Woody > Acer > Acer palmatum > Acer palmatum 'Beni otake'
Acer palmatum
'Beni otake'
Beni otake Japanese Maple
Origin: The cultivar `Beni otake' was discovered by Edward Wood in 1980 and then introduced by T.C. Plant Inc. of Hillsboro, Oregon, United States of America.
Mike's
Opinion
"
The `Beni otake' , Japanese Maple has a bright red spring-summer colour and its crimson autumn colour gives it an especially unique look that is sure to stand out in any setting. This tree would make a great centre piece in a backyard landscape. With the proper care, soil and placement conditions this tree will thrive and have a long aesthetically pleasing existence.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Sapindaceae (Aceraceae) |
| Genus |
| Acer |
| Species |
| palmatum |
| Cultivar |
| 'Beni otake' |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5-8 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 6b |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -28 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -20 |
| Height |
| 3 - 8 m |
| Spread |
| 3 - 8 m |
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Upright and round in shape. Purple-red leaf colour with each leaf having long, narrow lobes with acute apices. |
| Landscape |
| The dark purple-red foliage is attractive in the spring with the red colour persisting through the summer and changing to a breathtaking crimson in autumn. It may be used as an accent/specimen tree or as screening/hedging. |
| Cultivation |
| It performs best in full sun to partial shade and prefers above average soil moisture that cannot be allowed to dry out. Partial to neutral soil with a pH of 4-7.5 l is optimal. It is pollution tolerant to a degree but would benefit from a location that is somewhat shielded from harsh elements (especially for winter survival). A layer of thick mulch around the root zone is recommended for the winter months. |
| Shape |
| Forms a strong, upright tree with a rounded canopy. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| The leaves appear thick and smooth and have an appearance and shape that resembles bamboo. The Foliage has a very unique colour from spring through autumn. |
| Pests |
| This species and cultivar is susceptible to verticillium wilt, mites, aphids and stem canker. |
| Habitat |
| Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The bark is grey in colour, smooth with vertical white striations. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| The buds are either green or red with a collar of leaf scars. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaves usually have seven lobes but occasionally five and are fairly large in size while being quite broad. The leaves are 10-13 cm wide and 9-11 cm long with each lobe being long and narrow with an acute apex. The margins are sharply but finely serrated. |
| Flower Description |
| The flowers of most of the palmatum species are red |
| Fruit Description |
| The samara is red in colour. |
| Colour Description |
| The foliage is deep purple-red in spring persisting red colour throughout the summer and then changing to crimson in the autumn. |
| Texture Description |
| A fine to medium textured plant both in and out of leaf. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The Royal Botanical Gardens (rock garden), Burlington, Ontario, Canada. |
| Propagation |
| Japanese Maples are easily propagated by seed but cultivars are almost always propagated by grafting. Successful methods of grafting include T-budding, patch budding and chip budding and can begin in late July and continue to March on A. palmatum understock. |
References
Vertrees, J. D., and Peter Gregory. 'Japanese maples' : momiji and kaede. 3rd ed. Portland, Or.: Timber Press, 2001. Print.
Heriteau, Jacqueline., 'Trees, shrubs, & hedges for your home.' 3rd ed., Green ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Creative Homeowner Press, 2011. Print.
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