By Feature - Patio | Planter

The Acer palmatum 'Brown Sugar' is a captivating Japanese maple variety known for its dense, bushy form and striking foliage. This compact, deciduous tree features vibrant leaves that transition from a rich burgundy in spring to a deep brownish-red in summer, and finally to fiery orange and red hues in autumn. With an elegant, multi-branched structure, it typically reaches heights of 8-10 feet, making it ideal for small gardens, containers, or as a stunning focal point in any landscape. ‘Brown Sugar’ thrives best in partial shade to full sun, preferring well-drained soil with regular moisture. Resistant to many pests and diseases, this tree offers year-round beauty and low maintenance, enhancing any outdoor space with its unique color palette and form.

Acer palmatum 'Oridono Nishiki' is a highly decorative Japanese maple prized for its distinctive variegated foliage and elegant garden presence. In spring, the leaves emerge in a soft blend of cream, green and blush pink, often with irregular marbling and speckling that makes each leaf unique. As the season progresses, the pink tones may soften, while the creamy variegation remains prominent against fresh green, creating a luminous, almost dappled effect in the canopy.

Its naturally upright yet gently spreading habit gives it a graceful structure, making it a superb focal point in smaller gardens, courtyard spaces and mixed borders. The fine branching adds to its refined appearance, particularly in winter when the framework is revealed.

In autumn, Acer palmatum 'Oridono Nishiki' typically transforms into warm shades of gold, orange and red, providing a final burst of seasonal colour. It prefers a sheltered position in partial shade, protected from harsh winds and strong afternoon sun, which can scorch the delicate leaves. Best grown in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, it performs beautifully in both containers and garden planting schemes, offering year-round ornamental interest and exceptional foliage detail.

Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream' is a captivating variety of Japanese Maple renowned for its eye-catching color transitions through the seasons. It typically exhibits vibrant orange-yellow foliage in spring, subtly transforming to a soft, light green as summer approaches. This stunning foliage coloration is accentuated with a contrasting network of delicate, dark red veins running through the leaves, contributing to its ornamental value.

In autumn, ‘Orange Dream’ puts on a spectacular display as the leaves transmute to a brilliant gold, sometimes with shades of red, providing a lasting impression before they fall. It's a compact, bushy, deciduous tree, making it an ideal choice for smaller gardens or for growing in containers. Additionally, it’s relatively slow-growing, reaching a height of approximately 3-4 meters over a 10-year period, ensuring manageability.

This variety prefers a sheltered location, avoiding the harshest midday sun, and appreciates well-draining, acidic to neutral soil. Providing adequate protection from strong winds and extreme temperatures will help in maintaining its vibrant leaf color and overall health. Regular watering, particularly in drier periods, is crucial, although it is important to avoid waterlogged conditions.

The aesthetic appeal and manageable size of 'Orange Dream' make it a popular choice among gardeners seeking to add a touch of drama and sophistication to their landscapes.

Acer palmatum 'Summer Gold' is a stunning cultivar of Japanese maple that is highly sought after for its unique golden-yellow foliage. This deciduous tree typically grows to a height of about 1.5 meters and has a bushy, rounded habit, making it an excellent choice for smaller gardens or patio containers.

The leaves of Acer palmatum 'Summer Gold' are deeply lobed, giving them a delicate and airy appearance. The foliage emerges as a bright golden-yellow color in the spring and maintains this striking hue throughout the summer months. As autumn approaches, the leaves turn a subtle green before taking on shades of orange and red, creating a beautiful contrast against the autumn landscape.

This cultivar is relatively low maintenance and easy to grow, making it a popular choice for gardeners of all levels of experience. It prefers partial shade and well-draining soil that is kept consistently moist. Occasional pruning can help maintain its compact size and shape.

Overall, Acer palmatum 'Summer Gold' is a stunning and versatile tree that can add a touch of elegance to any garden or landscape.

At maturity, Acer palmatum 'Summer Gold' typically reaches a height of around 1.5 to 2 meters, with a similar spread. However, this can vary depending on growing conditions and the specific cultivar. The plant has a slow to moderate growth rate, and it may take several years to reach its full size. In general, Japanese maples are known for their elegant and graceful appearance, and 'Summer Gold' is no exception. Its compact size and bushy habit make it an excellent choice for smaller gardens or as a focal point in a larger landscape. With proper care and maintenance, this beautiful tree can provide years of enjoyment and beauty in your outdoor space.

