| 1st and foremost, as a fellow gardener, I'm obliged to | | | | top pick. The color the red leaf turns in the fall is |
| tell you, you must have at least 1 Japanese maple | | | | simply spectacular. You can prune these babies to |
| somewhere on your property. These top garden | | | | determine the character and size so no two are the |
| design tips will make your garden the envy of the | | | | same. They're not quite as hardy as the Bloodgood |
| block. I promise beyond any reasonable doubt, these | | | | but if you're in zone 6 or greater, you're in luck! |
| pricey gems are worth every penny (or dollar!) | | | | Pick Number 1 - Inaba Shidare Maple. WOW. That |
| Pick Number 3 - Bloodgood Japanese Maple. I'm sure | | | | pretty much sums it up. Take a smaller Bloodgood |
| everyone has seen one of these. They are as | | | | and combine it with the beautiful Cutleaf and you |
| elegant as they come. I have to tell you I actually | | | | have the Acer palmatum dissectum 'Inaba Shidare. |
| sent my 1st one back to the garden centre upon | | | | This is one amazing specimen. It's like a living statue |
| delivery. What you want to look for is an interesting | | | | of David! Keep this beauty in the sun and it will not |
| trunk system not just a single stick coming out of | | | | disappoint. Good to zone 5, the fern like leaves are |
| the ground. The Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' can grow | | | | darker than most other Japanese maples. |
| quite tall to about 18 feet. The purplish-red leaves | | | | There is actually one more on my list that is an |
| hold their color well throughout the summer. You | | | | absolue MUST HAVE. It's the Crimson Queen |
| can't go wrong with this zone 4 beauty. | | | | Japanese Maple. This beautiful mounding zone 5 |
| Pick Number 2 - Cutleaf Japanese Maple. These little | | | | speciman is to die for. The bright crimson-red, |
| beauties come in two colors; red and green. I have | | | | extremely finely cut leaves retains its color well all |
| one of each! The finely cut delicate leaf is why I | | | | sumer long. This expensive beauty is will worth the |
| chose the Acer palmatum dissectum 'Viridis' to be a | | | | price of admition. |