They are a reticulated cultivar that is a very dark crimson. The leaves have a rich, vivid, and purple-red color when they first emerge in the spring, and they are subsequently coated with black-red veins, which progressively fade in the summer as the entire leaf darkens.
A darker leaf is produced when the sun is abundant. Tree of a medium size tree reaching heights of 10 feet. High resistance to the sun and the heat. Once it is established, this cultivar can withstand temperatures as low as -20 degrees.
Things You Should Know Before Planting a Purple Ghost Japanese Maple:
Japanese maple trees have the potential to develop into magnificent bonsai specimens, serve as eye-catching focal points in a garden, or even become the ideal plant for setting off a huge container.
There are hundreds of different species of Japanese maples, and each may be a different size and has a wide variety of leaf forms and colors. These colors and shapes can vary from various shades of green to red, purple, and patterned.
A Proper and Appropriate Time For Planting:
Planting in the fall is recommended because it gives the roots of your Japanese maple time to get set while the top of the tree is dormant, making it an ideal period for planting.
However, many people also find that spring planting is the best time for their crops. In any case, you should ensure that there is no danger of frost since this may cause harm to a tree that has just been planted.
Zones Where They Grow:
In general, zones 5 through 8. Heat is an issue, particularly in the south, not for the healthiness of the Maple but its influence on the leaf color. The heat causes many purple or red-leaved types to “become green” in the summertime.
This is a consideration. They normally start leafing out early in the growing season, and even on mature trees, a late cold blast may inflict catastrophic harm if it lasts long enough.
A Good Source of Light and Shade:
A mature Japanese Purple Ghost Maple requires full sun for optimal growth, except in the extreme southernmost parts of its hardiness zone, although it is also content with a little dappled shade. It does need some light for the leaves to have the finest color, but the quantity of sun it receives might vary dramatically.
If you observe that the leaves of the plant are scorched during the summer, it is most likely because it is overexposed to the sun. The autumn foliage may be receiving an excessive amount of shadow, which is causing it to be less striking than intended.
(However, this might also be an indicator that the tree had an excessive amount of water throughout the summer and early fall; if this is the case, the tree will continue to produce new green leaves throughout autumn rather than changing colors as it should.)
Do not be afraid to replant your Japanese Purple Ghost Maple if, after one or two growing seasons in its current location, you decide that it is not the best location for it in your garden. If you want to cultivate this tree successfully, location is one of the most crucial elements to consider; thus, some trial and error could be in order.
The optimal time to relocate the tree is during the end of summer or the beginning of October, at least one month before the ground freezing. When you dig up the tree, be sure to leave as much dirt as possible adhering to its roots, and carve a hole that is quite broad and deep all the way around it. Your Japanese Maple will be highly tolerant of whatever mistakes you make.
Protection from Strong Wind and Harsh Weather Conditions:
The leaf of Japanese Purple Ghost Maples is very delicate and dries out very rapidly when there is a strong wind. Naturally, this does not imply that you have to cultivate the tree in regions that are completely contained or shielded from the elements. As long as you take precautions to prevent it from being blown about by the wind on a consistent basis, it should be alright.
Soil That Retains Its Moisture:
The Japanese Purple Ghost Maple will thrive in any soil with good drainage, except excessively alkaline soil. Many gardeners choose to cultivate them in acidic soil, where they look particularly stunning when paired with shrubs, camellias, and kalmias. However, they do not mind being in an environment with a neutral or even slightly alkaline pH.
The salt content of the soil is the only other worry. The Japanese Purple Ghost Maple tree can grow in a variety of soil types, including sandy loams, dense clays, and everything in between; however, it does not appreciate salty soils. (Salt spray is a different story; they have a very high tolerance for it.) If the salt content of your soil is excessive, you may want to think about growing your Maple in a pot instead.
How to Protect Purple Ghost Japanese Maple During Winter Temperatures?
You may prevent your purple ghost maple tree’s roots from freezing over the winter by moving it to a sheltered place, such as a garage that is not heated or any other location that offers enough protection.
Moving the tree away from any wind that may cause it to freeze and wrapping the container it is in with a blanket, cloth, or other materials are also things that can help prevent the roots from freezing.
It would be best if you didn’t move your tree inside or to any other location where the temperature is too high. To maintain their overall health and generate a substantial amount of attractive new growth each year, Japanese purple ghost maples need a lengthy period of cold sleep, sometimes known as a period of rest.
Any area that is shielded from really cold winds and temperatures should work just well.
Frequently Asked Question:
The Japanese Purple Ghost maple is an excellent choice for a tree that is suited to growing in a garden with limited space. And the answer is yes; you can successfully cultivate a Japanese maple tree in a container. There is a diverse range of Japanese maples available, each with distinctively patterned and hued leaves, distinctively branched structures, and intriguing overall forms.
If you choose the proper tree, it won’t need as much trimming as other trees would. It won’t be necessary to prune it to keep it at the desired dimensions since it will expand to cover the area you’ve made available. Additionally, it should have a beautiful branching structure that is natural and organic in appearance. If you see that the Japanese purple ghost maple is becoming too thick, instead of head cutting the branches, it is advisable to go inside the Maple and thin out the branches so that there is more space between them. You will be able to see and appreciate the beauty of a Japanese purple ghost maple as it develops in your garden to a greater extent if you tend to it regularly. Prune it by removing branches near the trunk as you can get them and maintaining its organic structure.
Most Japanese maples develop at a slow to moderate pace, which is between one and two feet each year. They usually experience the greatest rate of growth while they are young, and this rate normally slows down as they reach adulthood. The pace of their growth may be increased by planting them in a location where they will be content and providing proper care for them. If you want your Maple to have an established appearance right away, you could choose to plant an older, bigger tree instead rather than planting a young tree that may take many years to grow. If this is not possible, you should choose a cultivar with a history of being above average in terms of its growth rate.
Water them well upon planting and on a regular basis after that. Although they can withstand recurrent dry periods once established, you should avoid moisture excesses and water often during severe drought. Mulch protects maple roots against heat and cold while reducing the watering frequency, which is particularly important for plants grown in pots. Keep the mulch at least an inch away from the trunk.
Conclusion:
Japanese Purple Ghost maple trees may serve as an eye-catching focal point, the ideal plant to complement a big pot, or mature into an amazing bonsai sculpture. There are hundreds of different Japanese maple kinds to pick from. However, the technique for caring for and planting them would remain the same!