October Plant of the Month: Japanese Maples

By Carol Williams

The Japanese maple, Acer palmatum, is a delightful addition to any landscape and grows well in Mobile. Unlike other maples, Japanese maples offer slow to moderate growth, allowing them to fit in among other plantings. Their leaves, shaped like a hand, remain green throughout spring and summer, but in late summer they transition to a myriad of colors: yellow, orange, bronze, red, and even purple, deepening in the fall. They are native to southeast Korea and central and south Japan and can be sensitive to too much direct sun, wind or drought. Young trees may also be sensitive to frost, but being resistant to deer endears them to our local homeowners. For more information, see https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/acer-palmatum/.

 Mobile Botanical Gardens has a collection of Japanese maples to view when you visit. There will also be some in their Fall Plant Sale Thursday, October 9,  from 1 PM – 7 PM. The sale will continue Friday and Saturday, October 10 & 11, from 9 AM – 4 PM.