Acer palmatum is a delightful small to medium sized tree. Prized for its fresh green foliage in spring, and its blaze of autumn colour in the colder regions of New Zealand.

Japanese maples generally enjoy a sunny sheltered spot in any garden with good well-drained soil. A good organic mulch will help to keep the roots cool and moist during the hot dry spells experienced over the summer months. Trees can be clipped to form dense solid trees or pruned judiciously to create light dappled shade.

Japanese Maples can be used as small shade trees, screens , garden fillers or tub specimens and can even be espaliered against walls or trellis .

Acer palmatum is a naturally variable species found throughout the Japanese Islands. The selection of interesting and unusual forms has fascinated Japanese nurserymen for many centuries and was extremely popular during the 17th century. After their introduction to Europe even more varieties were developed and by the early 19th Century there were over 250 named cultivars in production.

Click here for our handy Planting guide.