Japanese Maple, Atropurpureum
Acer palmatum Atropurpureum
Photo credits
Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 (image 1), Jean-Pol Grandmont, CC BY 3.0 (image 2)
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Plant Types & Availability - More information
Pg = Pot Grown
All prices include VAT at 20%.
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Planting & Care - More information
Growing and Caring for Japanese Maples (Acers) - where plant, when to prune and feed.
Fantastic, round-headed, eye-catching, slow growing variety with deeply lobed, red-purple leaves which retain their outstanding colour all summer then turn an amazing brilliant scarlet-red in autumn before falling. Best grown in dappled shade, but is tolerant of full sun, however it should be protected from the mid-day sun and cold winds as these could cause damage to the leaves. Height up to 4.6m (15ft), spread to 2.4m (8ft).
Also available as a smaller 30 - 40cm (12 - 16ins) plant.
Special offer on 3 Litre Japanese Maples - buy 2 for £45 - saving £8.98.
Japanese Maple, Atropurpureum is available as:
Pg = Pot Grown
Pot Grown Plants
These are normally sold in small 9cm wide pots, unless a different pot size is shown (where the pot size is shown in litres). Pot grown plants can be planted at any time of the year.
Availability
Pot Grown are generally available all year.
If a plant is currently out of stock because it is out of season (for example, bare rooted plants in summer) or we have sold out but we are expecting more to be available you can pre-order the plant. We only charge credit/debit cards when an order is despatched, not when an order is placed.
Where to Grow?
Grow Japanese Maples in moist but ideally reasonably drained, acidic soil, in a sheltered spot out of the way of prevailing winds. Most Japanese Maples tolerate full sun or shade, but variegated and fine filigree types do best in partial shade.
Growing in Pots
When growing Japanese Maples in pots, choose a tree or shrub compost or a peat-free compost such as Miracle-Gro Ericaceous Compost. Ensure your pot has drainage holes. Firm your Japanese Maple in well. Water well and, if planting at this time of the year, feed with a slow-release fertiliser such as Vitax Acer Fertiliser which will last the whole season.
Many people enjoy growing acers in pots. Re-pot potted Japanese Maples every two to three years. Follow the advice from bonsai growers, who use Japanese Maples for their art and if you need to keep the acer in the same sized pot, give the roots a small root prune by removing no more than 10% of the roots in the winter. Apply a slow-release fertiliser every spring. In cooler regions in autumn, you may need to wrap your pot in fleece to protect it from frost, however don't mollycoddle it - they are tougher than you think!
Pruning
Japanese Maples are easy to care for. They don’t require any pruning unless you want to improve their shape or need to remove dead or dying stems. Prune them in the dormant season (after they have shed their leaves) as at any other time of year the plant will bleed sap, which can be unsightly. Any winter die back should be tidied up before the plant breaks dormancy.
Don' forget to water
Water, water, water... never let your Japanese maples get dry otherwise they will be stressed which can result in withered tips, desiccated foliage and leaf drop. Ideally use rain water from a water butt.