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You are here: Home / My garden / Japanese maples in autumn

Japanese maples in autumn

November 1, 2010 by Andrea Bellamy 10 Comments

'Ao' Japanese maple

I’ve always thought of our back patio garden as a spring garden, with its ferns and ephemeral natives. It took a positive comment from my husband for me to look objectively at the space and think, “wow, it does look pretty great right now.” I know, duh, right? With three Japanese maples—one normally red, one green, and one yellow—plus a fourth deciduous tree (a European hornbeam) it should look pretty damn good in fall.

So, since my last post focused on trees I could grow if I had the space, I thought I should celebrate the ones I have—especially since they really are giving it their all.

'Beni Kawa' Japanese maple

Here’s Acer palmatum ‘Beni Kawa,’ otherwise known as that totally-out-of-control tree. Despite the fact that it is too large for its space, I do love its colouring. Its new growth (and it always seems to be growing) is deep red, and its leaves are a lovely pale yellow—at least until fall, when it seems to burst into flame.

'Beni Kawa' Japanese maple

Here it is again.

'Beni kawa' maple

And again. I can’t help myself.

'Fireglow' Japanese maple

Here is the aptly-named ‘Fireglow’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Fireglow’). Its new leaves are always this vibrant red, which reasserts itself in fall, and whenever the leaves are backlit. It is the only red-foliaged plant on the patio, and it really makes its point.

Ao Japanese maple

And finally, here’s one last parting shot. That’s ‘Ao’ Japanese maple in the black container, with ‘Fireglow’ peeking in at the back.

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Filed Under: My garden, Shrubs & Trees Tagged With: Japanese maple

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pam/Digging says

    November 1, 2010 at 9:45 pm

    Yeah, those are rocking the color wheel. Just gorgeous! We’re still a month away from that kind of color. OK, who am I kidding? We don’t get that intense fall color in central Texas, but we do get a faded version of fall in early to mid-December. Which makes me enjoy your pics all the more.

  2. Laura says

    November 1, 2010 at 9:54 pm

    Beautiful. Fall is something spectacular! I really like the Maple in that dark pot! It really is giving it’s all!

  3. gina says

    November 2, 2010 at 7:34 am

    Those are gorgeous maples!! I didn’t know there was a maple with red branches, besides the coral bark one. I think like the Beni Kawa better!

  4. Gwyneth says

    November 4, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    Lovely colours, There is such variety in the Maple family. I have to say the Autumn in Vancouver is my favourite reason to have moved here from the UK.

  5. rebecca sweet says

    November 5, 2010 at 6:55 am

    I LOVE Japanese Maples – and they’re such great little trees for containers, too! My favorite is the Fernleaf Fullmoon Maple – check it out. Makes my heart sing in both the spring when its covered with little dangling flowers (seriously! on a maple!) and then again in the fall with brilliantly colored leaves. It’s a taller, upright tree but stays around 9′ in a pot. Beautiful photos – love your Beni Kawa….

  6. tifanie says

    November 6, 2010 at 10:26 am

    wow. gorgeous. we have two in the ground that i absolutely love. i’ve often thought about putting one of those in a pot in my yard, but i worry how it would do here in so-cal. yours seems to be thriving. i might have to reconsider… :::

  7. Jackie Connelly says

    November 6, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    So pretty!

  8. Andrea Bellamy says

    November 7, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Pam – Thanks! It’s nice to see how fall happens across the continent, hey? In mid-December, I’ll be wishing I were in Texas!

    Laura – It’s been a great fall so far, hasn’t it? I think we’re being set up for a harsh winter!

    Gina – I think ‘Beni Kawa’ is a dwarf version of ‘Sangu Kaku’ (the coral bark one you mention). It is beautiful, but really not so dwarf!

    Gwyneth – Glad you’re hear to enjoy it! Thanks for associating Vancouver with your gorgeous deck chairs! Everyone: check out Gallant & Jones for beautiful handmade heirloom chairs!

    Sweet Rebecca – Ooo, I’ve seen the full moon maple before, but never the fernleaf version! That is STUNNING. Now I’ve got to find room for a fourth on my patio!

    Tifanie – Mine have done really well in containers so far. Give it a shot!

    Jackie – thanks babe!

  9. Ange Dean says

    November 14, 2010 at 4:06 pm

    Your backyard looks really well designed. Lovely – hardscape and trees!

  10. Crystine says

    December 3, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    REally beautiful and you gave me an idea…may I ask, what is the stone or ? your back patio has on the ground? It looks beautiful!

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