Acer griseum

Acer griseum (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to light shade

Flowering period: Late spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 12m

Eventual Spread: 9m

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Sapindaceae

Acer griseum Autumn Leaf (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Acer griseum is a slow growing, small, spreading, deciduous tree. Its dark green leaves are compound with three leaflets, each up to 8cm long and 5cm broad and have blunt teeth on their margins. They are blue/ green on their undersides. Its leaves turn orange and red in autumn before they fall. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of 70cm. Its distinctive orange/ brown bark is smooth and peeling in paper thin layers. Its yellow flowers are small, produced in corymbs. Its green fruit is a samara which is up to 4cm long.

Acer griseum Leaf (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Acer griseum, commonly known as the Paperbark Maple, is native to central China. It was introduced into the UK in 1901 by Ernest Wilson. Acer griseum is synonymous with Acer nikoense var. grideum.

The etymology of the binomial name Acer is derived from the classical Latin name for the Maple. Griseum is from the Latin meaning ‘Grey’.

Acer griseum Bark (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

The landscape architect may find  Acer griseum useful as a small tree with attractive peeling bark and autumn leaf colour.

Ecologically, Acer griseum is attractive to pollinating insects.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given  Acer griseum their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Acer griseum Seed (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Acer griseum prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Acer griseum requires little maintenance. Pruning should be carried out during the dormant months.

Landscape Architecture

Feijoa sellowiana

Feijoa sellowiana Flower (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 7m

Eventual Spread: 7m

Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Family: Myrtaceae

Feijoa sellowiana is an evergreen large shrub or small tree which produced edible fruit. Its thick sliver/ green leaves are opposite, obtuse with entire margins and up to 6cm long and 3cm broad. Its distinctive flowers have numerous red stamen and four fleshy white petals. Its is not self fertile. Its edible fruit is green, oblong, up to 6cm long and 5cm wide.

Feijoa sellowiana, commonly known as Feijoa, Pineapple Guava and Guavasteen, is native to the highlands of Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. Feijoa sellowiana is synonymous Acca sellowiana and Orthostemon sellowianus.

The etymological root of the binomial name Feijoa is after the Portuguese botanist Joao de Silva Feijo. Sellowiana is named after Friedrich Sellow the German Botanist and Naturalist who collected specimens in South America who discovered this plant.

Feijoa sellowiana (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

The landscape architect may find  Feijoa sellowiana useful as an unusual fruiting shrub in community gardens. In the UK it prefers a sheltered position and can be successfully grown against a wall. Once established this plant is some what drought tolerant (outside of fruit production time). It is mildly tolerant of salt spray.

Ecologically, Feijoa sellowiana is attractive to pollinating insects. It is also attractive to mammals who eat its edible flower petals and fruit.

Feijoa sellowiana prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, although it prefers chalky soils.

Feijoa sellowiana requires little maintenance.

Landscape Architecture

Platanus orientalis

Platanus orientalis (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Late spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 30m

Eventual Spread: 30m

Hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Platanaceae

Platanus orientalis Leaf (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Platanus orientalis is a long lived, large deciduous tree. Its mid green leaves are alternate, palmate with up to 7 lobes, coarsely toothed, up to 30cm long and 30cm broad. Its bark is usually flaking, sometimes becoming thick. Its green flowers are round and burr like, appear in clusters of up to 6 and are up to 25mm across.

Platanus orientalis, commonly known as the Oriental Plane, Eastern Plane, Platano, Chenar or Buin, is native to south east Europe and south western Asia.

Platanus orientalis Fruit (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Platanus is derived from the Greek name for Plane tree. Orientalis is from the Latin meaning ‘from the east’.

The landscape architect may find Platanus orientalis useful as a large parkland tree. Once established it is drought tolerant. It is tolerant of urban pollution.

Ecologically, Platanus orientalis provides a valuable source of food in the form of it’s seed for some birds and squirrels during the winter months.

Platanus orientalis Bark (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Platanus orientalis their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Platanus orientalis prefers moist, humus rich, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Platanus orientalis requires little maintenance.



Landscape Architecture