Maples are one of the most beautiful trees. But in the fall they are just gorgeous. Large lobed leaves, bright yellow, orange — slowly spinning and falling form under his feet rustling Golden carpet.
Not only songs and poems composed about this tree. Most of the maple leaf has five lobes, which symbolizes the open palm of the hand and the five senses inherent in man. Because the leaf of this tree is the symbol of peace, harmony and love.
What you, maple?
Maples many species, about 160, and all they dwell in the Northern hemisphere — in Europe, Asia and North America, more often in moderate climate,. The only species — maple Bay (Acer laurinum) settled in the tropics of the southern hemisphere.
This large genus belongs to the family of plants Sapindaceae. Basically it is a tree with a height from 10 to 40 m, but there are low shrubs – 5-10 m, with many shoots growing from the base. Most of the maples are deciduous, but there are evergreen species in the subtropics.
What distinguishes all maples? Of course, their leaves – simple, large or lobed, sitting on long stalks — they decorate the tree, form a beautiful evenly-rounded crown. But not all species of maple these leaves, some of them difficult-palmate, or tripled (for example, maple gray, Manchurian).
All the maples are easily recognized by their fruits–the winged. Maple seeds have such special devices and, circling in the wind, do not fall for a long time and can fly a considerable distance from the parent tree: thus their distribution, expansion of the area of these plants.
Interestingly, maples-such hermits, they usually grow singly or in small companies, but large thickets or forests almost do not form. Species that grow in the southern parts of the area, prefer height: they can climb into the mountains up to 3000 m above sea level, it is in such places that the maples grow in the Himalayas.
The types of maple trees
Of course, gardeners have not ignored such a wonderful tree: maple has long been used in landscaping, and breeders have brought a lot of decorative varieties. We will get acquainted closer with some types and varieties of maple trees, the most decorative and having application in gardening.
Ash-leaved maple or Americanmaple
The ash-leaved maple ( Acer negundo) leaves hard-pinnate, consist of three, five, seven and even nine leaves; its crown was rather irregular and shaggy. Probably, this kind of all familiar – it grows with us almost everywhere, in the cities with it there are even problems: multiply by self-seeding, and having rapid growth, it is flooding the streets, parks and gardens and is considered almost a weed. This maple is native to North America, and in Eurasia it formed a secondary area.
It is the most frost-resistant of all kinds of maples. This species is characterized by a very rapid growth-for the season the increase can reach 1.5 m.
In itself, this kind of undecorated, but has garden forms with silvery or Golden leaves, beautiful pubescence on shoots, etc. For example, the variety Flamingo – at a young age, its leaves have a white and pink color, and the tree looks very elegant and unusual; there is a Golden form of this variety.
Acer negundo, though it grows excessively good if you need to quickly create a green array. It is also quite suitable for hedges: with a strong pruning tree resumes quickly and gives a lot of shoots, forming an impassable wall.
Norway maple
One of the most common species is Norway maple (Acer platanoides). Not only leaves, the whole tree is very beautiful: it has a straight and smooth trunk, a thick lush crown.
Of course, breeders have left a tree with no attention, and has created many beautiful varieties. Basically, they differ in leaf color – Golden (Golden Globe), purple (King Krimson and Faassen’s Black). Variety Drummondii has green leaves with a white border.
But the shape of the tree also managed to transform-there were species with spherical crown. It is especially good because the plant does not need to be formed – it keeps its shape constantly. There are stamp and columnar shape (Columnare) — a tree up to 10 m tall, with age becomes more conical shape. Flowers have a pleasant smell and look very unusual.
There is an Acer pseudoplatanus. Wonderful beautiful tree-slim, high (up to 25 m), with a neat rounded crown. The lower part of the sheet had more light.
Particularly interesting varieties: Brilliantissimum-in spring its young leaves have a delicate pink-peach color, later they become bronze-yellow. Varieties Leopoldii and Simon Louis Freres have variegated foliage and low growth, they are suitable for a small garden.
