Named Japanese Maple Cultivars

In colder locations, Bloodgood, Butterfly, Crimson Queen, Garnet, Inaba shidare, Omure yama, Orangeola, Oridono nishiki, Osakazuki, Red dragon, Seiryu and Shishigashira are considered hardy to zone 5.

All maples need a good 3" of mulch to protect the surface roots in winter. Container grown trees need extra protection to prevent the rootball from freezing. With extra winter care, these trees may flourish even in zone 4. For new, small trees we recommend using rose cones or a wire mesh enclosure filled with dry leaves for additional wind and cold protection.

In summer, mulching also helps conserve moisture. For hotter climate zones, Bloodgood, Garnet, Inaba shidare, Kamagata, Kiyo hime, Seiryu, Chishio Improved and Tamuke yama all do okay - especially if you can give them some shade from the afternoon sun and keep a consistent level of moisture in the soil.

Here are some more of my favorite cultivars:

'Asahi zuru'

One of my personal favorites...This is translated as the 'dawn swan'. A very dependable plant with a clear green-white variegation. Leave vary widely on each plant with some leaves virtually completely white!

http://japanese-maple.com/asahi_zuru_grafted.html

'Beni komachi'

This is one of the smaller maples that typically forms a small bush up to 10 feet tall. The unusual leaves become brilliant crimson red after starting out with a more delicate color. Older, more mature leaves have a greenish-red tone. It is not widely known and is considered a very choice plant. It's name means "beautiful red-haired little girl'.

http://japanese-maple.com/beni_komachi_grafted.html

'Chishio Improved'

Another small leaved cultivar - Chishio Improved has brilliant crimson Spring foliage. This last for a good while turning green in Summer. It is a vigorous grower when young and adapts well to bonsai culture.

http://japanese-maple.com/chishio_improved_grafted.html

'Corallinum'

One of the 'Amoenum' group, this is another great Srping colored plant with a beautiful shrimp pink appearance. A good green color emerges for Summer and the second flush of late Summer growth is again a scarlet red.

http://japanese-maple.com/corallinum_grafted.html

'Kinran'

One of the 'matsumurae' group, Kinran is also not very widely known. We have dozens of seedlings from this cultivar which are a real bargain!

These seedlings should exhibit some of the characteristics of the parent! Check to see if we also have any grafted trees.

Leaves are typically deeply divided. Spring and early Summer colors are a rich bronze red with a contrasting bright green mid-vein.

In fall it turns a wonderful gold - hence the name which means "woven with golden strings".

http://japanese-maple.com/kinran_seedlings.html

'Oridono nishiki'

This is truly one of the best variegated plants in the 'palmatum' group! Also known as 'Orido nishiki', the name means "the rich colored fabric of the master".

Leaves are a rich deep green with Spring variegation of pink, white and cream in all sorts of delightful combinations. This is one of my personal favorites.

Sometimes new leaves are entirely pink or white. The same plant can have many different combinations of these colors.

Oridono nishiki is a reliable cultivar making a ~15 foot high, upright round topped tree in 15-20 years.

http://japanese-maple.com/oridono_nishiki_grafted.html

'Seiryu'

This is an unusual dissectum with an upright growth habit. Most dissectums are weeping types. Leaf color is a bright green tipped with reddish tones as they first come out. In fall colors ruen to strong golds and yellows.

Can reach 15 feet tall when mature. Name means "blue green dragon".

http://japanese-maple.com/seiryu_grafted.html

'Shaina'

A very compact, upright, round leafed red palmatum.

The dark red-maroon leaves appear in clusters at the end of short shoots. Leaves are deeply divided and turn a dark purple red in Summer.

It forms a dense shrub up to 10 feet tall and is an ideal choice for the rock garden or container culture. It is proving to be a popular choice with discerning 'plant-aholics'!

http://japanese-maple.com/shaina_grafted.html

'Shishigashira'

It's name means 'lion's head' or 'lion's mane' after the mythical lion in Japanese drama. This cultivar has bunched up, strongly curled leaves on short stubby shoots.

A compact grower - it makes a great bonsai tree, fits well in a smallewr garden or container. Leaves are a crinkly green!

Slow growing - makes a 15 foot tree on maturity. Can tolerate full sun and holds color quite well. This plant has been cultivated for over 120 years in Japan! I hope you've enjoyed this brief tour of some of our favorite maples that are not usually found in your local garden center or 'big box' home improvement store.

Happy growing online and in dirt.

Ken Alston
Commonwealth Plants, LLC
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Ken Alston is a green thumbed British gardener, plant-aholic and nurseryman who provides ordinary gardeners and fellow plant-aholics with growing tips, techniques and rare plants.

http://japanese-maple.com
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