The diversity of habit found in Japanese maples cultivars, when added to the broad array of colors and leaf shapes makes the species Acer palmatum one of the most versatile trees in garden design. Habit can be the most important factor in the selection of a tree. How tall will it become, how wide will it be? Will it weep, giving a soft feel, or be stiffly upright, able to fit in a small space, or will it be dwarf, fitting easily in a courtyard garden or even in a container. We hope this guide with pictures and drawings and examples will help you decide on the right maple for your space.
Please remember that like children, most maples will be more slender and upright when young, not spreading to their mature shape until reaching sexual maturity at around ten years of age. The shape of all maples is greatly influenced by environment as well as genetics, so that a tree in a lot of sun will be more dense, a heavily shaded tree more sparse, and growth always will be toward the light.
Weeping Maples
Best Examples:
Crimson Queen
Jiro shidare
Orangeola
Waterfall
List of all
Weeping Maples |
The weeping maples will form a low, wide dome shape if grafted low and not staked or grafted on a standard. Grafted on a standard they will form an umbrella shape. They can be staked to form either an upright trunk with weeping branches or into a slant with swept back weeping branches, or slowly brought back to a stake as they grow to produce an undulating trunk with many curves. The branches form fantastical shapes, curving and swooping within the tree as it grows older with no help at all. In fact it is the nature of this wonderful form to find its own beautiful way. These weeping trees do need some help during wet, heavy snows. Long branches catch the snow and split off from the tree when the load become too much. Either gently relieving them of their snow load periodically during heavy snow, or some type of support can save your tree.
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