Japanese maple

This is a mound-forming Japanese maple with arching shoots and leaves that are deeply lobed and finely cut. In autumn the rich purple leaves turn bright red. It makes an excellent plant for a container, filled with ericaceous compost. Japanese maples naturally grow under the protective canopy of larger trees. To avoid their leaves turning brown and crispy, try to replicate these conditions by growing Japanese maples in a sheltered spot and keeping moist in summer. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit which is for plants of outstanding excellence.