Acer palmatum ‘Elegans’

An upright and open tree 2 to 3 metres tall and 2 metres wide. The leaves emerge a pinky green, change to green in the summer and become an orangey red before falling in the autumn.

A plant for full sun to light shade as long as the roots are in cool, moist soil with good drainage. Acid to neutral conditions and out of strong winds. Do not prune in spring when the sap is rising.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.