Timber Press Pocket Guide to Japanese Maples (Timber Press Pocket Guides)

225 Pages·2007·5.51 MB·English

by  J. D. Vertrees, Peter Gregory

US$19.95 / £14.99 GARDENING
The Timber Press Pocket Guide to Japanese Maples describes and illus-
trates 300 of the most widely available Japanese maples in North America
and Europe. Along with basic information on cultivation and mainte-
nance, it provides lists of trees for specific landscape uses, enabling
gardeners to select the best trees for various garden conditions. Fifty new
cultivars are presented, including four outstanding trees that are expected
to become very popular in the near future. The guide is a valuable comple- TIMBER PRESS
ment to the 3rd edition of J. D. Vertrees’ Japanese Maples (updated in POCKET GUIDE TO
2001 by Peter Gregory). Its handy format makes it an ideal reference for
taking to the nursery or garden center and continues the Timber Press
tradition of providing attractive, authoritative books for gardeners and
plant enthusiasts.
J . D. VERTREES (1915–1993) was probably the most
knowledgeable grower of Japanese maples in his
time and amassed at Maplewood Nursery in southern
Oregon the largest collection of Japanese maples in
J. D. VERTREES
the United States.
with PETER GREGORY
PETER GREGORY, retired manager at Westonbirt
Arboretum in Gloucestershire, England, is chairman
and co-founder of the Maple Society and editor of
its journal. He has been involved in tree research,
including maples, for more than five decades.
For details on other Timber Press books or to receive our
catalog, please visit our Web site, www.timberpress.com.
In the United States and Canada you may also reach us
at 1-800-327-5680, and in the United Kingdom at
01_Maples_(001-027)3rd_op 2007/2/8 4:20 PM Page 1
TIMBER PRESS
POCKET GUIDE TO
Japanese Maples
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01_Maples_(001-027)3rd_op 2007/2/8 4:21 PM Page 3
TIMBER PRESS
POCKET GUIDE TO
Japanese
Maples
J. D. VERTREES
with Peter Gregory
T I M B E R P R E S S
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Frontispiece: Acer palmatum ‘Saoshika’. Photo by Daniel Otis.
All photos copyright of the individual photographers. Photos by J. D. Vertrees
used by permission of the Estate of J. D. Vertrees, courtesy of Oregon State
University Archives, Corvallis.
Copyright © 2007 by the Estate of J. D. Vertrees. All rights reserved.
Published in 2007 by
Timber Press, Inc.
The Haseltine Building
133 S.W. Second Avenue, Suite 450
Portland, Oregon 97204-3527, U.S.A.
www.timberpress.com
For contact information regarding editorial, marketing, sales, and distribution
in the United Kingdom, see www.timberpress.co.uk.
Printed through Colorcraft Ltd., Hong Kong
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Vertrees, J. D.
Timber Press pocket guide to Japanese maples / J. D. Vertrees with
Peter Gregory.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-88192-799-3
ISBN-10: 0-88192-799-6
1. Japanese maple. I. Gregory, Peter, 1929- II. Title.
SB413.J34V48 2007
635.9’77378—dc22
2006017442
A catalog record for this book is also available from the British Library.
01_Maples_(001-027)3rd_op 2007/2/8 4:21 PM Page 5
Dedication About This Book
To Roseann— The plant entries in this pocket guide are divided
Without her unselfish encouragement, wisdom, into two sections: the first including only culti-
and devotion, none of this would have been vars of Acer palmatum, the true Japanese maple,
possible. and the second for other species and cultivars
—JDV which are cultivated in Japan. Within each of
these sections, plants are arranged in alphabeti-
Acknowledgments cal order by scientific name.
My thanks go once again, to everyone men- The descriptions indicate the likely mature size
tioned in the third edition of Japanese Maples, of a plant grown under normal garden conditions
on which this volume is based, and to the many and care. The eventual height and spread of a
maple collectors and growers worldwide who specific maple, however, will vary according to
sent me cultivar lists and catalogs—far too nu- the conditions in which it is grown—tempera-
merous to mention individually. My special ture, moisture, fertility, exposure, soil pH, com-
thanks to Talon Buchholz, Nancy Fiers, and Karan petition, care, pruning, in a container or in the
Junker for their valuable advice and for so freely garden, and so forth.
sharing their considerable knowledge, experi- In normal garden conditions, most Japanese
ence, and photographs with me. maples can grow in USDA hardiness zones 5
Also to my talented photographic friends Cor through 9, so again, to avoid endless repetition,
van Gelderen, Harold Greer, Andrea Jones, the late this information was omitted from the individual
Harry Olsen, Daniel Otis, and Francis Schroeder for plant descriptions. In a few cases, however,
generously offering so many of their beautiful plants are noted as being “tender.” Such maples
photographs. The kindness of maple enthusiasts are best grown in USDA zones 6 through 9.
Robert Jamgochian of Mendocino Maples Nurs-
ery (Mendocino, California), Douglas Justice of the
University of British Columbia Botanical Garden
(Vancouver, Canada), and Ray Prag of Forestfarm
(Williams, Oregon) in providing photographs is
also very much appreciated.
—PG
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01_Maples_(001-027)3rd_op 2007/2/8 4:21 PM Page 7
CONTENTS
Preface 9
Introduction 11
Japanese Maples for Specific Purposes and Locations 23
Acer palmatum and Its Cultivars 29
Other Acer Species and Their Cultivars from Japan 191
USDA Hardiness Zone Map 212
European Hardiness Zone Map 213
Nursery Sources 214
Glossary 218
Further Reading 219
Index 220
Opposite: When viewed with sunlight filtering through them,
maple leaves display brilliant coloring. Photo by Peter Gregory.
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PREFACE
When Oregon nurseryman J. D. Vertrees (1915– Now it is again my privilege to collaborate in
1993) originally wrote Japanese Maples in the the preparation of a portable companion to that
1970s, he wanted to provide a comprehensive work, a pocket guide to a wonderfully versatile
source of information on the culture, identifica- group of woody plants, which are more varied
tion, and nomenclature of this large group of cul- in their uses, shapes, sizes, and colors through-
tivars. He also intended to reduce confusion and out the year than almost any other group of
bring stability to the naming of these plants. That garden plants. This guide provides practical in-
his volume has become an invaluable reference formation on the selection, siting, planting, and
book, the bible for maple growers and enthusi- aftercare of species and cultivars alike and con-
asts worldwide, is a measure of its success in tains lists of suggested plants for particular sit-
achieving these objectives. uations and purposes. The main portion of the
Since that time considerably more cultivars have book consists of brief descriptions and illustra-
become available. In 2001, I had the privilege of tions of more than 300 widely available culti-
updating Mr. Vertrees’ text, adding information vars. These are followed by maps of the hardi-
about the many worthwhile introductions and ness zones for North America and Europe, a list
bringing the botanical and nomenclatural infor- of retail suppliers who carry a good range of
mation into line with current knowledge. The re- these plants, plus recommended books for fur-
sulting third edition of Japanese Maples continues ther information.
to be the foremost reference book on the subject. Peter Gregory
Opposite: Acer palmatum ‘Villa Taranto’. Photo by Harold Greer.
9