Barbara's Japanese Maple Avenue

Beni Shidare 5/11/08

2008-09-24T13:40:00.001-07:00

Here's another of the variegated dissectums. Beni Shidare appears to have a more subtle variegation than Toyama Nishiki and Hana Matoi, at least in my garden.

Toyama Nishiki 5/11/08

2008-09-24T13:32:00.001-07:00

There aren't that many variegated dissectums, but I've got them all. Toyama Nishiki is delicate, has a beautiful shape, and never disappoints.

Rugose 5/9/08

2008-05-11T21:54:00.001-07:00

Rugose has been described by Vertrees/Gregory as being an ugly duckling that finally turns into a beautiful princess the the autumn. Here it is in its ugly duckling phase. It is rather unusual, I think.

Baldsmith 5/3/08

2008-05-10T20:52:00.003-07:00

Last year (2007) this cultivar looked simply awful and I thought it would die. But extensive pruning and some good fertilizer seems to have done the trick because it looks lovely this year. I see close similarities between Baldsmith and Watnong.

Amber Ghost 5/5/08

2008-05-10T18:50:00.003-07:00

One of the good looking ghosts, I sometimes have a hard time telling the ghosts apart.

Alpenweiss 4/26/08

2008-05-10T18:48:00.001-07:00

Similar to Higasa Yama, Alpenweiss has great spring foliage.

Skeeter's Broom 5/5/08

2008-05-10T18:45:00.001-07:00

This is a pretty plant, dense like all brooms and exhibiting the truncated middle lobe characteristic of the brooms

Shishigashira 11/11/07

2008-05-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

Truly a "Japanese" looking tree, Shishigashira is a star and a great focal point in any Japanese garden.

Sagara Nishiki 4/18/08

2008-05-10T18:39:00.001-07:00

Sagara Nishiki is a favorite of mine because in mid-spring it develops rugose patterns on green and yellow leaves. In early spring is has a blush of pink that's quite lovely. I'm told that this cultivar is very similar to Nishiki Gasane, a cultivar I hope to obtain this year.

Wilson's Pink Dwarf 4/5/07

2008-05-04T23:33:00.003-07:00

Always one of the best pink harbingers of spring, Wilson's pink dwarf is special. Wonderful pink leaves with gorgeous contrasting veins are most unusual. I do wonder if the term "dwarf" is applicable, however, since my tree is at about 6 feet now.

Baldsmith 5/3/08

2008-05-04T23:26:00.000-07:00

This is a gorgeous plant that looked absolutely awful last year, went through extensive pruning, and VOILA this year it's looking fine. Go figure.

Autumn Moon 5/3/08

2008-05-04T23:21:00.001-07:00

Always beautiful in the spring garden, Autumn Moon unfurls its leaves like little pale orange lanterns and then creates leaves of an unusual soft yellow with orange highlights. It's a beautiful tree.

Hippy Fin Mo 5/3/08

2008-05-04T23:18:00.003-07:00

I've always felt this plant was a large version of Kurui Jishi, but no matter. It's an interesting plant.

Moon Rise 5/2/08

2008-05-04T23:15:00.001-07:00

This is a dramatic large-leafed maple with good color throughout the year.

Fjellheim 5/3/08

2008-05-04T22:55:00.001-07:00

This cultivar has sensational bright red stems and great leaf color as well, so it's interesting all year long.

Komachi Hime 4/26/08

2008-05-04T22:52:00.001-07:00

This is a marvelous little shrub with great spring and autumn color. I think it's often overlooked, and that's a crime.

Ueno Homare 5/2/08

2008-05-04T22:47:00.001-07:00

Ueno Homare is one of the greatest spring "true yellow" Japanese maples. It has a beautiful dignified and graceful growing habit and is a fabulous tree. In the autumn, all colors come out: yellow, gold, red, green and purple. It's a sensational addition to the garden.

Hana Matoi 4/23/08

2008-05-04T22:40:00.001-07:00

There aren't that many variegated dissectums (what a shame that Toyama Nishiki, Beni Shidare and Goshiki Shidare make up this small group), but this is one that is also special. It's apparently a child of Toyama Nishiki, not a bad parent to have.

Emerald Lace 10/17/07

2008-04-05T21:20:00.001-07:00

This attractive dissectum is known for its darker green color in summer, later turning bright red in fall.

N C Red 10/17/07

2008-04-05T21:15:00.001-07:00

North Carolina (Green Thumb) Red is not listed in any of the literature, but it's got great color in spring and fall.

Brocade 10/17/07

2008-04-05T21:10:00.001-07:00

Brocade is a dissectum with a cascading shape, and its color is more subtle than most. Throughout its growing season, the colors are muted greens and reds with a little grey.

Beni Kawa 10/17/07

2008-04-05T21:04:00.000-07:00

Beni Kawa is mostly known for its colorful red stems in the winter, even better color than Sango Kaku. Leaf color is green in spring and summer, but turns a lovely yellow-gold in autumn.

Palmatifolium 10/17/07

2008-04-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is a Japonicum, and therefore has sensational fall colors, usually reds, golds and yellows.

Beni Tsukasa 10/17/07

2008-04-05T20:54:00.001-07:00

The color possibilities with Beni Tsukasa are endless. Mine leafs out in spring with a shrimp/peach color with some pale yellow; in summer it turns pink and red with some green; and in fall nearly anything can happen, though this last year it decided to go yellow.

