We may earn a commission from your purchases. Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is a small, sturdy ornamental tree, but ice, snow, wind or falling objects can break its branches. Gardeners with limited space can plant dwarf varieties or grow the trees in containers to move around for portable color. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Begonia cultivars grow happily in USDA zones 6 through 11, producing large blossoms in a vast array of colors. Deleting this collection CANNOT be undone. Its taste, versatility, and nutritional value make it my go-to snack for any time of day. Slow-growing, this maple tree features an upright, vase-shaped habit and makes an outstanding four-season tree that is enjoyed by all gardeners as it graces the landscape. Raised and introduced by Koster & Sons, 'Nova Zembla' featuresstout trunkswith thick stems, their bark becoming scaly and very attractive over time. At present, some trees have sunken areas in their bark (cankers) on main branches well below the tips, indicating possible invasion of damaged tissues by opportunistic fungal organisms. That is accomplished by letting the tree leaf out then cutting all the leaves off. Gardenias will grow in zones 8 through 10, offering deep green foliage and fragrant flowers. Learn the hardiness zone for your region before determining the best steps to take when caring for Japanese maples in winter. Fill a nursery pot with a mixture of half. Plants that love acid soils can be good Japanese maple companions. Last October a snow storm damaged my Japanese maple. Japanese maple trees can live through typical winter weather in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8, which encompasses a large portion of the U.S. Prune out all remaining dead foliage after two months. You can find this cultivar available in one-gallon containers at FastGrowingTrees.com. The tree was a weeping dwarf red Japanese maple lace leaf tree, it broke it down to the base of the tree. Place taller plantings nearby if that is the case, to prevent the Japanese maple from receiving too much full sun each day. Larger, upright-growing Japanese maple cultivars must not be planted as close. For a selection of hostas to add to your garden, check out PlantingTree.com. The stark white flowers pair quite nicely with the dark red foliage of certain Japanese maple varieties in springtime. COPYRIGHT 2023 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. Many types of injury to Japanese maples became evident during the 2007 growing season. Here are common signs of an unhealthy maple and how to save a dying maple tree to help you better protect and preserve your favorite tree. Red-leafed Japanese maples (like the bloodgood) are among the most common. In extreme cases, large areas of tissue can be damaged under the bark and will show up during the growing season as bark cracks and peels away, leaving wood exposed. In this roundup, weve collected 13 of the best plants to complement the glory of the Japanese maple in your garden, while adding their own splendor to the scenery. These small trees remain attractive all year long with spring blossoms, gorgeous foliage, and interesting winter silhouettes. Generally, a freeze-damaged Japanese maple will begin to produce new growth from surviving branches within a few weeks, though this new growth is often weak and spindly. If the damage is more extensive, effecting growth deeper into the tree or . You can find bare root plants available at Burpee. View our Privacy Policy for more information. Other stems connect to pink-petaled, fragrant flowers with golden yellow stamens, which either float on the water or may be held up to six feet above the waters surface, depending on the variety. We pride ourselves at Davey Tree on providing prompt, professional and personalized service from certified arborists that live, work and engage in your community. Ice Dragon Hardy Japanese Maple. An equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disabled and veteran employer. But the best part of this tree is its flowers. They contrast beautifully with thefoliage of large, smooth, glossy, medium green leaves. A line of Prunus x yedoensis trees would make for a perfect backdrop to a Japanese maple, especially lovely when in full bloom in the spring. Arborvitae are perfect for providing a botanical backdrop that accentuates the form and color of a Japanese maple. If you are looking for companions for Japanese maples, youll have many choices. As a general rule of thumb, it's best to start preparing your maple trees for winter before the first frost of the season. Jacky Parker Photography / Moment / Getty Images. Blooming heavily for weeks from late winter to early summer, these nodding beauties rise on sturdy, thick stems clad with largeblue-green leaves divided into three sharply toothed leaflets. They resemble grape hyacinth (Muscari), hence the Latin name. Note this is the default cart. Continue growing indoors while watering regularly until spring. pictum (Painted Lady