Acer Palmatum 'Garnet' 80cm Pot 280cm Height Outdoor Tree

Acer palmatum ‘Garnet’ is one of the most popular lace-leaf Japanese maples, prized for its finely dissected foliage and rich, long-lasting colour. It brings graceful texture and vivid tones to gardens from spring through autumn.

🌿 Key Features:

• Foliage: Delicately cut, lace-like leaves emerge a vibrant deep garnet-red in spring, retain strong reddish hues throughout summer (less likely to bronze than some red cultivars), and develop glowing scarlet highlights in autumn.

• Habit: A gently cascading, mounded shrub with a layered, dome-like shape. Typically reaches about 1.5–2 metres high with a wider spread (up to 2.5–3 metres), creating an elegant umbrella effect.

• Bark & Winter Interest: Young twigs have subtle red tones, offering some interest even in the dormant season.

Because ‘Garnet’ holds its colour well, it is especially valuable among the lace-leaf group (dissectums) for maintaining vivid red foliage throughout the growing season, rather than fading to green. It’s ideal as a specimen by water, in Japanese-style gardens, or in a container to admire up close.

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🌱 Detailed Care Guide for Acer palmatum ‘Garnet’

📍 Position & Light

• Prefers partial shade or dappled sunlight.

• A little morning sun helps intensify leaf colour, but protect from harsh afternoon sun which can scorch delicate leaves.

• Shelter from cold, drying winds is essential.

🌬️ Shelter

• Best planted in a protected spot to avoid windburn on the fine foliage.

• Keep away from exposed sites and avoid frost pockets, which may damage young shoots in spring.

💧 Watering

• Likes soil to be consistently moist, especially during the growing season.

• Avoid allowing it to dry out completely, but also ensure soil is never waterlogged.

• A yearly mulch of bark or leaf mould helps retain moisture and keeps roots cool.

🪴 Soil

• Prefers slightly acidic to neutral, fertile, well-drained soils.

• Avoid heavy clay or very chalky ground. If needed, plant in raised beds or large containers with ericaceous compost.

🍽️ Feeding

• Feed lightly in spring with a balanced slow-release fertiliser or a specific acer feed.

• Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which promote soft growth susceptible to wind and frost.

✂️ Pruning & Maintenance

• Requires little pruning.

• Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches in late autumn or winter while dormant.

• Light shaping can be done then too. Avoid heavy pruning, which spoils its natural dome.

🪲 Pests & Problems

• Generally pest-free.

• Watch for aphids on young shoots.

• Leaf scorch (brown tips or edges) is usually caused by drought, hot winds or intense sun.

🚰 Container Growing

• Excellent in a pot to show off its cascading form on patios or terraces.

• Use ericaceous compost mixed with grit for drainage.

• Keep container raised on pot feet and water regularly in dry spells.

• In very cold spells, move pot to a sheltered spot or wrap to protect roots.

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