Maple Manchurian
Maple Manchurian (Acer mandshuricum) – a very nice tree, and therefore loved by many gardeners. It has a beautiful, like a lace crown, leaves are trifoliate, complex, in autumn painted in bright orange-yellow-purple colors,and even the skulls of bright red. Likes open seats.
East Asian stripe or maple Manchurian striped maple
Beautiful tree or large shrub up to 15 m tall. East Asian stripe or maple Manchurian striped maple (Acer tegmentosum) is valued for its beauty stems: the bark had a smooth, green with longitudinal stripes. Have young trees they white, as if marble, with age – gray. His globular crown with dark cherry branches and large buds of slightly pinkish color is also beautiful.
Wide large lobed leaves up to 16 cm long, lamina thin, in the summer are dark green and in autumn are painted in Golden yellow. This maple is beautiful in the spring during flowering – its greenish-yellow flowers are collected in brushes up to 8 cm long, elegant and loose, and in the autumn it becomes even more beautiful when its fruits ripen-porches of pinkish-brown color and becomes bright yellow foliage. Kind of winter-hardy, fast-growing, quite unpretentious.
Maple red
This species can tolerate excessive moisture and even standing water, as in nature, it grows in marshy areas in Eastern North America, and known as “the swamp.” The name of his maple red (Acer rubrum) received for the amazing color of autumn leaves: their upper side becomes orange or red-purple color, and the lower becomes pinkish-silvery. Its red Sunset variety is even more bright and beautiful. There are also decorative forms-spherical and spiky.
Amur maple or ginnala maple
Low maple tree Amur maple(ginnala, Acer ginnala) grows up to 5-6 meters, you can form it in the form of a Bush. The leaves are three-lobed, slightly elongated, fragrant flowers, slightly yellowish, collected in panicles. Fruits-winged are bright red, which makes it very decorative in the fall.
Amur maple good as in a single landing, and in groups and in living hedges. Grows quickly, unpretentious and winter-hardy, light-loving.
Tatarian maple
Named so for a very dark color of the bark, which makes it especially beautiful in winter, when the black silhouette of the tree stands out against the white snow. The unusual appearance is the Tatarian maple (Acer tataricum) and during maturation of seeds – large lionfish saturated pink, collected in bundles. They resemble pink flowers on a background of green foliage.
Japanese-Maple
Growing Japanese-Maple (Acer japonicum) is a small tree or a shrub. All its charm in autumn decoration foliage: at this time of year its leaves acquire unusually bright color – red, Burgundy, pink, purple with a mass of various shades.
It can also be grown in container culture.
Maples in Japan
Japan maple is a special plant, such as favorite as the Sakura and chrysanthemum. There are many kinds of them here, and they are all great. As in spring, the Japanese are going to enjoy the cherry blossoms in the parks, and in autumn they have a tradition of admiring the autumn maples.
The maple season, or Momiji, is the main event of autumn in Japan. Coloring maple trees in autumn attire lasts about 50 days, and the period of admiring lasts from late October to mid-November. Admire the extraordinary beauty of autumn maples can be in parks, on the slopes of mountains and hills, on the territory of temples.
Maple syrup
Telling about the maples, as same not to mention and maple syrup or sugar. Get it from the SAP of the sugar maple (Acer saccharum). It is especially popular in The new world. The leaf of this particular type of maple became the national emblem of Canada and is depicted on the flag.
In early spring the trees SAP flow begins, and at this time and produce an amazingly sweet juice.
Maple reproduction
Like almost all trees, maples can easily be propagated by seeds. Will tell you how it was for me. We in the Park grows a few trees maple platanolistnoy. I wanted to try to grow such maples.
So, in the fall I gathered from the earth the fallen seeds winged and in late September, planted them hradecka at his dacha. Somehow I never thought to sprout. And spring was surprised and delighted to see friendly shoots. Now these trees are about 50 cm tall, sitting in my pots in the trench. I do not know where to plant them – there is little space on the plot.
If you are going to sow the maple seeds in the spring, it is necessary to carry out the stratification – sow the seeds and put the container of seeds in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
Here is such this interesting plants, maples-diverse set and beautiful. If you have a plot is not very small, be sure to plant it at least one maple tree – it will decorate it at any time of the year.
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