Fern), Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' (Hakone Grass), Hosta (Tardiana Group) 'Halcyon' (Plantain Lily), Great Plant Combination Ideas However, some particularly green-leaf varieties can tolerate full sun, even in hot climates. With a broad, pyramidal habit and dense, bright green foliage, the American arborvitae makes for a perfect backdrop to your A. palmatum. Native to North America, coral bells (Heuchera spp.) All rights reserved. There are weeping varieties with cascading branches, upright varieties with branches that grow out and up to heights of 35 feet and dwarf varieties that may only grow from two to eight feet tall. It is also tolerant of heat and sun. Many trees can sprout again later in the season after this disruption. The evergreen foliage of elliptic, glossy, thick, and dark greenleavesdoes not develop any appreciable fall color. If the maple in question has green leaves, you can select a Thuja variety with yellow foliage, for a clash-free pairing. Gently compact the mixture around the stem and drizzle water around the base of the cutting. Dappled light is best. Always check the soil moisture before watering. pictum (Japanese Painted Fern) is a very pretty deciduous fern forming a large rosette of arching, strikingly refined, lance-shaped, bipinnate fronds. Young trees are especially susceptiblebut trees of any age can benefit from a proper fall watering regimen. S. kamtschaticum is a yellow-flowering and dark green-leafed creeping species that you can find at Nature Hills Nursery. Upright branches may become confined by soffets and building overhangs. As a result, the water supply to the leaves is cut off and the leaves wither. While extraordinarily good-looking on their own, Japanese Maples, however, look more charming when planted with companion plants. All Rights Reserved. Canker can attack through bark damage. Secure the burlap to the stakes with staples or rope. There are not enough superlatives to describe this fabulous perennial. Gain insight into the general characteristics to help identify a Japanese maple. Transfer to a one-gallon pot filled with potting soil after the roots have formed. If you buy from one of our links,we may earn a commission. Begin the propagation process in spring after the last frost, once the first leaves have formed, or in early summer. Blooming in mid to late spring, each trumpet-shaped flower is delicately splashed with deep maroon blotches on its upper lobes. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=2ba02a33-c319-4410-bba7-f8321a13bed3&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "2ba02a33-c319-4410-bba7-f8321a13bed3" }).render("00499ba9282e4d1b985fa8af14d29c2b"); }); The leaf colors include purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, green and multi-colored (variegated). Here's a closer look at how some trees react: Japanese maples damaged by a late frost may have shriveled, black or brown leaves. With a mounding habit, hostas rarely grow taller and wider than two and three feet, respectively. If your tree isn't too large, wrapping it with burlap is a simple way to protect it from frost, ice, and snow. The best time to fertilize is late winter or early spring. To use the website as intended please The large, pale green, compound leaves are also very attractive. Only plants will be removed from the collection. I know Im casting a rather large net by including a section on ferns, but I had a hard time choosing a single group or species to pair with Japanese maple. While attractive close-up, the flowers are however not particularly showy from a distance. Thanks to their unique, vibrant foliage, Japanese maple trees (Acer palmatum) are a popular pick for gardeners and landscapers in many different regions. Since these trees are susceptible to root rot during winter, cut back on watering during this time: Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. The jaw-dropping elegance of the Japanese maples vibrant colors and graceful appearance has inspired Japanese poets and artists for centuries. Zone 4. Find and treat damaged branches within an hour or two. Given the Japanese maples own twisting-and-turning branching habit, this makes the Japanese black pine all the more suitable for complementing A. palmatum, whether as a taller specimen with an overarching canopy or as a background planting. Among the acid-loving plants are. Young trees are especially susceptiblebut trees of any age can benefit from a proper fall watering regimen . The best way to remove suckers and low branches that you don't want on your Japanese maple is a technique that I call "One Finger Pruning" and you really do only use one finger and it is extremely effective. If this article got you thinking non-stop about Japanese maple trees, check out these other Acer palmatum guides next: Ask the Experts, LLC. These small trees, which can also be grown as shrubs, are typically chosen for their red leavesbut yours may also feature colors like orange, purple, pink, or even green depending on which variety of Japanese maple it is. As they fall, they expose the bright, coral-red bark on young twigs and branches, adding a much-needed splash of color to the winter landscape. See our guide to learn more about growing hostas. Answer: you sedum! Can the tree be saved?. Perform heavy, structural pruning while the tree is dormant during late winter or early spring. See our TOS for more details. How to Identify and Manage Common Petunia Pests, How to Identify and Manage Common Petunia Pests, .slick-slider#wpsp-83657 {margin-left: 0px; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83657 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; }#wpsp-83657.wpsp-card .