight, and the smaller forms can be enjoyed in containers. Once their requirements are met, they are easy, low-maintenance plants. Their delicate leaves can be scorched by sun and cold wind, so they need sheltered semi-shade (the only exception is the red-leaved forms, which can take more sun). And they must have moist, but well-drained soil that is neutral to acid.

Growing acers in containers