Garden Studios

WHEN you believe of Japanese maples, most of the people ponder flaming red and orange autumn leaves. 

So for something different, try a spread that turns yellow – worthwhile is Acer palmatum “Sango-kaku” (better known by its old name, “Senkaki”). 

This goes a very bold, brilliant yellow-gold, so it sticks out fabulously well inside the autumn garden. but its display isn’t limited to the fall. 

The show starts in spring with a flush of young leaves that open out pale orange- yellow before turning green, then in autumn they tackle their bold golden-yellow, with contrasting red leaf stalks. 

In winter after the leaves have fallen, you will find the brilliant red of the young twigs. 

It isn’t as dwarf because the popular Acer palmatum dissectum, but grows very slowly, eventually reaching around 20ft. to maintain it smaller, grow it in a container to confine the roots.