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Many people come to the garden center looking for a specimen tree for their yard, but don’t know what kind they want. But they insist it be hardy, beautiful in all seasons, slow-growing and resistant to pests. So we recommend a Japanese maple. The elegant structure and brilliant color make these trees a favorite. Leaves emerge a bright red and, depending on the variety, either stay red all summer or turn green and then back to red in the fall. And after the leaves fall, the arching branches -- especially in the weeping varieties -- provide a focal point. We’ve picked three of our favorite Japanese maples to showcase this month, but we have many others in the nursery, and receive new shipments often. Stop by Lavalette Nursery and Garden Center and check them out.
Bloodgood: This Japanese maple is one of the most heavily used in landscapes. The deeply divided leaves are a deep purple throughout the summer and red in the fall. The tree can get 15 to 20 feet tall. It can grow in full sun but is best in lightly dappled shade in a location protected from strong winds. It does remarkably well in intense heat if given enough moisture. It provides winter interest because new wood on stems is red or purple, turning gray with age.
Coral Bark: This Japanese maple also has year-round appeal. The deeply cut new leaves are bright green, turning yellow gold tinged with red in the fall. In winter, the stems and branches turn a fluorescent coral color. This upright tree gets 15 to 18 feet tall and prefers partial sun to shade. It has received the Award of Merit and Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society and is recommended by the United States National Arboretum.
Crimson Queen: This is a heavily cascading dwarf Japanese maple weeper that forms a dome with branches that will touch the ground. The lacy, finely cut foliage emerges purple-red in April and soon ages to burgundy (if the tree is in bright shade) or green (if the tree is exposed to more sunlight), then turn bright crimson for autumn. It grows slowly to 8 to 10 feet tall.
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Featured
plant: Japanese maples
