Dwarf Japanese Maple
All about the Dwarf Japanese Maple
Dwarf Japanese maple belongs to the species Acer palmatum, just like the regular Japanese maple, and is a compact cultivar of the regular tree. It is a version of the Japanese maple that is slow growing and it tends to reach a maximum height of six to eight feet. They have been cultivated to have small leaves and a profusion of branches to showcase the foliage that the tree is so famous for and their compactness of size makes them a good fit for small gardens and even container gardening. You will find that the dwarf Japanese maple is popular in rock gardens and that it is also a good choice as a bonsai tree. The tree tends to have dramatic fall coloring and it takes easily to different kinds of soil and climatic patterns. The fact that the roots of the dwarf Japanese maple are compact and non-invasive makes it a good tree for small spaces.
The various cultivars of the dwarf Japanese maple have been grown to highlight different kinds of foliage and so you have some with the lace-leaf and some with variegated leaves. The color and shape of this kind of tree is what makes it distinctive and so most cultivars find one of these features to highlight. Since it is small and encouraged to be well branched, this kind of tree appears very dense and lush. You may want to tour neighboring nurseries to get an idea of the cultivars that are available. Or if there is a tree in the neighborhood that has particularly caught your eye, you should step and find out where it was bought as there is no guarantee that any given cultivar is widely stocked. Among some of the famous kinds of dwarf Japanese maple cultivars we have Aratama, Geisha, Kashima, Baby Lace, Beni Hoshi, Beni, Hime, Kiyohime, Kinra, Yubae, Green Star, Ukon and Wou Nishiki. But as many local nurseries develop their own kind of the dwarf Japanese maple, you may have to ask around for sources if you spot a particular kind that you want to try in your garden.
The cultivars are created to give different appearances to the tree and so while some grow tall and erect, others are more like the Weeping Willow with trailing branches and there are also some that are created to emphasize the packed and tight quality. So, other than the color and the shape of the leaves, you have to consider the overall shape of the tree in choosing your dwarf Japanese maple. A confident gardener can create any shape they choose by pruning and trimming regularly. This is especially true of the bonsai variety of this tree. If you are going with a bonsai version of the Japanese maple you can either pick a trained tree and maintain its shape or pick a raw dwarf tree and create a shapely bonsai that reflects your artistic eye.
While you have to research the needs of the cultivar you choose, broadly speaking dwarf Japanese maple needs well-drained soil and does not need too much direct sunlight. It does well in shady locations and should be protected against strong winds also. If you are unsure about which cultivar will work well in your area, you can talk to a nursery in the area or even take a walk around the neighborhood and find a thriving tree. Given the increasing popularity of this tree it is very likely that you will find one.
The dwarf Japanese maple is usually grown from cuttings and you can choose to start your tree from a sapling stage or buy a more mature plant. Your soil will need to be well conditioned and you have to watch out against over fertilization or over watering to make sure that your tree adapts well to its new setting. In general, once the tree takes root it does not need too much by way of care and maintenance except the regular pruning.