Japanese maple
Japanese maple: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Japanese maples are especially valued for their divided leaves and graceful outlines. The common name covers several Asian maples, with Acer palmatum playing a prominent role in gardens. They belong to the Sapindaceae family and, depending on the selection, may form a shrub or a small tree. Japanese maples therefore do not all have the same leaves or eventual dimensions.In Acer palmatum, leaves grow in opposite pairs and have lobes resembling the fingers of a hand. Some selections have fairly broad lobes, while others carry foliage so finely divided that it looks like lace. The contrast between these leaves and slender twigs gives the plant its delicate appearance. Depending on the cultivar, foliage may be green, yellow, purple or variegated. No single colour defines the entire species or remains identical in every season.The display changes through the year. Young spring leaves can show different shades from those seen in summer.…
