Autumn Fire Japanese Maple

If you are a lover of fall – and who isn’t – then you know what a spectacular season it can be. Don’t leave it up to the forests to do it, bring that fierce coloring right into your own garden with the superb Autumn Fire Japanese Maple. Some garden plants do interesting things for several seasons, and that is great. But like a top-rank artist, sometimes it is best to focus on what you do best – like this tree. A charming green all summer, the delicate foliage is edged with pink in spring, but it’s fall when the fireworks begin. The reds and oranges flame out with an intensity that won’t be beaten by any other variety – an effect that has to be seen to be believed. Forming a charming small tree or large shrub in time, it has a unique form, much broader than it is tall, with branches that are horizontal to pendulous, straight out of a Japanese wood-block print, and perfect for that Japanese corner you dream about, a full-on Asian garden, or to add some joy and style to any type of garden at all.

• Graceful, semi-weeping small tree spreads wide but stays short
• Stunning fall colors of brilliant reds and oranges
• Spring leaves are edged in pink
• Heat-resistant green summer foliage
• Incomparable brilliance unmatched by any other variety

The Autumn Fire Japanese Maple is more sun-tolerant and heat-resistant than most other ‘dissectum’ varieties, and can be grown in full sun if the soil is suitable. Indeed, for the best coloring, full sun is recommended, so the soil should be rich, moist, but well-drained, so that your tree doesn’t suffer from drought. It will also grow with some afternoon shade – valuable in hot zones – and in dappled shade beneath trees, but not too much. Use rich compost when planting, and as mulch over the root system.Slightly acidic soil is preferable, but not essential, and we don’t recommend it for very alkaline soils. If well-placed and sufficiently watered pest and disease problems are virtually non-existent. To develop a more mature look, remove internal twiggy growth early in the life of the tree, to avoid pruning scars.