Acer palmatum 'Skeeters Broom' is a unique and stunning cultivar of the Japanese maple tree. This deciduous tree is prized for its striking, bright red foliage that emerges in the spring and turns a deeper shade of red in the fall. The leaves are deeply lobed and delicate, creating a graceful and elegant appearance.

'Skeeters Broom' is a slow-growing tree that typically reaches a height of 6 to 8 feet and a spread of 4 to 6 feet, making it a perfect choice for smaller gardens, courtyards, or even containers. It has a compact and upright growth habit, with branches that grow vertically, giving it a narrow and columnar shape.

This Japanese maple is a low-maintenance tree that prefers partial shade and well-drained soil. It is hardy in zones 5-9 and can tolerate both cold winters and hot summers. 'Skeeters Broom' is also known for its excellent resistance to pests and diseases, making it a reliable addition to any landscape.

Overall, Acer palmatum 'Skeeters Broom' is a striking and unique cultivar that is sure to catch the eye of any passerby. Its compact size, easy care, and stunning foliage make it an excellent choice for gardens of all sizes and styles.

Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum', or red leaf Japanese maple, is a slow-growing, deciduous shrub with delicate, upright branches and beautiful finely-divided, deep red leaves that change colour throughout the year. It is grown for its stunning foliage and interesting growth habit. Deep burgundy red of spring leaves fades to light green in early summer, then turn to golden, orange, and red in autumn. Unnoticeable red-purple flowers are followed by winged purple fruits.

Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' thrives in moist, well-drained soil, in a sheltered position. To achieve the best leaf colour, it must be in partial shade, though it tolerates full sun if the soil is moist. It also needs to be sheltered from drying winds. An outstanding ornamental tree, perfect for small yards, urban gardens, or as a front yard accent. Suitable for growing in pots and containers.

Acer palmatum 'Wilson's Pink Dwarf' is a delightful, slow-growing Japanese maple prized for its compact size and ever-changing foliage. In spring, the finely cut, delicate leaves emerge in soft shades of pink, creating a striking display that brings gentle colour and elegance to the garden. As the season progresses, the foliage matures to fresh green while retaining subtle pink tones on the newer growth, providing lasting visual interest throughout the warmer months. In autumn, the leaves transform into brilliant shades of orange, crimson and scarlet, delivering a spectacular seasonal finale.

Its naturally rounded, dwarf habit makes it an excellent choice for smaller gardens, courtyard spaces, patios and containers, where it can be appreciated up close. Requiring little pruning, it develops into a graceful specimen that suits both modern and traditional planting schemes.

For the best foliage colour and leaf quality, plant Acer palmatum 'Wilson's Pink Dwarf' in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil in a sheltered position. Partial shade is ideal, particularly in hotter areas, as it helps protect the delicate leaves from scorching. Perfect as a focal point, this beautiful maple offers year-round structure, exceptional seasonal colour and timeless elegance in even the smallest of gardens.

Acer palmatum 'Beni-maiko' is a popular Japanese maple cultivar known for its stunning crimson-red foliage that emerges in the spring and deepens to a rich burgundy color in the summer and fall. The name 'Beni-maiko' translates to "red dancing girl" in Japanese, and this cultivar certainly lives up to its name with its graceful and eye-catching appearance.

This deciduous tree typically grows to a height of 8-12 feet with a spread of 6-10 feet, making it a great choice for smaller gardens or as a container plant. The leaves are deeply lobed and have a delicate, lacy appearance, adding a touch of elegance to any landscape.

In addition to its stunning foliage, 'Beni-maiko' also produces small red flowers in the spring that give way to winged samaras, or "helicopter" seeds, in the fall. The tree prefers partial shade and well-drained soil, and is generally low-maintenance, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners alike.

Overall, Acer palmatum 'Beni-maiko' is a striking and versatile tree that adds a touch of elegance and beauty to any garden or landscape.

When fully mature, Acer palmatum 'Beni-maiko' can reach a height of up to 12 feet with a spread of 6-10 feet. However, the ultimate size of the tree will depend on factors such as the growing conditions, pruning practices, and other environmental factors. This cultivar is considered to be a slow-growing tree, which makes it an excellent choice for smaller gardens or as a container plant. With its compact size and graceful appearance, 'Beni-maiko' is a great choice for adding a touch of elegance and beauty to any outdoor space.

