There was a time when I didn't particularly care for Acer palmatum, partly due to my ignorance of the plants and partly because, for a time, every landscape in every new development had the same plants in the same beauty bark covered beds: sword ferns, rhododendrons, some juniper tams and the exact same weeping burgundy lace leaf acer palmatum. There's nothing wrong with any of these plants (well, juniper tams...) but familiarity breeds contempt. Since moving here 25 years ago, I've learned about the amazing variety and beauty of the Japanese Maples and now can't imagine being without them.
I didn't set out to take pictures of maples for this post but when looking at my pictures, there seemed to be mostly maples so here you go.
Acer palmatum 'Shishio Improved' puts on quite a spring show with these bright pink leaves. Gradually becoming a rich green by the middle of summer, the foliage puts on a second show in the autumn. What's not to love?
While Japanese maples make stunning specimen trees, they can also play well with others. Here Ribes sanguineum 'Brocklebankii' NOID A.palmatum, and Podophyllum delavayi make a handsome trio.
Arisaema kishidae 'Jack Frost'
Variegated Lily of the Valley.
Acer palmatum 'Gwen's Rose Delight' marketed as 'Shirazz'
Acer pseudoplatanus 'Esk Sunset' is pretty from the top.
And also from beneath.
This potted Podophyllum delavayi is enjoying it's new and larger pot. However, there are still lots of leaves crowded around.
It would probably be a good idea to divide this next winter but I fear that it will pout about it and it's one of my favorite children.
Acer palmatum 'Ukigumo' AKA 'Floating Clouds' will grow in semi shade which is fortunaate because tit sure brightens up a dark corner beautifully!
Foliage Follow-Up is hosted by Pam Penick, garden designer, blogger, wife, mother, all around great person and the author of this fabulous book which you should buy this instant if you haven't already! Unless you're in love with your riding mower, fertilizer regimen, annual dig the sprinkler heads out of the mud ritual, and high water bill.
Nice maples but the Podophyllum and Arisaema steals the show!
ReplyDeleteThey're pretty special! Podophyllum is one of my favorite groups of plants!
DeleteI love that Eskimo Sunset maple, I've seen it in other gardens and it's so gorgeous. I've been tempted to buy it, but I'm not sure where I'd put it. There were some nice specimens at Vassey the other day.
ReplyDeleteThat Podophyllum in the pot is amazing! And I love that trio with the maple and the Ribes.
You could always plant Esk Sunset in a pot and keep it small.
DeleteOh my goodness, I knew I shouldn't have looked at your post! Acer palmatum 'Ukigumo'or 'Floating Clouds' is stunning! Just when I think I've found contentment in the maples that I currently own... ;) Lovely post. You and Alison are very inspiring with the variety of colors, shapes and textures of foliage that you place together. Cheers, Jenni
ReplyDeleteAlison does her beautiful combinations intentionally, I just cram things together and hope for the best. We're all lucky to live here where there are so many colors and textures available to us!
DeleteSorry but that Podophyllum delavayi steals the show for me. How old is it?
ReplyDeleteI've had that one for about 5 years now. For some reason, they perform better for me in pots than in the ground. The one in the combo picture was planted in the ground at the same time as this one was planted in the pot. Ground specimen is still one plant while the one in the pot has split into four. and is pumping out more leaves than it has space for. It really is beautiful and one of my favorite plants.
DeleteI'm an unapologetic lover of all things Acer...love the Japanese Maples...heck, I even love Vine Maples :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's sort of a guilty pleasure! The leaves change so much during the season & there are so many interesting varieties. It's embarassing how many of them I have in the ground and in pots. Oh well, there could be worse addictions. One of these foliage follow-ups, I should do all Acers!
DeleteLove the maples, that last one especially.
ReplyDeleteWhen the leaves of 'Floating Clouds' first emerge, they are ghostly white & look more like flowers than leaves. It's a great plant!
DeleteFrequently Japanese Maples have brightly colored samara, too. A neighbor has an interesting one. The leaves are one color along the top of each branch, and the samaras are a bright red along the bottom of the branch. It's a very cool effect.
ReplyDeleteVariegated Lily of the Valley????? I must find some!
Deirdre
You are right! Even common Bloodgood has burgundy/red leaves and magenta samara. When the sun shines on it - magic!
DeleteThe maple with the white leaves leaves me speechless.
ReplyDelete"Tough love", she advised, ogling the Podophyllum covetously and thinking of future swaps.
You need one of those maples in your garden Ricki! Thank you for your fine advice regarding Podophyllum! I will divide it early next year and see if it will stay alive for me. I'm also going to try keeping and starting seed which could be lots of fun.
DeleteWow, Peter - that is some Podophyllum!!! Never seen anything like it! Your garden and your maples look fantastic! I covet that Floating Cloud maple! I have the perfect dark corner for it. And, I would plant my white hosta beneath it... So cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I like your idea about planting your white hosta beneath the floatng cloud! You should get one!!
DeleteForgot to say I love your banner! So creative...! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's a hanging that I got at Vassey Nursery in Puyallup.
DeleteI love the lily of the valley! Those maples have beautiful leaves as well. Happy weekend, Peter!
ReplyDeleteThanks Satu! I wish you a happy weekend as well.
DeleteOh my gosh, so many goodies in this post! That podophyllum is incredible. And so many good maples!
ReplyDeleteWe gardeners sure do love beautiful foliage!
DeletePeter, I love maples and I have one Japanese that suffer every winter of frost. But your picture of 'Ukigumo' AKA 'Floating Clouds' is awesome. I will look for what zone it is and will try to purchase it. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteUkigumo is my favorite maple. I killed a couple of them before finding success with this one. I hope you are able to grow it because it would look so pretty in your garden!
DeleteI just lost my heart to Podophyllum delavayi! Did I read that right, you grow it in a pot? So, um... maybe I could grow them here in Cleveland, too, as long as I'm committed to the pot?! (I'm hoping you say yes--even though I need another thing to overwinter in the house like a fish needs a bicycle... :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Kim, I grow it in a pot that gets left outside all winter because I love to see the plant elevated. Planting it in a berm has the same effect but mine seem to grow better in pots than in the ground. Podophyllumdelavayi is hardy to zone 6 and according to the new plant hardiness map, Cleveland moved from zone 5b to 6 so you might be able to grow it in the ground with some winter protection. If you want to grow it in a pot, you could put the pot in an unheated garage for the winter once the foliage dies back, don't let the soil get bone dry but soggy's not good either, and bring the pot back out when the weather warms up. Or drag the pot into the garage only when the weather gets really cold. The foliage starts looking pretty tied by the end of the summer so trying to overwinter it as a house plant might not yeild very satisfying results. It's a beautiful plant! I feel your pain with the pot migration issue!
DeleteGood gracious, what a flattering surprise at the end of your post! Thanks for the kind words, Outlaw, and for spreading the word about Lawn Gone! Now, on to your foliage assortment -- you had me at Japanese maple. What a rainbow vision of different maple foliage you've tantalized us with. I love them ALL.
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying your book and am glad that it's already gone to a second printing! Here's to many more!
DeleteGlad you liked the maples. There are many more in my garden as I'm just a gardener who can't say no to any interesting plant.