JAPANESE MAPLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1940, Page 8

JAPANESE MAPLE

WORTH GROWING IN GARDEN.

Among the many autumn-tinted trees and shrubs, the Japanese Maple occupies an important place, and owing to its limited growth is a very suitable plant for a small town garden where space is limited and it is desired to have a variety of kinds in the shrubbery. It is hardy when sheltered from the cold south-west winds and planted in a sunny well-drained soil, to which some peat or leafmould has been added. It is a two-purpose plant, for in spring the young foliage, especially of the purple-golden and variegated kinds, is very attractive, and in the autumn they all put on beautiful tints. The type will grow to a height of 20 feet, though it may take a long time to do it, but some of the varieties, especially the drooping height in 20 years. It is not a robin height in 20 years. It is not a robber, and can be planted in borders of choice bulbs or among azaleas and rhododendrons.

There are varieties with the ordinary palmate leaves with rich purple, purplish red and variegated colourings, also a section called dissection, in which the leaves are finely cut to the mid-rib of each lobe, and these are also variegated purple and golden yellow. They do not transplant very well, and it is better to get small specimens, or to obtain them growing in pots.