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Acer Tsukasa - Columnar acer - Larch Cottage online nursery

dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
edited October 2021 in Plants
Hello all,
I’m trying to get my hands on this type of acer, as it’s for a very particular spot where I need a thin and narrow tree that has height, as well as great spring and autumn colour.
I can’t seem to find anybody who sells it. Has anyone had any luck buying one of these in the UK? Thanks so much, would love to get one and plant it out now as it’s a good time of year for planting trees.

UPDATE: just found one online at Larch Cottage nursery, but I’ve never used them before: would you recommend them? I tend to always buy trees form the same few, tried and tested places I know!
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  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    edited October 2021
    I've used them in the past they are a well recommended nursery with a huge variety of plants , I weren't over pleased with my plants they were just potted on into 2L pots really they were 9cm pot plants ( bought online ) don't let this minor problem put you off, its the cost of the plants more likely to put you off than anything they are expensive and so is the postage .

    I were going to have a visit weeks ago they have a garden as well to look around, got to within 20 mile and realised I forgot my wallet  :/  .

    They more plants with a upright growth - Amelanchier obelisk - Parrotia persian spire ( both good foliage parrotia very interesting I have one ) - a flowering cherry which name slips my mind. 
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited October 2021
    I have used Larch cottage many times but never tried the mail order.
    Larch Cottage is an amazing nursery.


    It is a new one ....Plant breeders rights.PBR
    Bred by Yutaka Tanaka.
    Goes under the name Acer palmatum Silhouette...it looks fabulous!


    Synonyms
    Acer palmatum 'Tsukasa Silhouette'

    https://www.shootgardening.co.uk/plant/acer-palmatum-silhouette

    https://plantipp.eu/uk/varieties/Acer Silhouette

    Quote from link above

    "Description

    Its upright and narrow growth makes Acer palmatum 'Silhouette' the ideal Japanese maple for big ánd small gardens. In addition to its elegant shape, ‘Silhouette’ has been selected for its lovely colours. In spring you will see fresh green leaves, which later colour to warm green. In autumn, Silhouette impresses with its bright, orange-red foliage colour. This vigorously growing maple becomes 5m high and 1.4m wide. ‘Silhouette’ is winter hardy to -22 °C and insensitive to diseases. Put in well-drained, humus-rich soil in semi-shade or full sun. ‘Silhouette’ gives a stylish, vertical effect to your garden. With a vivid burst of colour! Perfect as solitary, in shrub borders or in a container on your terrace. Also suitable as avenue planting. ‘Silhouette’ is a great addition to every type of garden!"


    Packhorse farm also sell it.
    Again an excellent nursery that specialise in Acers.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/343377/acer-palmatum-silhouette-(pbr)/details


    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/nurseries-search-result?query=343377
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    Thanks both.
    @Perki that’s too bad! I actually have an amelamchier already and was drawn to the Tsukasa because of the impressive spring and autumn colour, that I don’t think the cherry could match.

    @Silver surfer it’s the description that initially drew me in! Thanks for the info. I had looked into Packhorse, but they’re only open April - September and don’t deliver, sadly. They look very specialist though.

    Good to know that LC Nurseries are good.
    I’ve emailed to ask a bit about age and height of the saplings.

    🤞🏼
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Another vote for Larch Cottage from me .... but I'm lucky to live close enough to visit, so have never bought online.
    Always have a great day out there .... and a full car on the way back  

    Bee x
    image
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    Oh I can imagine, I would have no self control…
    Thanks @Bee witched I am encouraged by all your positive reviews and shall be bordering my acer soon!
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Go for it @dappledshade ..... it looks amazing.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    edited October 2021
    One thing, before I go to my basket…it says that they prefer morning sun, with some afternoon shade in summer, or the leaves can scorch.
    My site would be east facing, but with a slight tilt, so in summer it would get sun until about 2pm in high summer, but would also get some shade from a car at the base.
    Wondering if it too sunny, but then I’d be planting out in autumn, so it would have a good long spell to settle, before summer 2022 (that will be a scorcher, I just know it),
  • cmarkrcmarkr Posts: 142
    Unless it's under the canopy of a larger tree I'd suggest that it is going to get direct sun until at least 2pm at high summer regardless of location because the sun is so high in the sky. Wind is generally more of a problem for scorch on Acer leaves than hot sun so I wouldn't worry about that position unless it's a dissectum which is very susceptible to scorch.
    Just make sure the roots are kept moist but we'll drained.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm not too sure the location is particularly suited to it at all. Early sun after frost is also another consideration for new foliage, and east facing locations which have exposure are the worst ones. I think it would need some shelter if it's in a location like that - from other trees/shrubs, or from buildings etc.
    It's not a dissectum, so that's less of an issue. Enough moisture in late summer is important for them though  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    Hmm that’s what I was concerned about.
    That said, it’s not a particularly exposed site and there are houses alongside offering some screening.
    We’re in North London, so can get the odd cold snap even quite late (this year, my amelanchier suffered some late frostbite and lost many new, young leaves as a result).
    In high summer, the houses shade the front garden completely from early afternoon, so it would only get direct afternoon sun up high, once it has reached its 20ft.

    I also found another columnar tree that could work though: tough as old boots and spectacular autumn colour, interesting leaf shape, but I’m not sure if there’s any particular spring interest…
    Gingko Biloba Sky Tower
    https://www.newblooms.com/products/sky-tower-ginkgo-tree
    I love the autumn colour, although the leaves apparently drop all together and don’t stay on the tree for as long as they would on an acer (or amelanchier).
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