Acer palmatum ‘Elegans’ (Japanese Maple)

A truly elegant Japanese Maple, award-winning Acer palmatum ‘Elegans’ is a compact, nicely branched, deciduous tree with deeply divided and serrated long leaves, which emerge soft green with salmon pink tones in spring. Its delicate palmate foliage turns mid-green in summer before providing a colorful show in the fall that ranges between golden-yellow, orange, and red. ‘Elegans’ features a very graceful, upright, open habit, and its small stature makes it a perfect specimen for small gardens.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities
• Grows up to 5-10 ft. tall (150-300 cm) and 6-8 ft. wide (180-240 cm).
• A full sun or part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soils. Mulch helps retain soil moisture and keep roots cool. Best leaf color in partial shade, although full sun can be tolerated. A lack of soil moisture or excessive exposure can cause leaf scorch.
• Perfect as a specimen plant in cottage gardens, city gardens, or Japanese gardens and containers.
• Low maintenance, this plant needs little pruning. If pruning is necessary, prune during the dormant season and avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running. Fertilize in spring before the leaves emerge.
• It may be affected by horse chestnut scale, aphids, and verticillium wilt.
• Propagate by grafting or softwood cuttings.
• Acer palmatum is native to Japan, Korea, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia.