Upright VARIETIES
ABIGAIL ROSE
A very dense and twiggy dwarf selection that occurred as a witches broom on a plant of Acer palmatum Higasayama . The new growth on this miniature is like its parent , bright pinkish-red , cream and green slowly fading back to greenish in summer then becoming orangey-pink in autumn . Eye catching if grown well .
AKA KAWA HIME
This selection is a plant for all seasons as it performs the year round . Spring sees an abundance of bright green leaves densely arranged on the many branches , summer foliage is a yellow-green , autumn then changes them to buttercup yellow before they shed and the stems in winter are bright shiny red . 3 metres .
ANNE IRENE
​Smallish grower with bright golden-yellow frilly serrated leaves edged in red.
The red edging fades out on older leaves . Autumn colours are yellow and
orange . Slow growing and very eye catching .
AO KANZASHI
Densely branched upright growing and a medium sized shrubby tree form . Leaves are smallish and a pleasing bright grey-green with a distinct but not glaring , creamy-white edged variegation . With maturity this variety becomes more vase shaped in outline . A very hardy selection that will perform well in full sun positioning .
ARAKAWA
Medium sized vigorous bushy form with apple green leaves . As the branching matures distinct rough Pine like bark develops . A much used form
for Bonsai . Yellow autumn foliage .
ARIADNE
Many changes in the foliage colour throughout the seasons make this cultivar a worthy addition to any garden . Spring foliage is a pinkish-orange colour over the top of leaf veining of yellow-green , summer deepens the colour to reddish-bronze followed by autumn shades of orange , pink and red . 3 metres .
AUREUM
Golden-yellow leaves with a slight green undertone on a small-medium
bushy upright form . Red twigs contrast well on this hardy selection that is
happy in semi shade to full sun position .
AZUMA MURASAKI
A very old selection that has stood the test of time probably because of its uniqueness . Foliage is reddish with a green undertone in spring then summer leaves become green with a reddish undertone autumn colouring is scarlet . Mid sized very hardy form with deeply serrated leaves .
BANDS
Upright bushy and fast grower . Foliage is green and heavily speckled with
white variegation . New growth is tinged light pink . Leaf shape is noticeably
serrated and of mid size . Autumn foliage turns yellow .
BARRINGTON
Medium to large bushy upright selection , foliage colour is a deep purple .
The leaves on this selection are very large and the plant is a robust grower .
Autumn tones are scarlet .
BENI KAGAMI
Medium to tall growing hardy , bushy upright grower with deeply cut leaves
coloured reddish-plum in new growth and darkening to mid green in
summer. Scarlet red in autumn .
BENI KOMACHI
A small to mid- sized shrubby plant with an open airy growth outline . The small new leaves are a striking scarlet red that slowly fade to a greenish-bronze but still maintaining a crimson edging . The autumn colouring is a bright crimson-red . Again a hardy variety in full sun like most Japanese Maples if given care . This plant can suffer in high humidity areas if not in the open .
BENI SHICHIHENGE
The leaf variegation on this selection particularly in new growth is its outstanding feature . The base leaf colour is a bluish-green that is margined with a white colouring that is then overlaid with a brilliant orange-pink colour . It is a slow growing upright small tree that can be lightly pruned to improve its density if desired .
BENI SHI EN
A very different selection because of its several leaf colouring changes throughout the seasons . Spring and summer growth flushes are rosy-red that deepen to purple as the foliage matures , then in mid summer the colour changes to a grey-green followed by yellow in autumn . Leaves are edged in gold on this hardy form . Slow to moderate growth rate and will possibly reach about 3 to 4 metres .
BIG RED
Bushy and robust larger grower with good purple red foliage in spring that bronzes to a rusty red in the heat of summer and then turns to scarlet in autumn . It derives its name not from its growth size but from the exceptionally large leaves it produces , 15cm. plus , once established . Probably will reach 6 metres high .
BIHOU
Chartreuse leaf colouring on new spring growth that darkens to a bright
yellow in summer then becomes orange and yellow in autumn . Winter bark
colouring is where this selection stands out as it is a bright yellow .
BLOODGOOD
A very popular and deservedly so selection that can grow to 6 plus metres . The good purple-red foliage lasts with little effect of summer heat and continues to autumn then displays a stunning bright crimson . The production of numerous red seed clusters adds to its attraction. Can bronze in extreme humidity sometimes.
