Collection: Acer Trees

Acers are slow-growing ornamental trees that like moist but well-drained soil with decent levels of fertility. They grow well in both sun (six to eight hours) and partial shade (three to six hours) and benefit from an annual springtime feed with general purpose, slow-release fertiliser and a subsequent mulch.

Yes, you can grow acers in large pots, especially the more compact varieties. Cultivars to consider container-growing include ‘Bloodgood’, ‘Garnet’, ‘Atropurpureum’ and ‘Inaba-shidare’. Make sure the pot is nice and large, and use a high-quality, loam-based compost like John Innes No. 3. Pot-grown plants require more regular watering than their ground-grown counterparts.

Acers are known for their outstanding autumn colour, and there are a couple of varieties, in particular, that really shine at this time of year. In terms of Japanese maples, Acer palmatum, it’s hard to look past ‘Red Emperor', with its bright red foliage. The Canadian maple, Acer rubrum, ‘Fairview Flame’ is similarly impressive, putting on a fiery display at the back end of the year.

Yes, acers are nice and easy to grow! Low-maintenance and hardy, acers can easily live to over 100 years old when looked after properly. Once established, watering is only typically needed during hot, dry spells, while a springtime application of slow-release, general-purpose fertiliser and a good mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture is all that’s really needed.

What shape are acer trees? Acers come in a wide array of shapes and sizes; most are low-growing and spreading, but there are also domed, weeping and more upright varieties.

This is a bit of a subjective one, but we’re particularly fond of the dissected varieties, with their feathery, filigree-like foliage.