Acer palmatum ‘Abigail Rose’

Description:

Acer palmatum ‘Abigail Rose’ is a dwarf Japanese maple with variegated foliage similar to Higasayama. The variegation on ‘Abigail Rose’ is a little more red and hot pink than the lighter pinks of Higasayama. ‘Abigail Rose’ will grow into a short dense shrub that needs to be protected from the hot afternoon sun.

10 Year Size:

Height: 4-6 feet Width: 2-4 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Abigail Rose’ will grow to be a small, compact tree over time. Abigail Rose is ideal for smaller landscapes as it does not grow into a large tree.

Abigail Rose stays somewhat narrow and compact. The size and shape of Abigail Rose make it the perfect Japanese maple tree for small spaces.

COLORS:

Acer palmatum ‘Abigail Rose’ is one of the most stunning Japanese maples in our collection in the spring. The leaves shine bright with light red to hot pink colors contrasted by the dark green veining. The colors compare favorably to the already outstanding Acer palmatum ‘Higasayama’.

STRUCTURE:

Acer palmatum ‘Abigail Rose’ has a small, dense stature that will develop into a short and compact tree. Abigail Rose should provide outstanding colors in the spring compared to similarly structured Japanese maples.

HISTORY:

Acer palmatum ‘Abigail Rose’ is a dwarf Japanese maple with leaves similar to the popular Higasayama. Abigail Rose was introduced by Harold Johnston of Alabama who was a great mentor for my father, Mike Francis. Abigial Rose is known for its amazing spring colors, its dwarf habit, and its difficulty to grow.

HARDINESS:

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5-9

AHS Heat Zone: 5-10

Sunset Climate Zone: 3-10, 12, 14-24, 28-37

Japanese maples such as Acer palmatum ‘Abigail Rose’ are hardy in most regions of the United States. The only areas where they will not work are areas of extreme cold or extreme hot temperatures. Areas of extremely high altitudes may also not work particularly well for Japanese maples. Japanese maples will also thrive better in areas of consistent rainfall. These zones are general rules, but exceptions do apply. Do your own research on your particular area before purchasing a Japanese maple, but Japanese maples are generally a very hardy tree. Abigail Rose is a little less hardy than many other Japanese maples. It does not like extreme cold temperatures and is more sensitive to soggy soil than other Japanese maples.

SUN TOLERANCE:

The majority of Japanese maples are going to prefer some variation of morning sun and afternoon shade. This is the perfect situation for Abigail Rose as the morning sun will help to provide outstanding colors in the spring, while the afternoon shade should keep the hot sun from burning the leaves.

PLANTING:

Planting A Japanese Maple In The Ground:

All Japanese maples should be planted slightly elevated on a mound. This can be done by leaving a small portion of the rootball above ground level when planting. Dirt is then brought up to the sides covering up the majority of the roots. The end result is an elevated mound up to the base of the tree. The root flare where the trunk ends and the roots begin should be visible above ground level when planting is finished. Plant Abigail Rose even higher than other Japanese maples as this variety is more sensitive to soggy soil than other Japanese maples. A light layer of pine straw or pine bark mulch around the tree is all the mulch that is needed for a Japanese maple. Don’t pile too much mulch up against the trunk of the tree.

Planting A Japanese Maple In A Container:

Japanese maples like Abigail Rose work great as container plants. When planting a Japanese maple in a container, we typically recommend a 50/50 mix of soil conditioner and potting soil. This will provide a good growing medium for your tree while also allowing for proper drainage. You still want to plant your Japanese maple slightly elevated in the container with the root flare above the dirt level.

SOIL REQUIREMENTS:

Japanese maples like Acer palmatum ‘Abigail Rose’ prefer slightly acidic soils, but they are very adaptable to nearly any soil. We rarely recommend any soil amendments when planting a new Japanese maple other than possibly some soil conditioner or top soil to fill in here and there. The main thing to consider with soil is the drainage. Japanese maples, especially Abigail Rose, love well draining soil. They like to get wet, but they don’t like to stay wet. This is another reason that we recommend planting Japanese maples elevated on a mound, so that the water can drain out from the roots of the Japanese maple tree. This is crucial for Abigail Rose as it is very sensitive to soggy soils.

WATERING:

Japanese maples like moist well draining conditions. They like good soakings, but then that water needs a chance to drain away. Japanese maples, espcially Abigail Rose, do not like wet feet. When you first plant your Abigail Rose, you should water no more than once or twice per week depending on the time of the year. Your Abigail Rose Japanese maple may need more water when planted in the summer versus if it is planted in the fall or winter. After a couple of months you can back off on the watering a little bit as the tree is getting established. There is no need to water your Abigail Rose while it is dormant unless there is no rain for several weeks. Your Abigail Rose should be able to live off of nothing but rain water after the first year in the ground. You can give it a drink again if there hasn’t been any rain for a couple weeks or so. Important: most people have more issues overwatering their Japanese maple than under watering it. Don’t kill your Japanese maple tree with kindness.

SPECIAL CARE:

There is very little special care required with Japanese maples, including Acer palmatum ‘Abigail Rose’. You want to fertilize your Japanese maple in the spring with an organic Japanese maple fertilizer such as Happy Frog. This will ensure that your Abigail Rose Japanese maple is receiving all the nutrients it needs to flourish in your yard.

PRUNING:

You can prune your Abigail Rose Japanese maple in the winter when the tree is dormant. This is the best time to prune a Japanese maple because the energy of the tree is not flowing as actively as it may in the spring or summer. Abigail Rose takes very well to pruning and can become an elegant tree over time with proper care. There are many different ways to prune a Japanese maple. As long as you only prune in the winter and never take more than a third of the tree off at any given time, then it is hard to go wrong. Pruning is all about your personal preferences and making your tree look good for you.