About Japanese Maples

                                                           Mail:
                                                           5865 Steeplechase
                                                           Bartlett, TN 38134
                                                           Phone:
                                                           901-438-1912
                                                           fanplant@aol.com

A mail order nursery specializing in Japanese maples, conifers,
and other new, unusual, and rare -trees, shrubs, and perennials.

About Japanese Maples

Japanese Maples are a widely cultivated family of plants useful as small trees, large shrubs, container plants, and bonsai. There are many exciting cultivars that look good in many different situations. Long recognized for their value in the orient, they are only now being widely appreciated in the

United States. Technically any maple native to

Japan

would be a 'Japanese Maple'. In common use, Acer palmatum is the intended species, with Acer japonicum and Acer shirasawanum thrown in the mix .

Culture: Japanese maples are surprisingly easy to grow and maintain. They are generally winter hardy to about –20 degrees, and grow from Zones 5-9. They can be grown in pots and given some winter protection in Zones further north. At the other extreme, they can be grown into frost free zones but here they will not usually display the well known brilliant fall colors. Container culture can extend their useful range. They are extremely easy to grow in containers, a practice taken to it’s most extreme form in the art of bonsai.

Most any garden soil will grow Japanese maples, but the soil must be well drained! Wet soggy soil around the roots is a killer. They grow in a wide range of soil pH preferring a slightly acidic soil.

x_Acer_palmatum_Peaches_and_Cream2_6.jpg (6744 bytes)

Japanese maples grow in sun or shade. In their natural habitat Japanese maples are understory trees, growing in dappled forest sunlight and at the edges of woodlands. Ideally they prefer to be grown in similar conditions. Bright sunlight and hot summers do not kill trees, but in hot summer areas, the newest leaves may burn and scald in these conditions.

Plants should have a consistent supply of water during the first 2 or 3 years after planting. Established trees can withstand considerable dry spells and even periods of drought, but young trees may dry up and die under the same circumstances. A lack of water during the early years of establishment is the number one killer of young trees. Few pests or diseases afflict Japanese maples, and no regular spraying or controls are indicated.

'Maples of the World' and 'Maples for Gardens' by D.M. van Gelderen and co-authors
Gives a European perspective on the Japanese maples. Both are packed with color photographs.

‘Japanese Maples' -Third Edition by J. D. Vertrees & Peter Gregory
This is the American bible on Japanese Maples. The 3rd edition revised and expanded by Peter Gregory updates the taxonomy of the earlier editions to currently accepted names and spelling. Vertrees earlier grouping is abandoned in favor of the grouping shown below -which also conforms with van Gelderen.

Amoenum Group – Leaf lobes are moderately divided to 2/3rds the way to the leaf base.

Palmate Group – Leaf lobes are deeply divided 2/3 to 3/4 of the way to the leaf base.

Matsumurae Group – Leaf lobes are very deeply divided more than 3/4 of the way to the leaf base.

Linearlobum Group – Leaves have long narrow strap-like lobes, divided to the leaf base.

Dissectum Group – Leaf lobes are very deeply divided and deeply dissected into sublobes.

Note: The cultivars are all grafted. Normally they are grafted close to the top of the soil line, but most dissectums are grafted between 12" to 24" high on the root stock to create a small trunk for the weeping branches to descend from. This reduces the need for staking and creates a larger, fuller plant faster. We also propagate some low grafted dissectums in particular for use in bonsai. Please specify if you need low grafted plants.