I have been struggling to pick my first Japanese Maples, but the more I look the harder it gets. Location, western Washington, on the north side of a 5' board fence. Want to place 2 different but complementary J.M. It gets a little midday sun, it's shady but bright shade and not cold. Have been looking at Acer shirasawanum "Ogura yama" and "Palmatifolium" as well as Acer japonicum "Vitifolium". Any ideas or advice?
Hi Merrie, You might want to go with Ogura Yama and one of the others, to get a size difference for an architectural look. Palmatifolium is reputed (and also in my experience) to be the easiest of maples. Vitifolium is also undemanding. My only concern is that one of these might want more sun. Since you have a lot of shade, how about something variegated, or with yellow leaves like shirasawanum Aureum? Then you would have a really nice foliage contrast as well as height. -E
Hi Merrie, Welcome! Regarding suggestions, there are just so many to love. Plus the Japanese Maples thrive in our western WA climate, although some will need more sun to give a full performance. So it's really a personal thing depending on what you like. My advice is to look at pictures in this forum of what you think you might want to see your candidates at different times of year and at different maturities. In case you haven't already found it, this link (http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=208&daysprune=-1&order=asc&sort=title) will take you to an alphabetical listing of palmatum cultivars (my favorites), but there are also some great shirasawanums and japonicums listed here (http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=86&daysprune=-1&order=asc&sort=title). I like the suggestion of putting a shade star in the spot. However, I think Aureum might need more sun to give bright color. But I haven't grown that one, only its close relative Autumn Moon. That tree gave me a really pretty yellow in the early spring and then a nice lime color later on in very similar sun/shade conditions. I moved it to get the colors for which it is known. Off the top of my head, I would suggest you consider Acer japonicum 'Aconitidolium' (http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=2037), Acer palmatum 'Ukigumo' if you could find a true to form example (http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=2307) and Acer palmatum 'Tsuma gaki' (http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=6729).
Funny, I just said to someone that my A. s. Palmatifolium is my most difficult maple. I purchased one in 2006, and it hasn't grown at all. Each winter, all the previous season's new growth dies back, or a whole branch will die. It is the last tree in my yard to leaf out this year, and I'm starting to wonder if it will survive much longer. I must have a bad specimen, with a root problem or other defect. I agree that Ukigumo would be great, as would Aconitifolium. Of course there are dozens (or hundreds) more that would also look great.
Winterhaven, I do think that Autumn Moon likes a bit more light than shirasawanum Aureum. But you're right that without some sun the latter can go more towards green than yellow. Anyway, after hitting the "post" button, I said to myself that palmatum 'Aureum' would be better, and an even better contrast. But didn't want to confuse things even more... It's true there are so many possible choices. Sasquatch, I hope your palmatifolium will come around. It's true that because of the variability of understock, we can never really count on the same behavior from the same clones. Which to my mind is a real problem.
I have to say As 'Ogura yama' is one of the more interesting and wonderful maples. It has a very nice growing structure wih nice red color bark in the winter time but its hairy green leaves are cool. not to mention a nice color. Another great Shirasawanum is '6910' but it does not sell due to its bad name. it has similar color to an Aureum but has a much better growing pattern. I have found As Aureum to be a great tree for shady places but I have yet to have one which had good autumn color or a nice looking structure. As for Aj 'Vitifolium' is is a nice green tree with great fall color. It along with Otake, Attaryii, and a few others are very similar, near impossible to tell the difference from each other unless they are sitting all together. They are much stronger grows and will become a laller tree sooner than the shirasawanum. My luck with As 'palmatifolium' is a nice green tree which is not a rapid grower. Two others to look at are As 'Junhitoye' or a new favorite japanicum know as 'Giant Moon'. It had great spring colors. Ok, there are too many great trees.
Cut-leaved, dwarf, purple-leaved, red-twigged and yellow-leaved versions of locally adapted vine maple are now on the market here. This is a Palmata, as are Acer japonicum, A. palmatum and A. shirasawanum.
An independent garden center near here got some fairly big, tubbed specimens of this one last year. Certainly a far cry from a good deep purple Japanese maple, but I found the purple winter twigs and in particular the purple samara wings interesting. http://www.jfschmidt.com/introductions/pacificpurple/index.html I've been growing the similar 'Burgundy Jewel' for a few years, but it is still too small to fruit - and I should probably move it to a better spot. Much older typical vine maples planted elsewhere on the property some time ago fail to have good fall color, despite not being in full shade - whereas 'Burgundy Jewel' turns red. I want to plant both cultivars near one another to be able to see how they might differ. So far the summer foliage is so similar it makes me "slit my eyes with suspicion".
Merrie If you ever get up in the Everett area you are more than welcome to look in person at all the trees listed and then many more. charlie
