EVER CHANGING BEAUTY
By Christin Bryk
April 24, 2015
NewsWithViews.com
As the warmth of the sun brings us further into spring and the buds unfold I can’t help fall further in love with the Japanese maples that have been gracing us with their vibrant colors. Each one of them exhibit an individual uniqueness.
Japanese maples hold a special place in the hearts of the Japanese culture as they have been cultivating this genius for over 300 years. Many of these maples have been introduced into special collections and shared with plant enthusiasts that have propagated them for others to enjoy and pass down to the next generation.
These amazing tress have such diversity and may be incorporated into various garden styles. There are many cultivars of sizes, colors and forms to bring beauty to the landscape. Many people don’t realize that Japanese maples flower in spring. The blossoms are in small pendulous clusters that are not very prominent. As the leaves unfold it creates a beautiful display of various colors and foliage sizes which make up for the lack of flower display. Japanese maples provide ever changing beauty throughout the seasons that make this tree a perfect addition to the garden. As late summer approaches the fruit of the samaras appear. Many of you will remember calling these “helicopters” when you were growing up.
When selecting a Japanese maple for your garden it is important to consider the hardiness, location of planting and the maturity of the tree. Maples tend to be easier to keep pruned and to be contained, however providing it the space to grow will create less maintenance in the long run and will allow the tree to reach optimal size. Selecting the form and desired color is also important. The palmatum species include upright maples as the dissectums refer to weeping forms.
Many people assume Japanese maples can’t be planted in full sun, which can be a concern living in Southern Oregon since our summer sun can be very intense at times. In actuality there are many Japanese maples that will endure these conditions. It is important to do research to ensure the maple you are selecting will tolerate the area it is intended for.
If you are looking for an upright maple the lions head maple (Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’) is the perfect tree for smaller areas. The tight green compact leaf habit of this tree makes the perfect conversation piece for any garden. The leaves hold the dark green color well throughout the summer, even in full sun. The fall coloration takes on a multitude of color variation from gold to crimson.
Another upright form that has wonderful attributes is the Japanese sunrise maple (Acer palmatum ‘Japanese Sunrise’) that is also very tolerant of full summer sun and the orange to red bark provides amazing winter interest. The leaves emerge yellowish and transfer to a vibrant green for summer. The fall leaf color range from gold to crimson tones and is noted to have better color than that of the coral bark maple (Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’.)
|
|
The red dragon lace leaf maple (Acer dissectum ‘Red Dragon’) retains the burgundy color throughout summer in sunny areas of the landscape and progresses into flaming scarlet in fall that makes this lace leaf hard to miss.
The Tamuke Yama lace leaf maple (Acer palmatum ‘Takuke yama’) is another favorite of Oregonians, as there has been talk this maple holds its color better than any other lace leaf cultivars in this region. In spring the foliage is a dark red and changes to a deep reddish purple. As the temperature decrease into fall the leaves turn a brilliant red.
Japanese maples have been gracing us throughout time and incorporating a piece of their ancient history to our landscapes. Planting a Japanese maple in the right location will provide beauty for future generations to come.
© 2015 Christin Bryk - All Rights Reserved
Share
This Article
Christin is the owner of PenniesWorth Acres Nursery & Mountain View Landscaping and has been part of the landscaping industry for over 15 years. She finds a great passion in designing residential outdoor living spaces for her clients to enjoy. Using knowledge of both design and building techniques allows her to approach each project from both a creative and logical standpoint. Christin enjoys leading the transformation process, drawing upon all styles of design to create a space tailored to the end user and their families.
When she is not playing in her garden she enjoys volleyball, photography and spending time with her family, friends & animals. Christin and her husband Jedediah lives in the Grants Pass community and are both Hidden Valley High School graduates.
Website: PenniesWorthAcres.com
E-Mail: mountainviewdesign@gmail.com
