In order not only to shine with a beautiful crown, but also to be able to show off decorative elements underneath, the Japanese maple requires underplanting. In addition, underplanting is useful to underline the typically Asian character of this plant.
What can you use to plant the Japanese maple under?
You can plant the Japanese maple withlow, shallow-rootedand inpart shadeground cover, perennials, grasses, ferns and trees that feel comfortable. The finest underplanting candidates include:
- Honas and fairy flowers
- Periwinkle and Rock Cranesbill
- Japan dwarf reed and Japanese mountain grass
- Hydrangeas and azaleas
- Spotted Fern and Red Veil Fern
Planting Japanese maple with ground cover plants
Since the root system of the Japanese maple is not very branched or has only a small amount of fine roots, there are enough nutrients left over that the ground cover plants can feed on. However, you should preferably chooseshallow-rooted ground coverfor underplanting. In addition, they should be able to cope withpartially shadytoshady location conditions. The underplanting appears even more intoxicating when the plants produce flowers that highlight or contrast with the foliage of the Japanese maple. The following are virtually predestined for underplanting:
- Evergreen
- Rock Cranesbill
- Cotoneaster
- Upholstered phlox
- Spring cinquefoil
- Pennigkraut
Planting Japanese maple with perennials
Thanks to thetranslucent crown, many perennials feel at home at the foot of the Japanese maple. Bothdecorative leafy shrubsandflowering shrubs are attractive. Hostas, for example, emphasize the Asian touch and, with their large and fleshy-looking leaves, form a decorative contrast to the filigree and finely cut foliage of the Japanese maple. Other perennials are more impressive with their flowers than underplanting Acer palmatum.
- Funkia
- fairy flowers
- Monkshood
- Rosenwaldmeister
Planting Japanese maple with grasses
You can also plant grasses when planting the Japanese maple. Thanks to their delicate appearance, these represent a wonderful visual complement to this Japanese maple. When choosing grasses, it is important that they remain low on the one hand (maximum 60 cm high) and on the other hand in partial shade tolerated under the Japanese maple. The following grasses fit perfectly:
- Dwarf bamboo
- Japan dwarf reed
- Japanese mountain grass
- Japanese Blood Grass
Planting Japanese maple with trees
You can use them as underplanting ordain. Suitable options include:
- Azalea
- Rhododendron
- hydrangeas
- Roses
- Hazel
- Gold Maple Bonsai
Underplanting Japanese maple with ferns
Ferns are ideal for planting under Acer palmatum because they like shade and have shallow roots. What stands out is theRed Veil Fernwith its spectacularly colored fronds, which make the Japanese maple look wonderful in autumnunderpainting But other species are also pretty. These ferns are suitable:
- Spotted Fern
- Rib Fern
- worm fern
- Asian Lady Fern
- Red Veil Fern
Planting Japanese maple in a pot
Since the Japanese maple remains rather small in the pot, its underplanting should also be close to its root area. Suitable for this areground cover, which spread out like a carpet such as:
- Small Periwinkle
- Carpet-Golden Strawberry
- Cushion thyme
- carpet phlox
Tip
Wintergreen to evergreen underplanting – for winter protection
A container underplanting that is wintergreen to evergreen is particularly valuable. The foliage protects the Japanese maple cultivated in the pot from severe frost in winter and makes it a certain eye-catcher even in this barren season.
