Acer palmatum

HIGH THERE: Acer platanoides ''Drummodii'' adds elegance and height to a display of trees and shrubs PURPLE HAZE: Acer palmatum ''Bloodgood'' is a popular choice for its deep colour and well-formed foliage BARKING GLAD: The unmistakable peeling bark of acer griseum TURNING JAPANESE:Warm autumn leaf colours of the Japanese maple, acer palmatum, lift any garden

shirasawanum) and Acer palmatum has more than 500 hybrids for you to select from.

A Acer palmatum varieties tend to have this problem but it is nothing to worry about.

Acer Palmatum Dissectum Atropurpureum (Garnet) is a grafted Japanese Maple which grows to just 1m but with a spread of over 1.

Other plants that can give you that wow factor include bergenia (Elephant Ears), acer palmatum hybrids, rheum palmatum (ornamental Rhubarb), cortaderia species (pampas grass), euphorbia species, yucca filamentosa (Adam's needle), kniphofia (red hot pokers), acanthus mollis (bear's breeches) and canna hybrids (Indian shot plant).

Try Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' which has coral branches and leaves which turn yellow in autumn.

Another good choice for autumn display is Ceratostigma will mottianum (Chinese plumbago), or try Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'.

A LADY FERN shows off delicate green fronds against bronze-red foliage of Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'.

Ideal foliage plants include Acer palmatum `Bloodgood', a purple-leaved Japanese maple which provides autumn colour; Host a `Frances Williams', which is more resistant to slug and snail attack than others; and Ophiopogon planiscapus `nigrescens', an ornamental grassy plant with thick, strap-like black leaves.

Ideal foliage plants for small gardens include Acer palmatum `Bloodgood', a purple-leaved Japanese maple which provides stunning autumn colour; Hosta `Frances Williams', which is more resistant to slug and snail attack than others; and Ophiopogon planiscapus `nigrescens', an ornamental grassy plant with thick, strap-like black leaves.

Q I HAVE a lovely acer palmatum but it has shed all its leaves overnight.

Try Acer palmatum Sango-kaku which has coral branches and leaves which turn yellow in autumn.

Look for Japanese maples: Acer palmatum 'Orangeola'

Acer palmatum is the granddaddy of them all and if you want to start with something easy he's your man.

YOU just have to visit local parks to know that autumn has arrived, as the leaves turn shadesof orange and red and bright berries appear on the trees One of my favourite of all autumn stunners is the Japanese maple, or Acer palmatum, and you can incorporate at least one in your garden, even if you only have a small courtyard which can hold a few pots.