With the recent addition of two Japanese maples I’m thinking this might be the end. Several remain in pots on the patios, but without a spot to plant them I suppose they could stay in the containers for a few years. Even with the extremely dry spring and early summer, and my lack of attention, all are looking good.
The interior coloring of my treasured new addition, ‘Manyo no sato’, has faded from purple to green. I expect this will occur annually, but it has weathered the recent heat and dryness without any visible signs of stress. The second maple planted several weeks ago, ‘Koto-no-ito’ is thriving in the naturally damp lower, rear garden.
Thankfully, several storms the past few nights have dampened the garden. This hasn’t amounted to much, and for the first time in years I’ve had to supplement water to fill the koi pond. But, the rains have come just as I was becoming discouraged that I might have to drag the hoses out.
‘Gwen’s Rose Delight’
In a dry or damp summer, the vibrant foliage coloring of red leafed Japanese maples will fade in the heat and humidity of northwestern Virginia, though this varies with sun exposure and soil moisture. Only one, Shirazz (Acer palmatum ‘Gwen’s Rose Delight’, above) fades to an unattractive color, and a few show surprisingly variable color in summer’s heat (‘Oshio beni’, below).
‘Oshio beni’
Green leafed Japanese maples vary little from spring to summer and many not shown here have grown quite large. There is no question, spring or summer, red leafed, green or variegated, Japanese maples are the favorites in this garden. (Note – all photos were taken in mid July, 2023)
Two large, green leafed ‘Seriyu’ maples arch over the front walk.One side of ‘Hubb’s Red Willow” is partially shaded, with leaves on the sunnier side fading more. ‘Hubb’s’ was planted near death, so it has taken a few years for it to fully recover. Foliage color of ‘Bloodgood’ varies by the branch, with some remaining red while branches with early morning sun exposure fade to yellow. The variation is interesting.The partially shaded Golden Full Moon maple (Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’) loses some of its spring brightness, but the color remains yellow. At an earlier age, leaves in more sun became crispy along the edges. With space becoming limited ‘Twombly’s Red Sentinel’ was the perfect tree to be shoehorned into this tight space. I’ve been surprised by its rapid growth in a few years from a thin six foot maple to double the height. In mostly full sun, a few leaves on ‘Twombly’s’ have become crispy, but most of the tree is in perfect health and faded only slightly from spring. The variegation of ‘Butterfly’ loses its pink by late spring, but the green and white variegation remains.In part shade, the color of ‘Burgundy Lace’ is not as dark as other maples when it comes into leaf. While some leaves are sun damaged, most foliage of the yellow stemmed ‘Bihou’ remains fresh in the summer heat.Green leafed maples such as this Linearlobum type maple rarely show any summer damage.A coral bark maple (Sango-kaku) failed in damp soil, so another was planted nearby in drier ground and shade from the late afternoon sun. It is growing splendidly.The large, fernleaf Japanese maple (Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’) is slowly declining with a limited area for its wide spreading roots, but it continues to be a favorite with glorious autumn foliage color.In mostly full sun, this red leafed, weeping maple fades , but is still splendid. Two Lion’s Head Japanese maples (‘Shishigashira’) have grown to fifteen feet or taller. Leaves are not changed by the summer heat.
Ramblin' through Dave's Garden 