One of my new favorites is 'Ukigumo' - the more shade the better. But look for a good example to get the optical illusion of the floating cloud. http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=2307 I've also been intrigued by 'Sagara nishiki' http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=2061&highlight=sagara+nishiki. I would love to hear other ideas for deep shade loving maples.
A GREEN with variegation, reticulation or 'fu' would grow acceptably in shade. I grow my Shigatatsu sawa and Sagara nishiki in as much shade as I have, but when you say "full shade" is that like under another tree's canopy or what? does it get SOME sun?
Acer circinatum occurs in the Pacific Northwest ranging from the Cascade Mountains to southern British Columbia to northern California. Adaptation Vine maple occurs most frequently on moist soils along the banks of streams and wet sites. It commonly occurs with Douglas fir, Pacific dogwood, big leaf maple, and western hemlock. This species prefers shady areas but can tolerate the sun. It sometimes grows in clumps or patches (Farrar 1995). This is just an idea. You may be to far S. for this type to be viable. It's a small, mulitple trunked tree that turns spectacular colors in the fall. I'm in NW Wash where it is a native. barb
I would try to consult some local specialists or growers, if nobody from Southern California chimes in on this thread. I suspect that "almost-full shade" in Los Angeles might be as intense as "almost-full sun" here in Maine -- but I'm not really sure. The limiting factors might not be light but rather such things as summer heat, dryness beneath a taller tree canopy, and the nature of your soil.
I have been growing A. campestre 'Polstelense' in deep shade, really deep, and it's doing well. In this same area I also have A. palm. 'Grandma Ghost,' too, and it's doing well. I also have a A. camp. 'Carnival,' but it's not looking great. I don't think that it's due to the shade, however. You can always try it, move it (depending on how big a tree) to another spot if you have one. I had a Katsura growing next to the Polstelense and moved it to more sun this year. Kay
see also this thread for some more suggestions: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=31987&highlight=shade
Vine maple is one species that I'm beginning to enjoy more and more. Only put one red leaf ***. maple in our new home landscape, but several vine maple. The limbs are not as brittle either.
look up acer pseudoplatanus-spelling may be a bit off-in vertrees. i believe he says that they thrive most anywhere, sun or shade. try 'apseu "briliantissimum" (again spelling may be a bit off}, also 'prince h....' uh oh senile moment, or 'eskimo ....." , all are acer pseudoplat....'. i do not have personal experience yet with this tree, but i plan on trying it out in a tough place, with restricted light. good luck, debviolet
It may be possible to grow pseudoplatanus in full shade, but you will end up with a gangly looking specimen. It will be trying to grow tall to get to the sun. There are a few exceptions that will stay bushy, notably "Simon Louis Freres" and "Leat's Cottage." I suspect Esk(imo) Sunset and Prinz Handjery are too strong growers too do very well, even Brilliantissimum likes some morning sun. How about A. rubescens 'Red Flamingo?' The bright pink leaves seem to glow in the shade. Mine (still in a pot) is getting only a little morning light, seems happy. -E
I'm not sure how they would like the weather in Los Angeles, but Acer pensylvanicum (moosewood or striped maple) and Acer spicatum (mountain maple) perform well ONLY in shade. But they're both East Coast natives, so they might not dig California.
Hi Kaspain, I saw some really nice pensylvanicums in Hancock last year, and your right they were growing in pretty deep shade. It does show how "full sun" varies from place to place, because here in Normandie it does pretty well in sunshine. I wouldn't try full sun in LA, though! I wonder if one of the snake barks (macrantha section) might not be a good answer to the riddle. How about morifolium? Or pectinatum Alice? Alice likes shade even here. I hope she will live, last winter might have killed her... :( Forgot to mention that the deer just chomped the top off my pensylvaticum. Although there's plenty of food around, they really love young maple shoots. They got most of a young ginalla "Flame," too. Faw. -E
