Acer palmatum Marlo - Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Marlo' is a variety of Japanese maple selected in Holland for its remarkable foliage. Its deeply cut leaves are edged in pink in spring. This border fades as the leaf matures, but the young shoots produced in summer retain this pink pigmentation, which stands out against the rest of the now green foliage. In autumn, the leaves eventually turn a beautiful red. Slow-growing, this Japanese maple reaches 1.5m (5ft) in 10 years. Magnificent but very susceptible to powdery mildew, it is a plant for connoisseurs.

Native to eastern China, Korea, and Japan, Acer palmatum is the origin of a multitude of horticultural varieties that compete in beauty. Japanese maple now belongs, like all maples, to the Sapindaceae family (formerly Aceraceae). It is hardy, but cannot tolerate dry and cold winds, scorching exposure, and dry and chalky soils.

The cultivar 'Marlo' exhibits exceptional foliage colours. One of the first Japanese maples to bud in spring, it produces beautiful palmate leaves with deeply cut lobes - almost to the base - irregularly toothed and more or less undulate laterally. This beautiful aesthetic is enhanced by an additional attraction, as a bright pink margin contrasts with the green of the central part of the lobes. This colour fades in summer, with the leaf becoming entirely green, but the young shoots produced during the growing season proudly display this original pink pigment. Finally, in autumn, the entire foliage takes on a magnificent red colour.

This variety has a rather slow growth rate and limited development. With a height of 1.5m (5ft) at 10 years and an equivalent width, it does not exceed 2m (7ft) at maturity. This makes it suitable for small gardens as well as container cultivation.

Acer palmatum 'Marlo' is not strictly speaking an acidic-soil plant, but it prefers humus-rich and moisture-retaining soils. However, the soil should be well-draining to avoid compromising its survival, as it is a rather delicate plant. It cannot tolerate atmospheric drought and must be protected from wind and full sun, which would scorch its delicate leaves. Above all, it is very susceptible to powdery mildew, which attacks its foliage, deforming it and covering it with a characteristic white fuzz. In spring, it can also be targeted by aphids. It needs a great deal of care so it should not be the first Japanese maple to try in the garden; it is not a plant for beginners!

Enthusiasts will appreciate the aesthetic potential of this small maple by planting it with other plants with fine or laciniate foliage. The bleeding heart 'Stuart Boothman' with its delicate greyish foliage will share the same soil and exposure requirements. Other low-growing plants, such as the golden summer heather, will create a nice colour contrast with the foliage of our little 'Marlo' maple. In the background, a purple birch will provide the shade it needs while highlighting its fine foliage against a dark background.