Acer palmatum 'table tops'.

12 years ago

I call them table-tops because they grow wider then tall.

Of course every conifer garden deserves and needs a few Acer palmatums tucked in here and there. One of the best deciduous companion plants because of the many variables in color and growing habit.

Dave

Acer palmatum 'Murasaki Kiyohime'.

'Murasaki Kiyohime' has small green leaves edged in bright red-purple. Leaves mature to a green during the summer, and in the fall coloring ends with a beautiful gold and orange. The multiple changing colors on this maple make it a great year round interest plant. One of only a few horizontally growing Japanese maples, reaching a mature size of about 3-4' tall and 8-10' wide. Zone 5-8

Acer palmatum 'Kiyo-hime'

Considered one of the "table-top" maples with its low, wide habit. Rarely over two-feet high while reaching 8-10 feet wide. The small, five-lobed leaves emerge green with a pink edging. Zone 5-8.

Acer palmatum 'Berry Dwarf'

A newer selection that forms a dense, low shrub reaching two-feet high x four-feet wide in 10 years. Leaves emerge a light apple green maturing to a bronze green. Fall coloration is yellow with red-brown edging. This cultivar originated in Australia. Zone 5-9.

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Comments (17)

coniferjoy
12 years ago
You're right Dave, it's a good thing to combinate conifers and Acer palmatums cultivars in the garden.

I was wondering if the true name for the 'Berry Dwarf' is 'Barry Dwarf'.
I come to this because when I touched that pic the cultivar name 'Barry Dwarf' showed up...
dcsteg
Original Author
12 years ago
Edwin,

Some confusion on this one.

Personally I think it's 'Barry Dwarf'. I have it tagged that way.

If you go to Google it's 'Berry Dwarf or 'Berry's Dwarf'.

Even Buchholz is caught up in that senario.

So that is the way I posted it here in hopes of resolving this issue.

Dave
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
it never fails to amaze me.. that you get away with the JM's in z5 ... but i cant in z5 ...

i guess its all micro climate in z5 ...

i am guessing its winter wind.. as i dont have anyplace to tuck them in from such....

ken
oakiris
12 years ago
Beautiful trees, Dave.

I agree that they are wonderful companions for conifers, and really add to any garden. I love JMs but I can't grow them here in Colorado, either - combination of alkaline clay soil, harsh summer sunlight and drying winter winds, I think. I have one that is still surviving in a very protected area, but all of the other ones I have tried
have died.

I even tried one in a container last year to eliminate the soil problem, kept it in the shade, protected it from wind, but it still died over the summer. Perhaps it was the alkaline water?? Don't know, but I have finally given up on JMs - don't want to kill anymore of the lovely things. :-(

Holly
ricksample
12 years ago
Looks great, I like Japanese maples just as much as conifers. On of my personal favorites is Acer palmatum 'Red Dragon' which is tucked next to a few green conifers.

Holly - Have you tried ones that are a little more hardy? A couple weeks ago we had 80 degree temps for the entire week which caused everything to leaf out. Now it has been very cold and I can see which maples are doing there best. Such as Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' doesn't seem to care much about the low temps. Where as Acer Palmatum 'Waterfall' has lost all it's leaves. The maples that are doing better seem to be the ones that have thicker leaves, grow much faster. The ones that are having a hard time have thin leaves and grow much slower.
dcsteg
Original Author
12 years ago
Ken,

You are aware that I can't grow Abies in my Zone 5. but you can.
coniferjoy
12 years ago
Dave, mentioning Acer palmatum 'table tops' this way you will make a suggestion that 'table tops' is a cultivar name.
Imo it was better to say "Table top forms of Acer palmatum"...
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
You are aware that I can't grow Abies in my Zone 5. but you can.

==>> sure.. but they all look the same.. lol ... and that is about you.. i was talking about ME .... [summer heat right??]

but there is so much diversity in the JM that would be a welcome addition

so i am left with robur oaks.. and fagus.. and a various lot of weirdo trees ...

ken
Windhaven
12 years ago
Beautiful! I didn't realize that there were 'table tops'. All of your pictures of your trees and gardens are just gorgeous!

