Often difficult to find and always highly prized, Ariadne is one of the most exciting new Japanese Maples available today. Suitable for garden or container growth, it offers an ever-changing display of soft, warm color -- splendidly variegated -- on a broad, arching, elegant habit. This is the tree to design an entire garden display around, its fine silhouette providing the ideal backbone for surrounding shrubs and perennials.The leaves are long and very finely cut, but rather than being lacy, they have a weeping quality that throws a fascinating shadow and always looks its best. (You might think Ariadne gets its name from these spidery leaves, but no -- it was bred by Esveld and is named for the breeder's granddaughter.) New spring foliage is a coppery pink with clear veining and a brilliance of tone that softens as the weather warms. By summer, the leaves are a purply-pink with white and rose variegation, plus outstanding veining. And then in autumn they blaze bright tangerine, scarlet, and crimson before falling!
Ariadne is a slow grower, reaching 6 to 8 feet high and wide after 10 to 15 years in partial or dappled shade. Its winter bark is quite attractive, and the bare silhouette during this season keeps it interesting even without its magnificent foliage. Easy to care for and quite adaptable, it is certain to become a focal point of any landscape. Zones 5-9.