Acer palmatum 'Orangeola' is an exceptional choice for gardens where elegant form, year-round interest, and vibrant seasonal colour are desired. This compact, weeping Japanese maple develops a graceful cascading habit, making it ideal for smaller gardens, courtyard spaces, woodland settings, and ornamental borders. Its finely dissected foliage emerges in shades of orange-red during spring, matures to rich red-green tones through summer, and culminates in a spectacular display of crimson, scarlet, and orange in autumn.

Thriving in fertile, moist but well-drained soil, 'Orangeola' performs best in a sheltered position protected from strong winds and harsh afternoon sun, particularly in warmer areas. In the UK climate, it is generally reliable and hardy, benefiting from partial shade where its delicate foliage can remain at its best throughout the growing season.

This striking tree is particularly effective as a specimen plant, beside ponds, within Japanese-inspired gardens, or grown in a large patio container where its cascading branches can be fully appreciated. Requiring little pruning beyond occasional shaping, it is relatively low-maintenance. Its manageable size and outstanding foliage colour make Acer palmatum 'Orangeola' a superb focal point that brings beauty, texture, and seasonal interest to gardens of all sizes.

The Tamukeyama Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Tamukeyama’) is a highly regarded cultivar of the laceleaf Japanese maple, celebrated for its graceful, cascading form and exceptional foliage colour. Originating in Japan, where it has been cultivated for centuries, it is prized both for traditional gardens and as a striking specimen in contemporary landscapes.

This deciduous shrub or small tree typically reaches a height of around 2–3 metres, with a broad, spreading habit that can extend just as wide. Its finely dissected, lace-like leaves are a rich crimson-red in spring, deepening to a vibrant burgundy in summer, and often taking on fiery scarlet tones in autumn before falling. Unlike some other red-leaved Japanese maples, ‘Tamukeyama’ holds its colour remarkably well throughout the warmer months, even in full sun, provided it is adequately watered.

The branches have an elegant, weeping habit, giving the tree a soft, flowing appearance that works beautifully over rock gardens, near ponds, or as a focal point in mixed borders. It is also an excellent choice for growing in large containers, where its form can be appreciated up close.

‘Tamukeyama’ prefers a sheltered position in moist, well-drained soil, ideally with some protection from harsh winds. While it tolerates full sun, partial shade can help preserve leaf quality in particularly hot or exposed sites. It is hardy in most parts of the UK, although young plants benefit from frost protection during severe winters.

With minimal pruning and basic seasonal care, the Tamukeyama Japanese Maple rewards gardeners with year-round interest — delicate new spring growth, summer richness, autumn brilliance, and an intricate branch silhouette in winter. Its enduring beauty and adaptability have ensured its place as one of the most cherished Japanese maple varieties in both private gardens and public landscapes.

Acer palmatum 'Emerald Lace' is a fast-growing, mound-forming, deciduous shrub or small tree with rounded crown, elegantly arching branches and feathery, lace-like, deeply dissected, bright green leaves, spectacular red and orange in autumn. Small, red and purple flowers bloom in spring and are followed by red winged fruit in summer.

Acer palmatum 'Emerald Lace' prefers fertile, organically rich, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun and partial shade. Best leaf colour is achieved in partial shade. Lack of soil moisture or excessive exposure can cause leaf scorch. Does not suffer from many diseases and pests. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require much pruning.

Japanese maple 'Emerald Lace' is a beautiful ornamental tree, perfect as a specimen or accent plant in informal, cottage, rock and gravel, and urban gardens. Great for beds, shrub borders, and mixed borders. Excellent for planting in containers, It can make a wonderful patio tree.

Acer palmatum ‘Chitose-Yama’ is a striking and reliable Japanese maple valued for its seasonal colour shifts and strong garden presence. Its deeply lobed foliage emerges in spring as bright red-purple tones, gradually maturing to bronze-green through summer while retaining attractive reddish highlights. In autumn, the tree produces a vivid display of fiery crimson, orange, and gold, making it a standout feature in the late-season garden.

This cultivar has a more vigorous, upright habit than many Japanese maples, making it well suited to medium and larger gardens where it can develop its natural shape. It works particularly well as a specimen tree in lawns, mixed borders, or woodland-style plantings, where its changing foliage can contrast beautifully with evergreen shrubs and softer underplanting.

‘Chitose-Yama’ prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil and benefits from a sheltered position away from strong winds. Partial shade is ideal, although it can tolerate sunnier sites if soil moisture is consistent. Once established, it is relatively low maintenance, requiring only light pruning to maintain structure.