BUTTERFLY
Medium sized very dense and bushy upright growing spectacular older variety . Leaves are small and delicate looking and the base colouring is a bluish-green heavily and evenly margined in creamy-white as the leaves mature from the initial pink margining . Autumn turns the white edging maroon-red . Like all variegated plants any foliage reversions should be removed .
BOGLES BALL
VERY DENSE , BUSHY UPRIGHT SMALL TYPE OF PLANT , WELL SUITED IN THE OPEN GARDEN
SETTING OR FOR GROWING IN A CONTAINER . AUTUMN COLOURS ARE USUALLY YELLOW
THROUGH TO RED . HAS SOME CONTORTED NEW BRANCHING AT TIMES .
CHISIO
Very hardy dense and smallish growing old selection . New spring growth is a stunning red-crimson , the summer colouring is green with light tones of red and orange , autumn tonings are red and orange . A superb plant for a container that has a contrasting colour .
COONARA PYGMY
Semi dwarf hardy , dense and bushy mid green leafed selection . Autumn
foliage is a multitude of colours deepening eventually to a deepish pink-red.
The name pygmy does not suit this form as with age it becomes too large for
this description but it is a well worth having garden plant.
CRAWLEIGHWOOD
​A VERY BUSHY DWARF AND LOW GROWING ROUNDED MUSHROOM SHAPED SELECTION .FOLIAGE
COLOUR IS LIKE THE PARENT TREE , A GOOD RICH GREEN THAT IS VERY HARDY IN FULLSUN
POSITIONS . AUTUMN BRINGS ON A BRILLIANT CRIMSON IN THE LEAVES .
CYNTHIAS CROWN JEWEL
Slow growing very dense selection with apple green foliage . Rounded ball shape grower
with wispy branch ends that point upwards giving the plant a look like a crown . Autumn
colouring is usually yellow and orange .
EDDISBURY
Medium to tall bushy upright grower . Foliage is deep green and lush .
Autumn changes the foliage to butter yellow . The outstanding feature of this
variety is its bright red branches and stems that are very noticeable in winter.
EMERALD SUNSET
A MEDIUM SIZE ROBUST GROWER WITH DISTINCT FOLIGE COLOURING OF DEEP GREEN WITH
EACH LEAF LOBE TIPPED IN BRIGHT RED . THIS MARKING LASTS WELL INTO SUMMER AS THE
LEAVES BECOME GREEN BRONZE . THE AUTUMN COLOURS ARE BRIGHT RED AND ORANGE .
EMERY'S DWARF
Yellowish-green dissected foliage in spring on this selection that although being a Laceleaf form does not have the normal cascading habit of this group . Summer colouring is mid green and autumn colouring is yellow , orange and red . The overall shape is usually a dense rounded ball about 1metre plus in diameter .
EMPEROR ONE
Deep purple-red shiny leaves are maintained on this exceptional cultivar in a full sun position or even in a shady spot . Autumn display is a glowing dark crimson that catches much attention . Growing into a largish vase shape to around 6 metres and the view up through the foliage , is in sunlight , superb .
FANTA
A bushy and dense growing selection whose new growth in spring is a distinct
orange colour . Leaves are small to mid size and curl slightly in summer when
they have a burnished copper colour .
FIREGLOW
A vigorous and densely branched reliably hardy form . More of a largish shrub than a tree form and it usually maxes out at around 4 or so metres . Leaf colour is more in the red shades than purple-red and it holds its colour through summer in full sun sites . Purplish green autumn colours . A good garden choice .
FUJINAMI NISHIKI
Stunningly variegated form that needs care as it grows to maintain this variegation . Mid sized leaves are a deep purple colour and much of the foliage is marked with bright crimson areas . Grown well and pruning back non variegated areas it soon becomes a very eye catching plant . About 3 metres high and bushy .
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GEISHA
A truly stunning bushy dwarfish selection that was raised in New Zealand . Foliage colouring is a pleasing delicate pink to light cream with odd dark green almost black tar like markings on some leaves . If grown in filtered light positions , that is best for this plant , the pink shade remains constant . Makes a superb potted specimen in black or red enamel containers .
HIGASAYAMA
An older selection with a brilliant display of variegated foliage in spring that continues on until leaf drop in autumn . Leaves are small and coloured pink , green , creamy-yellow and red autumn sees it yellow and red. Green shoots in summer become variegated the next year . Can grow to 6 plus metres high .
