Acer palmatum Sumi-nagashi - Japanese Maple

The Acer palmatum Sumi-nagashi is a variety of Japanese maple highly appreciated for its deeply cut purple foliage, its good performance in the sun, and its magnificent autumn colours. Its deeply lobed foliage evolves from red-purple in spring to dark purple in summer, before ending in a spectacular scarlet red in autumn. It forms a very dense, more or less spherical crown, carried by a generally short and branched trunk. Easy to grow in non-limestone and non-drying soil, tolerating sunny exposures as well as partial shade, this small tree allows you to create a Zen atmosphere in the garden.

Native to eastern China, Korea, and Japan, the Acer palmatum is the origin of a multitude of horticultural varieties that compete in beauty. The Japanese Maple now belongs, like all Maples, to the Sapindaceae family (formerly the Aceraceae family).
The Acer palmatum, also known as Japanese Maple due to its origin, has been cultivated in Japan for over 300 years, in gardens or trained as bonsai, arousing a true cult among the Japanese. In nature, it is a small tree approximately 7 to 8 m tall, but can exceed 10 m, with leaves divided into palmate lobes and living in moist and slightly acidic soil.
Sumi-nagashi is a small tree that can have a single trunk, often branched quite low, or multiple axes from the ground. Its spreading and slightly spreading habit in the first years takes on a rather globular shape with age, as wide as it is tall. This Japanese Maple can reach approximately 4.50 m to 5 m in all directions at maturity (and approximately 2 m to 2.50 m after ten years of planting). Its foliage is palmately lobed, meaning deeply cut, mostly into seven lobes, with visible teeth along the edges, which enhance its architectural interest. The young spring foliage emerges in shades of red-purple which, in summer, darken to almost black or purple-brown, especially when the tree is exposed to the sun, which it tolerates well. Sumi means "charcoal ashes" in Japanese, thus illustrating the summer tonality of the foliage. In partial shade, this colouration will be less pronounced, and may even evolve into a dark green tinged with bronze in low light conditions. Autumn is the preferred period as, like many Japanese Maples, it offers a beautiful spectacle when it turns into scarlet red, before the leaves fall to the ground, announcing the upcoming winter. As with most varieties, the spring flowering is quite insignificant and has no ornamental interest, but it produces winged fruits, called samaras (the famous "helicopters" of our childhood).

The Acer palmatum Sumi-nagashi is interesting for its good resistance to sunlight, as well as its relatively significant growth compared to other much more delicate varieties. It can therefore be planted as a solitary specimen without appearing ridiculous, and will also hold its place in a mixed border. However, from the start, it is necessary to leave it enough space to not hinder its development, as its growth rate is moderate. Plant low shrubs around it that will not compete with it. Chinese Azaleas (Azalea mollis) will be perfect in this role, as they also tolerate sun exposure as well as partial shade. Their beautiful tender green foliage at bud burst, and especially their abundant flowering in large white, yellow, orange, pink, or red stars, will create magnificent contrasts with your Maple. The Kalmia or Mountain Laurel is also a superb companion, too little known despite its ornamental interest. The flowering in large clusters of small flowers with an amazing shape is absolutely splendid, and the shiny dark green foliage is also highly decorative. And to extend the flowering season into summer, indulge in Hydrangeas, such as Hydrangea macrophylla Dolce Fragola, which will reward you with large strawberry pink heads, while its foliage will complement that of your Maple in shades of red in autumn.

Tip: Treat with Bordeaux mixture to prevent Verticillium attacks.