Robyn
dcsteg
Original Author
12 years ago
Edwin,

In the interest of being politically correct...you are right.

I thought about that but didn't take you into consideration until after the post.

It can be considered a slang term made up chiefly in casual and playful speech. At least on this side of the pond.

Dave
dcsteg
Original Author
12 years ago
Ken,

To be honest I don't know why you can't grow Acer palms. I wish you could.

I have seen -15 F. here and very dry cold northern winds. No moisture last winter 3.7" of snow. High heat and humidity and drought last summer. Still these Acers keep right on trucking, stand in the open with no protection...Is there anything I am missing that doesn't occur in your Zone.5.

Now Abies I surmise my issues are with high heat and unrelenting humidity.

Dave
alley_cat_gw_7b
12 years ago
Heres a flat top that had a chunk broken out of it from 3' of snow a couple years back. Its on the mend and closing the gap up nicely...AP 'Tama Hime'. {{gwi:693783}}{{gwi:693784}}
kim_dirtdigger
12 years ago
Beautiful maples Dave. Striking coloration on the Kiyo-hime. They are most certainly perfect companions for conifers. Your garden is always amazing!!

I was also thinking that in Rick's situation of trying to fill in space quickly, the low growing Acer palmatums could serve as a quasi ground cover, although that wouldn't solve the mulch problem. I've found most of the low spreading Acers to grow pretty quickly given sufficient water.

Which also makes me wonder if part of Ken's problem in growing Japanese maples could be his sandy soil and lack of consistent moisture more than the cold wind??

Happy Spring everyone! It's glorious!

Kim
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
To be honest I don't know why you can't grow Acer palms. I wish you could.

and

Which also makes me wonder if part of Ken's problem in growing Japanese maples could be his sandy soil and lack of consistent moisture more than the cold wind??

==>> my total guess .. winter sun.. thawing one side of the trunk.. REPEATEDLY .. with cold blistering winds returning at dusk.. plus winter water in sand .. lol .. and budget ...

when i used to do roses.. i used to say.. one freeze thaw cycle.. and the rose is mildly amused.. twice.. severe damage.. and the third time.. the heck with you.. i will just die ... and that was why we put roses under styrophome cones in MI in winter ...

i could probably figure it all out .. but these things arent cheap.. so its a costly learning curve .. before you succeed ... [and yes.. i tried babes .... and failed with those.. but that was long before i had any idea what to do with young grafts] ...

oh how i long for the days of WHINE and roses .. lol ... just another excuse for a good whine ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link
oakiris
12 years ago
"Holly - Have you tried ones that are a little more hardy? A couple weeks ago we had 80 degree temps for the entire week which caused everything to leaf out. Now it has been very cold and I can see which maples are doing there best. Such as Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' doesn't seem to care much about the low temps. Where as Acer Palmatum 'Waterfall' has lost all it's leaves. The maples that are doing better seem to be the ones that have thicker leaves, grow much faster. The ones that are having a hard time have thin leaves and grow much slower."

Hi Rick - I have only tried the hardier Japanese Maples in hopes of at least giving them a running start. But no luck, and, unlike Dave's plants which he says are right out in the open with no protection, I have done my best to protect them from the wind and the sun - Colorado sun is very intense, things that are recommended for full sun in say, Oregon, can't handle it here. They still die and, as ken mentioned, they are pretty expensive and I can't afford to keep trying different cultivars. There is just no way that I can protect them from the alkaline clay soil and I think that is the deciding factor.

I have just resigned myself to the fact that, other than the one that still seems to be plugging away, (an unknown green cultivar) I can't have JMs in my garden. :(

Holly
ghgwv
12 years ago
Wonderful maples. Look great in your garden.
Gary
whaas_5a
12 years ago
Dave, would you care to share where you got these selections?

Acer palmatum 'Kiyo-hime' sure looks nice with the coral bells.

Acer palmatum 'table tops'.

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