philljp
Newly Registered
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:22 am
Location: UK

Acer Advice, and ID for Beginner

Hi all,

I'm looking for a red Acer (Japanese Maple) that looks like one of the following:

https://somegeek.home.comcast.net/~somegeek/japanese_maple_2.jpg

https://atlanta521.com/sitebuilderImages/510-Japanese%20Maple.jpg

I really don't know what type it is though. I don't even need to know the exact type, just one that looks like that, that grows around 1m-2m.

I want it to have that bonsai look.

Thanks for any help and advice :)

TomM
Greener Thumb
Posts: 749
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:28 am
Location: Cedarville (SE of Utica) NY, USA

Hi Phil, I believe the tree of your desire is the lace-leaf variety, perhaps "Crimson Queen" like you will see in the other recent thread here. There are others as well, and some have "blood" in their names - like bloodgood, blood red, etc. Most good nurseries will have these.
As for the 'bonsai-look' you will still need to achieve that effect with some proper pruning.
If you have a bonsai nursery near you give it a try.

philljp
Newly Registered
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:22 am
Location: UK

Thanks for the response. I can only really find a "Tamukeyama" in my garden centers. Although I have seen Bloodgoods in the past. Do you know if the Tamukeyama would be suitable? I'm finding it pretty hard to find the tree I want.

The Helpful Gardener
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Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:17 pm
Location: Colchester, CT

'Tamukeyama' is a very hardy cultivar and does very nicely in even colder climes than most laceleaves prefer. I find the color to be more purple than red, and the habit to be somewhat stocky and less graceful than the aforementioned 'Crimson Queen' or 'Ever Red'. I am a fan of 'Red Dragon' for the glowing new growth, but it is hard to find. 'Filigree Red Lace' has extra cut leaves and a nice flow to it...

The one that I think has taken the market over here is 'Inaba Shidare'; good red color, excellent hardiness, and a vigourous growth habit, but it tends a bit towards the upright side of things. 'Bloodgood' is the Acer palmatum in my yard, but it is an upright and not a laceleaf type, so certainly not what you are after...

Hope this helps...

HG

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koiboy01
Senior Member
Posts: 171
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:49 pm
Location: U K

Hi,
My Tamukeyama it has come on a treat and this year is even better I have it in a very large pot the reason being that I can move it round my garden to enhance any view.

philljp
Newly Registered
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:22 am
Location: UK

Thanks for the replies guys. Awesome garden there Koiboy, looks like a lot of work!!!

I went for a Tamukeyama in the end. For some reason, all the garden centers around here (UK) only seem to have the Tamukeyama in the height I need.

My main concern is the wind, I know Acers are sensitive to that. Anyone happen to have any other tips with regards feeding etc...

The Helpful Gardener
Mod
Posts: 7491
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:17 pm
Location: Colchester, CT

They can certainly windburn and many are susceptible to sunburn as well although Tamukeyama seems a hardy beast compared to most... but I have seen sunscald hit bark to the point of mortality, so be aware (your higher latitude should help a bit with that...)

HG



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