Acer japonicum 'Fairy Lights'
downy Japanese maple 'Fairy Lights'
A low-growing, deciduous shrub or small tree to around 1.8m tall with spreading branches. Highly dissected leaves emerge green in spring before turning brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow in autumn. Small, red spring flowers may be followed by winged fruits in autumn
Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metresTime to ultimate height
20–50 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Red | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Red Orange Yellow | Brown | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Sapindaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- 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
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in a place sheltered from cold drying winds and from late frosts, in full sun where its colours will develop best or in light dappled shade, in moist but well-drained neutral or acidic soil that does not dry out in summer or become waterlogged in winter, and protect roots with an open-textured organic mulch such as coarse bark; for more advice, see Japanese maple cultivation
Propagation
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Low Maintenance
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Pruning group 1 (little or no pruning of trees and shrubs) and prune if necessary only from late autumn to midwinter
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
Get involved
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