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 2em; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83657 .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 0px; }#wpsp-83657 .wp-show-posts-inner {background-color: #ffffff; }#wpsp-83657.wp-show-posts .wp-show-posts-entry-title {font-size: .9em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83657 {margin-left: -2em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83657 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin: 0 0 2em 2em; } Japanese maples prefer loose, well-draining, moist, slightly acidic soil. The frost period after the initial warm period may be harmful to your Japanese Maple so keep your trees covered during a frost forecast to avoid damage. A robust native of Corsica and Sardinia, award-winning Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican Hellebore) is an evergreen perennial with large open clusters of bowl-shaped, nodding, pale green flowers, 2 in. Rising with natural grace above a ferny foliage of gray-green divided leaves, each plant produces 3 to 5 stems in the first year and 5 to 10 stems in the second year. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. To learn more about "One Finger Pruning Click Here". When typical spring temperatures turn frigid, some trees may experience frost damage. 3. Loss of foliage may have also affected the roots, since their supply of carbohydrates was greatly reduced. It forms a dense, strongly upright, narrow clump of olive-green to blue-green foliage, which gets topped in late summer with a profusion of finely-textured, golden flower spikelets which hover over the foliage like an airy cloud. After planting, water twice a week for the first three or four months to firmly establish the roots. You might consider planting begonias, rhododendrons, or gardenias. The flowers are iconic and easy to identify each inflorescence has a clump of insignificant green flowers at its center, surrounded by petal-like bracts which have little darkened notches on the edges. Japanese maples should be placed where they are protected from wind, like the leeward side of your house. Blooming in early spring, the flowers range in color from white to pink to red, or even a golden yellow. Remove the hardware cloth and place the flat in a shaded area. One of the best blue hosta cultivars, 'Halcyon' (Plantain Lily) is a great addition to shady areas where it forms an attractive, dense mound of smooth, flat, spear-shaped, thick-textured, intense blue leaves. $150 (5-gallon tree) Red Japanese Maple: $40 (1-gallon tree) Ryusen Japanese Maple: $40 (1-gallon tree) Seiryu Japanese Maple: $80 (3 to 4-foot tree) Shaina Japanese Maple: $85 (3-gallon tree) Sherwood Flame Japanese Maple: $50 (1-gallon tree) Shishigashira Lion's Head Japanese Maple: $40 (1-gallon tree) Tamekeyama Japanese Maple: $85 (2 to 3 . has been written based on numerous outside resources. Damaged trees and shrubs have only suffered a temporary setback. Backed by The Davey Institute, the industrys premier research and development laboratory, our team of experts share their knowledge on the most common topics and questions in arboriculture. It emerges in spring with beautiful orange-red new fronds that mature to a lustrous green in summer, and is very disease- and pest-resistant. Bred for cut flower production, Aquilegia vulgaris var. It has light green foliage and reddish-purple petals that border on red as sunlight passes through them, resulting in flowers that appear to change in hue with the movement of the sun. Trees on the edge of their climatic range are usually more vulnerable to late season frosts. Weak, twiggy branches forming behind the pruning cuts that removed dead branch tips in 2007. The delicate spring foliage of five or seven pointed, lobed, wine-red to burgundy leaves, holds its color in summer and turns vibrant crimson-red in fall before shedding to the ground. In addition to regular weekly waterings, it's important to do a deep soak toward the end of the fall season. However, flower and fruit trees are particularly vulnerable to frost and may not be able to produce new flowers or fruit for the current year. Sap oozes from the canker in the bark. Then, freezing injury to the bark led to die-back of branches and, in some cases, parts of main trunks. To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of our site. With jobs available throughout North America, Davey has an opportunity for you