KAGIRI NISHIKI
Slow but eventually a medium sized very twiggy variety with small green
leaves heavily edged and variegated in bright pink . As the season progresses
the pink turns to white . Upright grower with crimson autumn tones .
KAMAGATA
Very hardy dense and bushy cultivar with small sharply pointed leaves that open in new growth green with red edge markings . In summer the leaves mature to bright shiny green followed by a brilliant autumn display of yellow , orange and finally scarlet. Usually has two growth flushes per year and grows to 2 metres.
KARASUGAWA
Grown well this cultivar is far more spectacular than most flowering plants . Smallish leaves are a combination of pink , green and white colours with the bright pink dominating particularly on new growth . About 4 metres in height can occur in protected areas but less in sunnier spots . Rosy-red colours in autumn.
KASIGAYAMA
Hard to describe this selections colour but brick red interlaced with green
veining is close . Colour will vary in sun or shade on this small-medium
grower . Red in autumn .
KATSURA
An eventual largish very bushy and desirable form . Two forms of uniqueness are found with this plant , the first is its foliage colour that is an eye catching yellow-orange particularly in new growth and autumns foliage , the second is the fact that it leafs out in spring roughly 3 weeks before any others . 6 metres .
KAYDALE
Small-medium sized open bushy selection . Foliage colour in spring at first is
light green slowly changing to a two-toned bronze-fawn and leaves are
deeply cut . Tough and hardy form .
KIYOHIME
Dwarf selection clothed in small leaves of green that are very densely arranged on this neat bun shaped form . Initially slow growing but vigour increases with age . Autumn tones are yellow-orange . Good plant for container or Bonsai culture .
KOMACHE HIME
A low growing spreading plant that is very densely covered in a multitude of small leaves that open in spring and summer growth flushes bright green with red edging . This colouring darkens in maturity and then becomes yellow and orange in autumn . Usually manages 2 plus metres in diameter by 90cm. high .
KOSHIMINO
A very unusual leaf set up on this green leaved , large and very hardy plant . Individual leaves are arranged with each of the 5 to 7 lobes having their own stem , this gives the foliage a feathery look . The growth rate on younger specimens is fairly rapid . Autumn leaves are a mixture of yellow , orange and red . 6 metres .
KOTO ITO KOMACHI
As it ages the leaves on this selection become unbelievably thin almost like hair . A very dense and slowish growing plant that is happy in a full sun position or container . Leaf colour is a mid-green changing to yellows and orange in autumn . When young wider , juvenile , leaves can be evident . 3 metres .
LINEARLOBIUM RUBRUM
Thin ribbon type foliage on a medium sized upright bushy grower . Leaf
colour is a bronze-red and the plants overall has a Bamboo type effect . A
very old and very hardy selection .
MARGARET B
A superb selection made by the late English maple expert , Peter Gregory.
Foliage is mid sized and as dark a shade of purple to be found . A definite
rival to A.p. Moonfire for colouring but is a faster grower . Medium sized
upright bushy grower that turns scarlet in autumn .
MIKAWA YATSUBUSA
Light yellow-green new growth that hardens to a pleasing mid green on this form with heavily overlaid foliage . The leaf layout is unique in its density and the plant is dwarf . Autumn colouring is yellow to red .Good Bonsai selection.
MIRTE
A medium shrubby tree form with an open branch structure . Spring leaves
are a greenish-chocolate that turns blackish-green in summer . Orange-
yellow in autumn .
MOONFIRE
Possibly the best and darkest deep purple-red leaf colour of any in this group . The intense almost black foliage colour is maintained without any fading in the summer months and colours up crimson in autumn . Very sturdy in appearance and performs well in full sun or filtered light . Reaches about 5 metres high .
OKAGAMI
New growth comes out purple-red in spring followed in the warmer weather to a deep blackish-green shade that is held until the autumn colours of red and bright scarlet . Mid sized leaves and a sturdy and robust branch structure join to make this cultivar a very hardy , reliable and top quality garden plant .
OKUKUJI NISHIKI
Bushy selection up to around 3 metres in height with beautifully variegated green , white and pink leaves . As the foliage matures the pink shades disappear leaving just the green and white until autumn when red and rosy-pink tones dominate . A hardy form that outdoes similar forms as a garden worthy variety .
