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Trees

Acer palmatum 'Summer Gold' (P)

Japanese maple 'Summer Gold'

A small, slow-growing, upright tree with a rounded crown, ultimately reaching 2m in height and spread. The leaves have seven lobes, open pink in spring, then lime green to yellow with a fine red edge in summer and golden yellow with orange and red shades in autumn. Inconspicuous flowers in spring are followed by red, winged fruit held above the foliage in autumn

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–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)

Botanical details

Family: Sapindaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
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: Not established

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows best in slightly acidic, humus-rich, well-drained soil, but tolerates most soils if improved with well-rotted organic matter. Hot, dry air, cold wind and late frost may cause leaf scorching. Mulch in autumn to protect shallow roots from cold and drying out. See Japanese maple cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings or by layering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants

Pruning

Pruning group 1

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

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