Overrated for ease, underrated for beauty — Japanese Maple

People describe Japanese Maple as easy and I'd push back on that slightly. watering deeply and regularly in the first two growing seasons needs consistent attention and scale insects or aphids in the canopy attracting sooty mould can undermine progress quickly if ignored.

Where Japanese Maple is genuinely underrated is the beauty. significant impact on the microclimate and character of a garden is extraordinary when you see it in person. I display it in a wildlife garden with native species and it gets comments from everyone who sees it. full canopy providing shade and habitat in summer is the time to really understand what this plant offers. Not for the truly neglectful gardener, but absolutely worth the attention it requires.