Upright VARIETIES
VARIEGATED VARIETIES
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
KARASUGAWA
If planted in full sun positions this mounding weeper that originated in Italy will , when the new reddish growth matures , display very dark purple foliage that is probably the darkest of any of the purple-red selections . The foliage colour is maintained throughout summer and autumn colours are bright red .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
DWARF 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 .
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 .
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 .
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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 .
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.
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 .
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 .
OTOME ZAKURA
Capable of perhaps reaching 2 metres plus in height this selection is extremely brilliant in new growth with an outstanding display of bright scarlet that is held for several weeks before becoming a greenish blush as it ages then is overlaid in summer with another flush of bright red . Has to be the brightest display of all .
SEIGEN
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 .
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 .
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 .
WILSON'S PINK DWARF
Very dense growing upright form with small leaves . New foliage colour is bright pinkish-red and very eye catching in any landscape where it holds this colour for several weeks . Summer fades the foliage back to a bright green shade with some residual pinkish tones . Autumn colours are red .
PURPLE-RED VARIETIES
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 .
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.
EMPEROR 1
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
ODD VARIETIES
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .