Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Garnet'Japanese maple

Selected in the Netherlands in 1959, ‘Garnet’ belongs to the Dissectum group and is also sold as Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Garnet’. It grows to around 3 to 4 metres in height and width, progressively taking on a rounded, dense form that is slightly flattened at the top.

The architecture varies with training. Grafted on a defined stem, the branches spread horizontally before descending, creating an umbrella-like crown. In lower or multi-stem forms, it develops a broad, undulating volume, able to follow banks, walls and water margins.

The leaves have five to seven deeply divided lobes. They are relatively large and less finely cut than those of other Dissectum cultivars, giving the crown greater substance. They keep a wine-red to reddish-brown tone during the summer and become more luminous in autumn. Small purple flowers are followed by reddish samaras.

It prefers gentle sun or partial shade and fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Good light helps the colour to last, but in Portugal the most intense afternoon sun and dry wind should be avoided. Watering should be deep and regular during establishment, especially for specimens grafted on a stem.

It is suited to courtyards, Japanese gardens, water margins, banks and raised beds, where the fall of the branches can be fully appreciated. A mature specimen from Diaplant immediately brings an already layered cascading crown, with a known diameter and graft height, allowing its silhouette to be integrated precisely into the project.