General Description

Is a medium sized deciduous shrub with deeply dissected lobed leaves. The leaves emerge reddish-orange in the spring and fade to a purplish green in summer/autumn. Reddish-purple flowers bloom in the spring that give way to little red berries.

Landscape

Garden accent, mass planting, hedging/screening and container planting/bonsai.

Cultivation

Grown in moist, rich and well drained soil with a neutral pH level. Best in full sun to part shade. Does not do well in soil with high saline levels. Watering heavily 2–3 times weekly is recommended when young and more in periods of drought. Reducing the amount of water (without drying out plant) may promote impressive, deep colouring in autumn. Young trees should be mulched with a thick layer of bark to retain moisture.

Shape

Round “dome-like” shape, drooping foliage with low canopy when mature.

Growth

Fast

ID Characteristic

Palmate, dissectum leaves with deep lobes, and “serrated” edges, that have a deep orangish-red colour. Reddish-purple flowers in umbels. When fully grown it will have a height of approximately 2 m, a spread roughly the same and a low canopy.

Pests

Verticillium wilt, leaf spots, root rot, botrytis, stem canker, leaf damage from late frost and chlorosis can occur in high pH soils.

Habitat

Horticultural origin.

Bark/Stem Description

Mature trunk and branches turn a greyish colour with slight variation in shade. Younger branches are deep red (some green) in colour.

Flower/Leaf Bud Description

Closed buds are small and slightly sharp with a dark reddish-purple colour. The budding leaf is a bright green.

Leaf Description

Deeply cut, lace-like, seven lobed leaf with a “serrated” edge. Somewhat more coarse than most Japanese Maples. Colour can vary between purplish-green (with heavy shade) to a rich reddish-orange in spring and early summer (with sufficient sun).

Flower Description

Very small and are reddish-purple. Blooms in spring in umbels/clusters.

Fruit Description

Small, flat pairs of winged samaras; colour often a deep red with green at the base. Ripen in September/October.

Colour Description

Leaves can vary between purplish-green to a rich reddish-orange. Fruit is a deep red with a bit of green at base. Flowers are often reddish-purple. Bark colour is approximately a light to medium grey.

Texture Description

Slightly coarse.

Notable Specimens

San Francisco Botanical Gardens.

Propagation

Grafting, budding, cuttings, tissue culture or layering. When grafting, start by planting dormant seedlings in a pot outside(in a protected area) in autumn until ready to prep. Bring inside when ready and wait 10-14 days until they break dormancy. Begin grafting just before it starts producing new leaves. Cut the stem on an angle and also make an angled cut into the plant you will be grafting the seedling onto. Fit the seedling into the incision so tissue touches tissue with no air space in between. Once in place wrap a rubber band around the two until firmly pressed against each other. The final step is applying the grafting wax to entire area to hold it together (will damage plant tissue if to hot).

Dirr, M. (2009). Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. Champaign, IL: Stipes Pub. Gregory, P., Vertrees, J.D. (2010). Japanese Maples: The Complete Guide to Selection and Cultivation. Portland: Timber Press