Acer palmatum Twomblys Red Sentinel - Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Twomblys Red Sentinel' is a charming Japanese maple for small gardens. Its narrow and irregular habit sets it apart from the cup-shaped varieties, and its foliage is colourful all year round. The young leaves have a vibrant red hue before turning purple throughout the season. In autumn, the foliage bursts into red again, ending the season in a grand finale!

Native to eastern China, Korea, and Japan, Acer palmatum is the source of numerous horticultural varieties that compete in beauty. The Japanese maple now belongs, like all maples, to the Sapindaceae family (formerly Aceraceae ). It is hardy but dislikes dry and cold winds, scorching exposures, and dry and chalky soils.

The 'Twomblys Red Sentinel' cultivar has a fairly slow growth rate. Its habit is upright, with an irregular shape that can indeed evoke a human sentinel, giving it a natural appearance. Of small dimensions, it will reach approximately 3m (10ft) in height with a width of 1.5m (5ft), or a little more over time. Leafy from the base, it is more of a bush than a tree, with an architecture and foliage colour that will pique curiosity in the garden.

In spring, it produces palmate leaves with 5 or 7 lobes in a vibrant red colour. The hue darkens to purple, which it retains throughout the growing season. Then in autumn, the foliage returns to its youthful colour, displaying a striking scarlet red before bidding farewell with the arrival of winter.

Acer palmatum 'Twomblys Red Sentinel' is not strictly an acidic-soil plant, but it prefers humus-rich and moisture-retentive soils. It dreads atmospheric dryness and thrives in oceanic climates, provided it is sheltered from the wind. Elsewhere, it is important to ensure a certain level of humidity by mulching the soil above its roots and monitoring watering, especially in summer. If planted in a container on a terrace, it should be remembered that this cultivation method is more stressful than in open ground, as the plant cannot benefit from the same thermal inertia or interactions with nearby plants (shade, humidity levels, etc.). Avoid the scorching afternoon sun and especially strong winds that may cause the leaf tips to wither.

Its unique aesthetics guarantee its success in a Japanese or contemporary garden, paired with other sculptural plants such as Mahonia 'Soft Caress' to create a delicate scene, or Cryptomeria 'Globosa Nana' with its surprising cushion-like habit, whose deep green colour will enhance the warm hues of our small maple. Many yellow or variegated foliage shrubs will also complement this maple, such as Physocarpus 'Anny's Gold'. It will blend beautifully with many ericaceous plants, creating contrasts of colours and forms: golden summer heath, camellias with dark glossy leaves, variegated Pieris, and Skimmia 'Magic Marlot' will all make great companions.