Acer palmatum 'Westonbirt Spreading Star'

RHS Plant Profile

Japanese maple 'Westonbirt Spreading Star'

Trees

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A large, deciduous shrub to small, shrubby tree with a height of 2.5m-3m and spread of 3-4m. Deeply divided palmate leaves are green during spring and summer. In autumn, the foliage turns a bright golden yellow with hints of orange. For the best autumn colour, plant in a sheltered location with full sun

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Sapindaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Spreading branched
Genus: Acer can be deciduous trees or large shrubs with paired, often palmately-lobed leaves and small flowers followed by characteristic winged fruits. Many have fine autumn colour, and some have ornamental stems
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moisture-retentive, well-drained soil in a sheltered position. Leaf colour is best in partial shade, although full sun can be tolerated if soil is reliably moist. Acer leaf scorch can be caused by lack of soil moisture or excessive exposure. Suits container cultivation but attention to watering is needed in dry spells during the growing season. Suits bonsai cultivation. See Japanese maple cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by layering in autumn, grafting in late winter or softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1 from late autumn to midwinter only

Pests

May be susceptible to acer gall mite, aphids, caterpillars and horse chestnut scale

Diseases

May be susceptible to verticillium wilt, acer leaf scorch and honey fungus