About
Acer palmatum 'Arakawa' is a robust, upright deciduous tree that typically reaches heights of 4 to 5 meters. Its most notable feature is the rough, cork-like texture of the bark, which becomes more pronounced after five years and continues to develop as the tree matures. The leaves are small and finely divided, consisting of five lobes, and they transition to shades of golden-yellow and orange in the fall.
About the genus
Acer consists of deciduous trees or sizable shrubs featuring pairs of leaves that are frequently palmately lobed. These plants produce small flowers that give way to distinctive winged fruits. Numerous species display vibrant autumn foliage, while certain varieties also exhibit decorative stems.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, West-facing, North-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in any 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. Leaf scorch can be caused by lack of soil moisture or excessive exposure. See Japanese maples cultivation
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1, only from late autumn to mid-winter
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood cuttings, layering or by grafting. Plants grown from seed are unlikely to come true, but may still be garden worthy
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids and scale insects, including horse chestnut scale
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to Verticillium wilt, Acer leaf scorch and honey fungus