OKUSHIMO
Another selection with odd shaped but interesting leaves whose edges roll inward . Spring and summer foliage is a good rich mid-green colour that holds up in hotter weather without damage . Autumn tones are a mixture of yellow , orange and scarlet . Stiffly upright vase shape habit of growth . 6 metres .
ORANGE DREAM
Medium sized dense bushy selection with , in spring , bright yellow-orange foliage
that slowly fades back to yellow- green in the warmer months . Autumn foliage
turns yellow- orange . Best sited in light shade .
OREGON SUNSET
Purple-red leaves on a show stopping extremely hardy and dense form . It is capable of reaching 1.5 metres high and spreading to 2.5 metres wide in good conditions and seems to handle some shading while still remaining dense . Autumn turns it a vivid scarlet in full sun or shadier positions . Sets many red seeds .
OSAKAZUKI
A medium-large tree like shrub with robust foliage that is olive-green when
opening , turning greenish-bronze at maturity then becoming brilliant scarlet-
red in autumn .
OTOME ZAKURA
SMALL-MEDIUM VERY BUSHY GROWER WITH STUNNING NEW GROWTH DISPLAY . THE NEW
LEAVES ARE BRIGHT RED-PINK THAT SLOWLY FADE BACK TO A RED-GREEN AND THEN TO GREEN
ANY NEW GROWTH FLUSH IN SUMMER LOOKS LIKE RED STARS AGAINST THE GREEN .
OTO HIME
WIDER THAN HIGH AND VERY DENSE AND STURDY THIS SMALL VARIETY IS ANOTHER BONSAI OR
CONTAINER FAVOURITE . BRIGHT GREEN FOLIAGE EDGED AND TIPPED RED-BROWN EVENTUALLY
TURNS YELLOW , ORANGE AND RED IN AUTUMN .
PEACHES AND CREAM
A variety that needs protection from full sun , as although being spectacular it can damage and lose its appeal easily . New leaves are a creamy-yellow with a distinct rose red fingernail margin to them . Autumn colouring is not overly brilliant but if planted where it is happy the spring-summer colour makes up for it .
PIXIE
Very dark purple-red leaves on a dense upright grower with black-red bark .
Scarlet foliage in autumn . Very hardy small-medium tree form . Can be used
as a container plant if desired .
RAINBOWS SISTER
Deeply divided foliage that is a deep purple variegated with bright pink
markings . Non variegated branches need cutting back to keep the
variegation dominant . Small-medium tree , scarlet in autumn .
ROYLE
UNIQUELY SHAPED IN A BALL LIKE HABIT , THIS WITCHES BROOM FIND IS A SLOW GROWING DWARF SELECTION WITH BRIGHT PINK-RED NEW GROWTH ON THE SMALL LEAVES . AS THE FOLIAGE MATURES IT BECOMES PURPLE-RED AND AUTUMN LEAVES THEN ARE SCARLET .
RYUSEN
Very unusual selection with normal palmate green foliage covering the
numerous stiffly weeping cascading branches . Superb when planted in a tall
container or let to grow in the garden where it will produce a groundcover
effect. Vigorous plant turning orange-red in autumn .
SAGARA NISHIKI
The type of variegation seen on this variety is occasionally seen on some other plant families . The new growth leaves emerge a pleasant bright green and as spring progresses yellow-gold markings appear in them in a haphazard way . Planted in filtered light is best to avoid sun burn . Autumn colours are crimson-red .
SEIGEN
A slowish growing dense , dwarfish selection that is a Bonsai favourite .
Spring new growth is a reddish-orange that becomes greenish-fawn in
summer and red , yellow and orange in autumn .
SHIGITATSU SAWA
Type of reticulated variety with creamy-yellow leaves with distinct veining .
Small bushy form that performs at its best in light filtered shade . Autumn
sees it in orange and red colouring .
SILVER THREADS
Medium sized very bushy upright selection . Foliage is blue-green
haphazardly striped and blotched in silvery-white . Hardy form in full sun or
light shade . Yellow to red in autumn .
SEIRYU
Unique laceleaf form with a strong upright growth habit instead of the
normal mushroom weeping shape of other laceleafs . Medium-large when
mature with a distinct vase shape . Leaves are small and bright apple green ,
turning to yellow , orange and red in autumn .
