skip to main content

Trees & Shrubs - Australia

Will maple trees in Perth do well?

21 years ago

I recently bought 2 young maples - a Japanese and a Canadian, each about 1 1/2 metres tall. There are no leaves out yet (though I think there's a bud on one of them) so all I have are 2 tall bare sticks in the pots.

Is the Perth climate conducive to these maples and will they turn red in autumn? I am near the beach - about 3 mins drive away and my soil is very sandy.

I am about to transplant the trees - and just deciding on the best location. I am planting the Canadian maple on my plot and the Japanese on my mum's which is only round the corner. Both our plots are similar in size with just a small front garden, enough for just one small tree, I would think. Our homes are the typical single-storey houses on about 600 sq. m. plots and a tree planted near the road kerb. Not being an Australian, I am not familiar with plants for these residential estates and concerned that the maples may be too big for a front garden. Any comments appreciated by this novice gardener!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

conifer_nut
21 years ago
Hi.I noticed no response to your question so I thought I'd give a response however I'm no maple expert and I'm not really familiar with Perth climate.I don't have a canadian maple but do have a few Jap maples.From my experience maples prefer a sheltered position from any hot,dry winds and regular water to help avoid damage to leaves in summer.Unfortunately I think you might not get good autumn colour as they need some cool nights in autumn to promote colour and being on the coast I feel the temp might not get cool enough.I've read that tapering off the water starting late summer can help colour so you could try that.The jap maple is not a large tree and is a nice tree even if autumn colour doesn't happen for you.I think the Canadian maple would grow into a larger tree than the jap maple.Give them a go however as you won't know unless you try.Good luck,hope this helps, C.N.
ithaca0706
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks for your response, CN! I asked my garden guy and he assured me they do turn red in Perth as he has planted several. Since my suburb is near the coast, I'll just have to try and see for myself. He also told me the reason I haven't seen any in Perth is because people usually have them in the backyard. I'm planting mine out front as it's rather bare, being a very new housing development and several lots are not built up yet.
Related Discussions
Plants That Do Well Under Maple Tree
Q
Comments (36)
It certainly does look great Sherry! I agree, I don't like the idea of being told something is impossible, challenging perhaps but not impossible lol! You have proven that plants and gardeners can overcome less than ideal conditions. Your plants are not hanging on by a thread, they are thriving. Kudos to you! felisar (z5) Yes, the Geranium macrorrhizum, Epimedium and Asarum canadense are great performers under Maples. I grow them under an immense Acer saccharum (Sugar maple). I also grow Polygonatum (Solomon's Seal) under it. Great plant(s) known for being able to adapt to dry shade. Phlox stolonifera performs very well also. Vinca took a while to establish but now needs to be controlled just like the Ajuga. Many other plants grow there but with less success. I had Actaea rubra (native here) seed in and it is deliriously happy growing under the Maple.
...See More
Half of Maple Tree Dead - What to do?
Q
Comments (2)
Photo 4
...See More
Yes, Tree Peonies Do Well in Pennsylvania
Q
Comments (3)
I have a pinkish yellow one that is quite old. It is a fully grown double petal that produces around 40 blooms every year. Though every winter people ask if I am going to cut down the dead bush in my yard it is made up for each spring when everyone tells me they wish they had one. Something about seeing a few dozen one pound plus blooms that you can smell from 50 feet away makes me wish i had a few hundred more.
...See More
Do Maples make good grafted trees?
Q
Comments (3)
There are well over 100 different maple species so it's impossible to make a statement about maples in general.. Japanese maples are grafted to propagate unusual varieties of which there are probably 100O's by now. Some of the so-called snake bark maples and no doubt other types which are difficult to propagate are also grafted because they are difficult or impossible to produce in any other way. The original question is sort of backwards. Some maples must be grafted. Most are propagated by seed, tissue culture or some other method.
...See More
Related Professionals
Selma Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Branson Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Rutland Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Reno Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Leamington Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tampa Landscape Contractors · Frederick Landscape Contractors · Orange County Landscape Contractors · Fayetteville Architects & Building Designers · Cumberland Architects & Building Designers · Beaumont Architects & Building Designers · San Marcos Architects & Building Designers · San Jose Architects & Building Designers · Wenatchee Architects & Building Designers · Magog Architects & Building Designers
conifer_nut
21 years ago
Go for it!Make sure they get regular water especially when first planted.They do like regular water however that said,I have seen good specimens in non gardeners gardens which only receive rainfall and nothing else.I'd stake them well in addition as they can be a little brittle in early years.May I suggest if you can also place wire tree guards supported by steel star pickets it might help stop the footpath vandals from walking past and ripping them out of the ground (I speak from experience here)good luck,regards C.N.
Paul Gregory
10 years ago
I know it's been 12 years since you wrote this post but I live in Perth and I have a Japanese Maple and a Katsura being delivered to me and I really would like to know how this experiment worked. If the tree survived it should be very well established by now.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Bigtooth Maple, the West’s Native Sugar Maple

By Susan J Tweit

Plant Acer grandidentatum for cool shade, brilliant autumn colors and songbird habitat

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Amazing Small Maple Trees

There's more to maples than syrup. Expand your maple milieu with any of these 5 small and unusual trees

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Great Design Tree: Japanese Maple

By Annie Thornton

Lacy form and fiery fall color make Japanese maple a welcome tree for garden or patio

TREE HOUSES Houzz Call: Show Us Your Well-Designed Treehouse or Tree Fort!

By Mitchell Parker

Got a great treehouse or tree fort? We want to see it! Post yours in the Comments and we’ll feature the best in a future article

TREES 11 Japanese Maples for Breathtaking Color and Form

With such a wide range to choose from, there’s a beautiful Japanese maple to suit almost any setting

TREES Great Design Plant: Coral Bark Japanese Maple, a Winter Standout

By Paintbox Garden

Go for garden gusto during the chilly season with the fiery red stems of this unusual Japanese maple

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Vine Maple

Exciting year-round color and adaptability make this highly ornamental native small tree a top choice for home gardens

GARDENING GUIDES 12 Japanese Maples for a Sunny Garden

The right maple in the right place shines in hot summer sun

GARDENING GUIDES 13 Japanese Maples for Shade

A surprising variety of these understory trees is waiting to make a statement in your shade garden

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Paperbark Maple

With fall foliage like a sunset and bark the color of cinnamon, this tree is a highlight of the landscape

Sponsored

AIS Renovations

15 Reviews

Custom Craftsmanship & Construction Solutions in Franklin County, Ohio