With its robust growth, reliable colouring, and seasonal transformation, Acer palmatum ‘Chitose-Yama’ brings structure, movement, and exceptional year-round interest to the garden.

Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen' is a superb ornamental tree that brings elegance, texture, and long-lasting colour to a wide range of garden styles. Its graceful, cascading habit and finely dissected foliage make it an excellent focal point for small gardens, courtyard spaces, woodland borders, and Japanese-inspired landscapes. The deep crimson leaves emerge in spring and retain their rich colour throughout the growing season, before transforming into brilliant shades of scarlet and red during autumn.

This compact Japanese maple thrives in fertile, moist but well-drained soil and prefers a sheltered position away from strong winds. It performs best in partial shade, although it can tolerate more sun if the soil remains consistently moist. Its relatively slow growth and manageable size make it particularly suitable for gardens where space is limited.

'Crimson Queen' is equally effective when planted as a specimen tree, beside water features, among contrasting green foliage, or in a large decorative container on a patio or terrace. Requiring minimal maintenance beyond occasional removal of dead or damaged branches, it is an easy tree to care for once established. With its distinctive form, exceptional foliage, and outstanding seasonal colour, Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen' provides year-round beauty and a refined architectural presence in the garden.

Acer palmatum ‘Ukigumo’ is a highly ornamental Japanese maple prized for its striking variegated foliage and airy, ethereal appearance. Its name means “floating cloud,” reflecting the soft, cloud-like patterning on its leaves. In spring, the foliage emerges pale green, generously splashed and speckled with creamy white and subtle pink tones. As the season progresses, the variegation becomes more pronounced, though it can be variable depending on light levels and growing conditions. In autumn, the leaves typically turn soft shades of yellow, orange, and blush pink, adding gentle seasonal interest.

This cultivar has a slow-growing, upright habit, making it particularly well suited to small gardens, courtyard spaces, and refined ornamental borders. It also performs well in containers, where its delicate foliage can be appreciated at close range. Because of its pale colouring, it benefits from a sheltered position in partial shade, where it is protected from strong winds and harsh midday sun that can scorch its leaves or reduce variegation.

‘Ukigumo’ prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil and thrives in a stable, protected environment. It is relatively low maintenance, requiring only occasional pruning to maintain shape. With its unique foliage pattern and soft, floating appearance, Acer palmatum ‘Ukigumo’ adds elegance and lightness to any garden setting.

Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Princess’ is a compact, finely cut Japanese maple valued for its elegant weeping habit and strong seasonal colour. Its deeply dissected foliage emerges in rich crimson-red tones in spring, holding its colour well through summer when grown in a suitably sheltered position. As autumn approaches, the leaves intensify into vivid scarlet and fiery red shades, providing a dramatic late-season display.

This cultivar is particularly well suited to smaller gardens, courtyard spaces, and ornamental borders where its delicate, cascading form can be appreciated up close. It also performs very well in large containers, making it a versatile choice for patios, terraces, or entrance areas where architectural impact is desired without taking up much space.

‘Crimson Princess’ thrives in moist, well-drained, fertile soil and prefers a sheltered site protected from strong winds. Light dappled shade is ideal, helping preserve leaf colour and preventing scorch in hotter periods. Once established, it is relatively low maintenance, requiring only occasional pruning to remove dead wood or refine its shape.

With its refined structure, reliable colouring, and graceful presence, Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Princess’ brings year-round interest and a touch of elegance to both traditional and contemporary garden designs.

Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’ is a highly distinctive and sought-after Japanese maple known for its luminous, rounded foliage and exceptional seasonal colour changes. In spring, the broad, palmate leaves emerge in warm shades of apricot, soft orange, and golden yellow, often flushed with coral or red tones. As the season progresses, the foliage deepens to rich golden-green, retaining a gentle glow that stands out in shaded or partially shaded garden areas. In autumn, the tree becomes particularly spectacular, transforming into vibrant shades of fiery orange, red, and amber.

This cultivar has a broadly upright, spreading habit, making it well suited to small and medium-sized gardens where a focal point is desired. It works beautifully as a specimen tree in lawns, woodland gardens, or mixed borders, and also performs well in large containers on patios or terraces where its colour and form can be appreciated up close.

‘Autumn Moon’ prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil and thrives in a sheltered position out of strong winds. Dappled shade or morning sun with afternoon protection helps preserve its delicate leaf colouring. Low maintenance once established, it requires only minimal pruning. Its unique foliage and glowing seasonal palette make Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’ a truly exceptional garden feature.