Acer pal. Skeeters Broom

Acer palmatum 'Skeeter's Broom' is a compact, upright Japanese maple valued for its rich red foliage that holds colour well through the growing season before turning bright crimson in autumn. Best grown in Ireland in sun or light shade with shelter from cold, drying winds, it prefers a moist but well-drained, fertile soil that is neutral to acidic and benefits from a mulch to keep roots cool. A refined choice for small gardens and courtyards, it provides strong colour and structure with minimal pruning beyond removing dead or crossing shoots.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Sun or light shade; sheltered from cold, drying winds

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Moist but well-drained, fertile; preferably neutral to acidic

Hardiness: Hardy; young foliage may scorch in strong sun or drying winds

Plant at a Glance