SHAINA
A very compact upright growing bushy plant with an outstanding display of purple-red foliage in spring that bronzes to a maroon-red in summer heat and then brightens with a crimson colouration in the autumn months . Summer flushes of growth give a good bi-coloured look . Hardy and can reach 2or more metres .
SHARP'S PYGMY
Not the smallest Maple to be found but must rate as one of the densest to be seen . Mid to deep green leaves turn to orange and scarlet tones in the colder months before leaf fall . Although capable of reaching perhaps 2 metres high it is quite slow growing . Makes a nice evenly rounded bun shaped specimen .
SHERWOOD FLAME
An excellent deep red selection that holds its colouring well through summer.
Older very hardy variety . Red-scarlet colouring in autumn . Medium sized
bushy form that has been popular for a long time .
SHIDAVA GOLD
Yellow stemmed bushy dense twiggy plant with greenish-yellow leaves .
Great contrast if planted amongst purple-red foliaged forms or beside red
stemmed forms for winter display . Yellow in autumn .
SHINDESHOJO
Bushy plant that has an outstanding display of spring foliage . New growth flushes are a brilliant flaming crimson that is maintained for several weeks before shading back to a reddish bronze green . This summer foliage often is slightly variegated . Is a good container plant if so desired . 2metres high by 3 metres wide .
SHISHIGASHIRA
Very dark green leaves that are small , twisted and crinkled on an exceptionally tight grower that is deceptive in its imagined overall size . Makes a good container plant and is often used in Bonsai . Autumn can colour it yellow , toasty orange and crimson . Grows slowly into a wide column around 5 metres high .
SHIRRAZ
Brilliantly variegated smallish leaves are coloured pink , cream , maroon and dark green on this medium sized bushy form . Leaf colouring varies throughout the seasons ending up bright red-purple in autumn . A very hardy form that performs happily in full sun . Usually settles into planting sites easily without sulking .
SKEETERS BROOM
A very densely foliage variety with a columnar growth habit . Leaves are bright red in new growth turning purple-red at maturity . Hardy selection
that turns scarlet in autumn before leaf drop .
SUMINAGASHI
Strong growing vigorous upright bushy form whose spring leaves are reddish-purple that slowly change as the seasons progress to maroon , bronze-green
and finally in autumn to scarlet . Dependable and hardy selection .
TINY TIM
Another very dense heavily foliaged medium to large bun shaped selection . Green spring leaves are small and eventually autumn sees bright yellow , orange and scarlet displayed . A reliably hardy variety that like most dwarf forms as well as many other larger varieties can make a superb container plant .
TROMPENBURG
Large openly branched upright and vigorous selection with uniquely shaped leaves coloured a shiny purple-red . The leaf edges are rolled under making them look like claws . It is a very hardy form that takes full sun although the foliage colour fades in summer to a reddish bronze , then crimson in autumn .6 plus metres .
TSUKASA SILHOUETTE
Neatly columnar medium sized variety clothed in bright apple green foliage
in spring and summer that turns in autumn to orange and scarlet . Very
unique shape of Japanese maple . Choice selection .
TSUMA BENI
Lime green new leaves are tipped red on a slowish growing dense shrub
form. Summer leaves are a burnished bronze . A very garden worthy
selection with foliage turning red in autumn .
TSUMA GAKI
Medium sized very hardy and bushy variety with new leaves yellowish-green
that hang limply and are tipped in a purple colouring . Foliage hardens to
bronze-green . Red in autumn .
TWOMBLYS RED SENTINEL
Deep reddish-purple foliage on a very distinctly columnar variety . Well
branched and very bushy pillar that has many uses in smaller garden spaces .
Scarlet-red in autumn .
UKIGUMO
Erect growing bushy shrub with brilliantly variegated foliage that is heavily
pink and white speckled . Intensity of the colouring can vary year to year .
Best sited in light shade . At its best a breathtaking selection .
WHITE NEEDLES
A small-medium open upright airy grower with very thin leaf lobes as it matures . Full sun position turns the leaves to a light creamy-white . Shaded positioning will turn the foliage green .
YASEMIN
A vigorous and truly outstanding selection that appears to be a chance hybrid between two Japanese Maple species . Foliage colour is a deep red rather than purple-red and the large wide leaves have a shape that is more like an Acer japonicum than Acer palmatum . Leaf colour only seems to slightly bronze in summer and autumn turns it red . Will eventually reach at least 8 metres . Can suffer wind damage to its large leaves .