Acer palmatum
Japanese maple
- Position: partial shade
- Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to acid soil
- Rate of growth: slow-growing
- Flowering period: April to May
- Other features: red winged fruit in late summer
- Hardiness: fully hardy
The beautiful, deciduous foliage of this small, round-headed tree is attractively lobed and turns from its usual mid green in autumn to take on shades on yellow, orange and red before it falls. In late spring tiny purple-red flowers are borne in small pendulous clusters and are followed in late summer by charming winged fruits, which float down from the branches when they are ripe. - Garden care: Add a top dressing of a multi-purpose fertiliser around the base of the plant in late spring. No routine pruning is required, just remove any dead, damaged or crossing branches in late autumn or winter when they are fully dormant.
Pachysandra terminalis
Japanese spurge
Evergreen ground cover with white flowers. For sun or shade
Hosta 'Devon Green'
plantain lily
A much sought-after variety
Geranium 'Brookside'
cranesbill
Deep blue flowers and long flowering seasons
Japanese
Make the most of over 3000 years of gardening tradition by creating an oriental-style garden. Originally designed as a place for intellectual contemplation and meditation, they are an ideal sanctuary from...
Read full articleWater garden
Who can resist the allure of water in the garden? The gentle gurgle of a running stream creates a sense of calm and tranquillity, while a simple pond makes a focal point with magnetic appeal. You can create lush...
Read full articleFebruary pruning of trees, shrubs and climbers
The garden is at its most dormant right now, so it’s a good time to catch up on any pruning missed or forgotten since the autumn. If the weather isn’t favourable, you can leave it for a week or two,...
Read full articleJapanese maples
Japanese maples make elegant focal points in a garden and seen in their full glory of autumn colour are absolutely breathtaking. They mix well with brilliant autumn berries, picking up reds and oranges all around the garden. Although many species...
Read full articleAutumn Colour
Perhaps it is because the colours of autumn are so variable in the Uk, that we value them all the more when they appear. As levels of sunlight fall in autumn and the days become shorter, photosynthesis is no longer...
Read full article