Maples are not only very beautiful trees, they are easy and rewarding to cultivate. Prized for their wonderfully coloured leaves, maples are brilliant in the spring and often more brilliant in the fall. They also have a graceful habit of growth, whether it be upright or weeping, and many varieties of the Japanese maples, especially, are suitable for small gardens and containers. As this is a book for gardeners, the main focus is on maples for landscaping and it is the Japanese maples - Acer palmatum, A. p. var. dissectum and A. japonicum - that make up the largest group of maples suitable for gardens. Also described are the North American maples, such as Acer negundo and Acer rubrum, among others, and maples from other Northern hemisphere countries. How to use maples in landscaping, in containers and with companion plants is also discussed. With over 130 species and cultivars described and more than 115 colour photographs gardeners will be inspired to include at least one of these very special deciduous trees in their garden.

About the Author

Rosemary Barrett owns a nursery with her husband, where together they have developed extensive gardens incorporating a large collection of flowering deciduous trees and woodland perennials. Rosemary has over the years grown her maple collection to over 80 species and varieties. She writes for numerous gardening magazines. This is her third book, the other two being Magnolias (2002) and Hostas (2004). Derek Hughes specializes in garden and horticulture photography and his work has appeared in many books and magazines. As well as occasional presentations of garden photographs, he is also an educator of designers, digital artists and photographers. He has also provided the photographs for Rosemary Barrett's previous books.