in the location you desire. You can find Brilliance available from FastGrowingTrees.com in one- and three-gallon containers. From vegetation management and asset management to make-ready engineering services, we can help you reach your goals with expert service and a commitment to quality. Heres a closer look at how some trees react: Getting back to Kathys question, frost-damaged trees can often be saved with some special attention. Reaching a height and spread of 15 to 30 feet, Cornus florida is native to the eastern US and Canada, and northern Mexico, and hardy in Zones 5 to 9. This pine tree lacks the prominent central leader that many of its relatives possess, and branches grow more irregularly with age, creating an asymmetrical form. stems (12-30 cm). You might consider planting begonias, rhododendrons, or gardenias. Make sure to protect your tree during the winter and watch out for the signs of diseases, pests, or overwatering! This will eventually need to be thinned by 50 to 75 percent. All I have left is a jagged edged stump. Avoid placing sensitive plants in low areas where colder air collects. Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society. If youre looking for a white-flowering Japanese snowbell, Nature Hills Nursery sells them in #2 containers. If your Japanese maple is being grown in a container, protecting it from winter damage is simple: Move it into the garage or another sheltered area when snow or ice is in the forecast, or when temperatures drop below freezing. It is truly the sum of its parts: flower shape (lily-pointed petals in a slim, elegant flower); color (luminous tangerine orange); and height (long willowy stems). Then, place it in the refrigerator for three months. Flowering is so prodigious that they smotherthis midseason rhododendronin an exceptional floral display. Want to request a FREE consultation or speak to your Davey local office about your residential tree or lawn needs? Strong winds can damage fragile branches and dry out the leaves, causing a condition called windburn, especially when combined with hot temperatures. Peanut butter is my absolute favorite food. Among the most seriously injured were various cultivars of Japanese maple. When placed in the immediate vicinity of a Japanese maple, these peonies look right at home, providing floral interest and a sweet scent as well. The elliptically-shaped and glossy foliage is green in summer, and turns golden to reddish in fall. Water Wet soil tolerant, it requires very little care, is deer resistant, and provides weeks of interest from summer to fall. The petals start off snowy-white for a few weeks, before changing into an attractive shade of pink. 'Inaba Shidare' dwarf Japanese maple tree has deeply cut and dissected reddish-purple leaves The bushy 'Inaba Shidare' Japanese maple is a small tree with cascading branches and red palmate leaves. Our tree doctors are committed to helping take care of your trees and shrubs to ensure your property remains beautiful and healthy. Unusual for a fern, the fronds are undivided, giving the plant a substantial appearance. Also known as Japanese forest grass, each individual plant typically grows one to three feet tall and spreads one to two feet wide, so dont try to host any rec league games on a field of Hakone grass or anything like that. It grows to 6 inches (15 cm.) Thin out about 1/3 of the excess branches in 2008, concentrating on shoots that are growing vertically or toward the center of the tree. Prized for its tolerance to sun, cold, and humidity, Rhododendron 'English Roseum'is a denseand showy evergreen shrub. Japanese maple leaves can be spotted and the veins within the leaves can be blackened. In the fall, the delicate 5-lobed leaves which open pinkish-yellow, and mature to light green in summer, turn soft yellow in fall before they shed to the ground. For a good-looking ornamental grass that does well in the shade, give Hakonechloa macra a try. Award-winning Acer palmatum 'Katsura' is a lovely deciduous shrub with a striking foliage, season after season. You can get ahead of it by watering your tree the night before or covering your tree with a breathable material, like burlap, if it is small enough. Another beautiful option is Thuja plicata 4Ever aka Forever Goldy.. Blooming for weeks in late summer and fall, erect spikes of thickly clustered, small violet-purple flowers, 6-8 in. arundinacea (Purple Moor Grass) is an exceptionally lovely and graceful ornamental grass. Tall, with an open growth habit, it exhibits arching thread-like leaves topped in summer with a haze of delicate flower spikes, that sway gracefully in the slightest breeze. After five or six weeks, check for root development by gently tugging on the cutting and feeling for resistance. Provide protection. A reduced watering schedule during autumn will stimulate more vibrant leaf colors. In late summer, the leaves change to bronze-green before turning fiery orange-red in fall. An excellent species to start with is Thuja occidentalis, or the American arborvitae, native to North America.