Acer palmatum Atropurpureum - Japanese Maple

The Acer palmatum Atropurpureum is a beautiful Japanese maple with a rounded habit and purple foliage, turning bright red in autumn.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Originally from eastern China, Korea and Japan, this hardy maple forms a spreading, rounded crown with young branches covered in reddish-brown bark. It develops beautiful deciduous foliage, purple, opposite, palmate, 5 to 10cm (3.9 in) long, divided into 5 to 9 toothed lobes, which turn bright red in autumn. The tiny reddish flowers grouped in small clusters in April are insignificant, but the red fruits with curved wings, 3cm (1.2 in) long, are decorative.

The Acer palmatum Atropurpureum prefers acidic, moist, fertile, well-drained and well-prepared soil partially shaded and protected from cold and dry winds. It does not tolerate heavy soils and excess water in winter. High temperatures can cause leaf burn, which falls quickly. Mulch, water and mist the foliage on hot evenings. Winter pruning should be limited to simply shaping the branches. Treat against scale insects and verticillium wilt.

The Acer palmatum Atropurpureum is a great option as a tree centrepiece on a shaded lawn, or to provide shade in heather beds when accompanied by azaleas, pieris, rhododendrons, and heathers. It can also be pruned into a stunning bonsai and grown in a flat dish.