Culture in the garden.
Japanese maples.
Gardeners and hobbyists will probably want a little more discussion
on the care and culture of Japanese Maples.
Commercial nurseries already will have worked out their own methods
of handling these plants in production.
These trees are remarkably adaptable to soil and climatic conditions.
As a native plant, the Acer Palmatum and its natural variaties have adapted
to a wide range of environments on the island of Japan. The plants thrive
in the soils and climates ranging from the rain-forest type of the Pacific
Northwest to the very warm climate of Southern California. From up-state
New York
down the Atlantic seaboard to the southeastern states and through the Mid-west;
from the almost pure peat soils of Boskoop, Holland, to the varied soils
of central and southern England. Thus we begin to understand the versatility
of these plants as ornamentals throughout the world.
Locations
Japanese Maples are widely used as specimen plants and companion plants.
Since they rarely attain great height, they are not classed in the shade
tree category.
Most upright cultivars of Acer palmatum attain the height of 25-30ft.
in 50 years, depending upon site and soils.
Many cultivars, especially from the dissectum group, mature at 15'
or less. This places them in the large shrub category.
The green cultivars will take full sun very well. In extremely hot
conditions, the green forms may sunburnslightly under late summer conditions.
Afternoon shade will aid in preventing this.