Japanese Maples: カエデ

Maples in all seasons: Brilliance and transience

A visit to Japan in the height of autumn colour in the maples is an unforgettable experience.  The temple gardens in Kyoto are a  big attraction to the Japanese and other visitors in this season.  While maples do not take on the most important part of the structure of Japanese gardens they are well loved and the colours in autumn can be absolutely stunning.

Rinnoji temple, Nikko

Rinnoji Shoyoen, Nikko

Nison-in temple, Arashiyama, Kyoto

I'll share this observation by the highly respected Japanese landscape designer, Jihei Ogawa XI, on the transformation of maples through the seasons:

"...maples remind us of the final blaze of glory in our own lives.  In their brilliance there is transience, in their joy there is sorrow...Maples resonate with Japanese sentiments of life and death and aesthetic sensibilities that attach great importance to purity, and the beauty and grace with which leaves, flowers, and people take their leave of this world."

Through a restaurant window in spring - Arashiyama, Kyoto

Maple blossoms in May - Nison-in temple

The photos below show the seasonal expression of the old maple that forms a key element of the deeply inspiring Hojo rock garden at the Nanzen-ji temple, Higahsiyama, Kyoto.

Growing Japanese Maples

The Japanese maple (Acer Palmatum) is native to Japan, Korea and parts of China.  It requires an open and sunny position with rich, well-drained soil and is very slow growing.  It is better suited to cold regions but will tolerate the heat of summer providing it isn't too exposed to hot winds and has a cool root zone (ie. well mulched).  To appreciate its form and the texture and colour of its leaves and patterned shade give it space without visual competition.  There are a large number of cultivars of Japanese maples and some are better suited as grafted specimens (such as the fine leaved Dissectum group).  Try to find "Sango Kaku", "Omurayama", "Aoyagi", "Osakazuki", or "Toyama Nishiki".