Japanese maples

These compact trees come in a range of elegant shapes, with a fine tracery of branches. Some are distinctly upright, while others are more spreading, weeping or cascading. The attractive leaves are sometimes finely divided and lacy, and can be green or purple, marked with cream, yellow or pink.

Japanese maples like a cool, lightly shaded position in fertile, free-draining soil, out of direct sun in summer. They thrive under the shelter of taller deciduous trees. In bright sun, especially in windy locations, the delicate foliage is easily scorched.

Cold, frost-laden winds in late winter or early spring can scorch the young leaves. Avoid a position where they will be hit by morning sun following a frosty night.

Japanese maples thrive in large containers, ideally terracotta or stone, filled with good quality potting compost. They are often grown as bonsai.