Japanese Purple Maple Tree, Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum Plant, 15-20cm Tall In a 9cm Pot 3fatpigs®

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Containerised trees can be planted at any time of year providing your ground is not icy, snow-covered or water-logged. It's also best to avoid excessively windy days to avoid the risk of your plant being damaged if it accidentally topples over. If you have the choice, plant in the autumn at least one month before the first frost. Acer palmatum dissectum 'Crimson Princess' - a deciduous Acer has an upright weeping habit, creating a mushroom like display. Finely cut, fabulous deep purple-red leaves emerge from red buds turning bronze in the summer, followed by brilliant crimson-scarlet in autumn. Partial or dappled shade is required for variegated varieties to prevent the leaves from being scorched by the strong afternoon sun. Purple and red leaved trees require a decent amount of sunlight to develop their rich, dark complexion, whilst green-leaved Acers tolerate full sun but do best with light shade at the hottest part of the day. In smaller trees that are more heavily infected, it is best just to remove the tree and either burn it or dispose of it safely. Make sure surface water run-off is not accumulating around the Acer, this can happen at the bottom of slopes or natural dips in the ground.

Acer palmatum dissectum 'Crimson Queen' - a deciduous Acer has an upright weeping habit, creating a mushroom like display. Finely cut, fabulous deep purple-red leaves emerge from red buds followed by brilliant scarlet and orange hues in autumn. Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira' - an upright palmatum producing think bunched-up curled leaves giving the acer a unique 'Lions Head' appearance. Acer is the latin name for the genus, which comprises approximately 130 species and over 700 cultivars. As Acers often have attractive autumn foliage colour, many countries have leaf-watching traditions. The Japanese custom of watching Acer leaves change colour is called momijigari. The same tradition is called Danpung-Nori in Korea. The plant you receive from us will be around two feet tall and will growing in a large 5 litre pot.Acer x conspicuum ‘Phoenix’ has bright pink stems while Acer palmatum ‘Winter Flame’ has red or coral coloured branches. Acers prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil so a good choice is a peat-free ericaceous potting compost. If your Japanese Maple doesn't seem to be succeeding after a couple of years, don't be afraid to dig it up and try moving it somewhere else. Location is probably the most important factor in the success of your tree, so don't be afraid of a bit of trial and error. The best time to move a Japanese maple tree is late summer or early autumn, at least one month before the first frost. They are reasonably forgiving of disruption providing you cut a wide and deep hole and leave as much soil clinging to the roots as possible when you dig them up. Acer palmatum dissectum 'Orangeola' - a beautiful, mound-forming deciduous Acer has blazing orange red lace leaves throughout spring, turning bronze red in summer, then deep and fiery orange in autumn. Small, pendent clusters of tiny, reddish-purple flowers in spring are followed by red-flushed, green, winged fruit in summer. A beautiful Japanese Acer, eye catching and weeping - a stunning small architectural tree, ideal as a centre piece for your garden.

This is such a sweet and beautiful tree. You will get so much enjoyment from this plant; A compact bush, amazing autumn colours - you name it! If you've always wanted a low-maintenance tree that's easy to grow and looks amazing in the summer AND also drips with red leaves in autumn then look no further. This tree has got it all. Apply a slow-release multi-purpose granular feed to container-grown trees in April and early August each year. Top up the pot each spring with fresh soil and transplant into a larger container every 2 years to maintain vigour. Do not fertilize a dormant tree as this may stimulate sudden new growth which could be damaged by frost. The new pot should not be significantly bigger as this can encourage too much water retention, just the next size up will be fine. Sitting in wet soil for too long can cause issues with the roots and can encourage fungi to develop, which we will cover in the next section.

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There are two main reasons why acers are so suitable for gardeners with restricted space. Firstly, and most importantly, as we mentioned above most acers or Japanese maples will only grow to around six feet. Plant in slightly acidic soil and enjoy deep lacy green leaves in spring followed by rich scarlet foliage through summer. It will thrive anywhere with partial shade. This is such an attractive tree. Plant this and you'll have the neighbours green with envy. Any required pruning should be done between January and February during the dormancy phase to prevent sap bleeding from the cuts and weakening the tree. Always cut just above a pair of buds. Secondly, these trees are very slow growing. They take years to reach their full height and they won’t overpower any space.

Unfortunately by this stage it is often too late to save the plant, but if caught earlier before the roots decompose then action can be taken to rectify the situation. Acers will be fine in most types of soil though will do best when there is a slight acidity in the soil. But don’t worry too much about the soil. Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities Acer palmatum dissectum 'Baldsmith' - a handsome acer with a mounded form, with lacy leaves which emerge bright orange/red and develop into shades of green, pink and orange through the summer months. The combination of old and new leaves adorning the branches throughout summer makes for a beautiful rainbow of colour, adding spectacular interest to any garden.Acer palmatum dissectum 'Stella Rossa' - slow growing deciduous Acer with lacy, pink-red foliage in the spring, which darkens to a rich purple in the summer, finally changing to bright flame-red in the autumn. Weeping habit, ideal for growing in containers, or for in a small garden. Acer palmatum 'Beni-Maiko' - a dwarf variety of deciduous Japanese Maple with brilliant fire red colours. Foliage has a crinkled appearance, opening bright red in spring time, fading to reddish-pink, then green in the summer, followed by blazing red in the autumn. Grows well in a large tub or planter, and is ideal for creating a Japanese theme anywhere in your garden. Finish by watering generously around the base. The tree planting guide has further information and videos. Watering & Aftercare Advice For Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' Trees Keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. If there is snow fall, gently brush the snow from the branches to ensure it does not weigh down the framework and cause damage. Pruning Advice For Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' Trees Some acers can grow to well over 40 feet with a correspondingly large spread. On the face of it, acers don’t seem that suitable for small gardens. However, large acers are an exception rather than a rule and even those which grow the tallest will take decades to achieve their full height.

Japanese Acer are very prone to leaf scorch in both windy or excessively sunny positions. Red/Purple leaved varieties with green leaves or poor autumn colour may indicate insufficient light levels. Remove the pot and place the root mass in the planting hole so that the surface is flush with the surrounding ground. Using 50% of the original soil and 50% compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently. Use ericaceous compost when possible as this encourages vibrant foliage colour in Japanese Maples.This will bring about a stress response and again the Acer will leaf drop to preserve the moisture it has. This is nothing to worry about, and there should be an even more colourful display through autumn before the leaves do fall.