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Any acers suitable to full sun?

KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
in Problem solving
We no longer use our veg patch and my wife had the idea of turfing the area and planting acers with the associated removal of turf around them.  The potential problem is that the area gets sun for most of the day.
We both love acers but I'm concerned about how they would cope in that situation.  Are any particular varieties better able to cope than others.  The area will be about 8 metres by 7 metres so has the potential to hold quite a few slower growing varieties.
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  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    edited September 2020
    As far as I know they like a bit of shelter from wind and sun.
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/10-acers-to-grow/
    This does list one or 2 that's more tolerant of sun but as they are expensive to buy I would look for another tree type to get established first then plant an acer in its shade
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The dark ones cope better, and actually need some sun to bring out their best colour, as long as they're sheltered from wind and have suitable soil.

    Loads of gardens here have them in sunny locations, but it isn't as hot here anyway, so it depends on your local climate. If you had some other trees/shrubs nearby to offer a bit of dappled shade and/or protection, that would help.
    Even a man made  temporary screen  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    I'm not wanting to throw a spanner in the works but my red acer suffers more than the others. It has broad leaves and often gets scorched round the edges. My feathery leaved ones seem to love it and my garden is quite sunny and suffers from turbulence rather than wind. My research has shown that, to my surprise,  more solid leaves are more easily spoiled by sun and wind as the wind can blow through the more easily. Good luck in your endeavour. Acers are some of the most attractive foliage plants as they have pretty leaves for most of the year and their shapes,  when starting to mature are beautiful. If you are planting in the soil, they should be fine. If you can provide a bit of shade so much the better. Keeping them watered (which in the UK is helped by nature!) is the main thing.  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It may well be too hot where you live @Joy*. 
    It's a known fact that the dark ones are well suited to some sun, but obviously - hours of exposure to very hot sun is different, hence my comment about location.  :)

    It's why they grow so well in most of Scotland - very similar climate to their natural habitat.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    I agree, @Fairygirl, that heat plays as much a part as sun. Since mine moved 700 miles north, and are now in a rather cold bit of the UK, the one with non dissected leaves suffers most. We suffer from the effects of the colder environment being near the north sea coast (but too far away for salt to be a problem). I think that it is a good idea to find some relatively inexpensive specimens and add to a collection when you find out what does best. I envy people who can grow blue hydrangeas, acers would do well where they grow, too.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    "A known fact"?
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    This grows in full sun and fully exposed to coastal winds (planted by the previous owner) and it does surprisingly well unless there is a storm/strong wind when the foliage is young. Which unfortunately happens quite often (last year was bad). But we are also colder than most of England and don't get that many hours of sunshine.

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    My own Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' has thrived for over twenty-years in full sunshine ;  growing in a moist and fertile soil it seems very content .
    As Fairygirl states , the sun does increase the intensity of colour .
  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    FWIW I have just visited the South of France where 'Osakazuki' was growing well, and of a collection I saw at a nursery at the end of a heatwave, 'Trompenburg' was the only variety not frizzled. However, the best ones seem to grow under the canopy of tall mature deciduous trees. If it's not too much of an eyesore you could always put up some of that green shade netting over a fruit cage, the sort nurseries use?
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    I have a number of acers in pots in partial sun and they are all doing well.  The only one I had in a border was Bloodgood which thrived for a few years and then died a couple of years ago.
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