Acer palmatum 'Aratama' (Dw)

Common name: dwarf Japanese maple

Description: A compact, slow-growing dwarf maple, among the first to leaf out each spring in a vivid medium red that deepens to plum before green tones develop through the centre of each leaf in summer. Red returns with a blaze of orange-red in autumn. Unusually sun-tolerant and surprisingly frost hardy for a dwarf cultivar.

Other benefits: one of the few red-leaved dwarf maples, sun tolerant, multi-seasonal colour change, excellent for bonsai and containers

Wildlife attraction: bees

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 1.5m x 1.5m

Position: full sun to light shade

Soil pH: neutral to acid

Moisture: moist but well-drained

Winter hardiness: fully hardy to below -15°C