Waterfall 10/17/07

2008-04-05T20:50:00.001-07:00

This beautiful cascading dissectum is almost an icon in Japanese maple gardens because of its mushroom shape. It leafs out in spring with a light fresh green that it maintains through summer, going gold in the fall sometimes with a tint of pink or red.

Octopus 10/17/07

2008-04-05T20:45:00.003-07:00

Like its name suggests, Octopus tends to grow horizontally. This cultivar has great color all year: pinkish-red in spring, orangish-red with overlays of green in summer, and bright red in the fall.

Van der Akker 10/17/07

2008-04-05T20:41:00.003-07:00

There's virtually nothing written about this cultivar in the literature. However, it's a delicate dissectum with stunning fall colors. I've seen the name spelled in a variety of ways, but this is how Vertrees/Gregory spell it.

Heptalobum Rubrum 10/17/07

2008-04-05T20:37:00.001-07:00

Vertrees/Gregory say this is an old Dutch cultivar. Though I enjoyed it in spring and summer, I wasn't prepared for the fabulous fall yellow/red colors which I think are brilliant.

Shaina 10/17/07

2008-04-05T20:32:00.003-07:00

Shaina is colorful throughout the growing season going from red to reddish-purple to crimson. The middle lobe is often rounded, a characteristic seen also on Aratama and Elizabeth, so one can suppose they are all witches' brooms.

Aka Kawa Hime 10/17/07

2008-04-05T20:26:00.001-07:00

Aka Kawa Hime is a semi-dwarf form of Sangu Kaku and is grown to some degree for its red stems. In spring it's yellow-green, and in fall one sees gold, red and yellow colors.

Lutescens 10/17/07

2008-03-31T22:04:00.001-07:00

From the Amoenum group, Lutescens has lovely color: fresh yellow-green in spring, vivid green in summer, and in fall anywhere from red to gold to yellow. A handsome cultivar.

Pendulum Julian 10/17/07

2008-03-31T21:58:00.001-07:00

As the name suggests, this is a pendulous grower that leafs out in the spring bronze-green, going dark purple-red in summer. This photo shows the changing of fall color to an intense crimson-orange.

Red Dawn 10/17/07

2008-03-31T21:55:00.003-07:00

Red Dawn is a shirasawanum and is new to my garden. But you can see from the fall colors that it shows the typically intense hues of that group.

Elegans 10/17/07

2008-03-31T21:49:00.001-07:00

From the Matsumurae group, Elegans grows usually as wide as it is tall. Pale yellow/green in spring, green in summer, and orange/red in the fall.

Novum 10/17/07

2008-03-31T21:44:00.001-07:00

Gorgeous colors on this maple: light purple in spring, orange and green in summer, and vivid red in autumn. Can't ask for better than that.

Asahi Zuru 10/17/07

2008-03-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

This remarkable tree is gorgeous and truly interesting throughout the growing seasons. Every garden should have at least one.

Umegae 10/17/07

2008-03-31T21:36:00.001-07:00

A large-leafed and intensely-colored palmatum, this is a scene-stealer.

Fairy Lights 10/17/07

2008-03-31T21:32:00.001-07:00

Fairy Lights is a Japonicum, here showing the distinctive kaleidoscopic colors typical of most japonicums. Sometimes it even shows purple coloration.

Dad's Best 10/17/07

2008-03-31T21:27:00.001-07:00

Dad's Best is a lovely dissectum from Del Loucks. It has strawberry tones in spring and autumn, really a great-looking cultivar.

Raraflora 10/17/07

2008-03-31T21:22:00.001-07:00

Gorgeous red color in the fall. Raraflora is supposed to be pale orange to shrimp pink in the spring, but this plant has failed to provide those colors so far.

Sensu 10/17/07

2008-03-30T14:05:00.003-07:00

Sensu is one of my favorites. It has an elegant shape and gorgeous colors with no negatives.

Kin Shi 10/17/07

2008-03-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

This linearilobum is a handsome plant, though its autumn colors are not as brilliant as koto no ito. Still, it's graceful long lobes add drama.

Nuresagi 10/17/07

2008-03-30T13:51:00.001-07:00

Nuresagi has outstanding purples and reds throughout the year. It's an exotic-looking tree.

Mezo ho Beni 10/17/07

2008-03-30T13:46:00.003-07:00

This tree has sensational colors throughout its growing period. In the spring it's shrimp colored with pink, and full of reds in the autumn.

Fairy Hair 10/17/07

2008-03-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

This frizzy little tree has lobes so thin that one is reminded of hair or filaments. Though it looks very delicate, it's not; and it has good spring and fall color.

Kurui Jishi 10/17/07

2008-03-30T12:47:00.003-07:00

Kurui Jishi is a small upright cultivar known mostly for the curling of each lobe. Often overlooked is its fall color, which is quite handsome.

Beni Kosade 7/11/07

2007-08-01T11:22:00.001-07:00

This cultivar is rare in the U.S. and it is delicate, requiring special care. This summer photo taken in July shows how this tree continues to hold interest, a difficult job considering the wildly vivid spring color.

Japanese Princess 7/11/07

2007-07-15T10:51:00.001-07:00

The neat and tidy shape of this cultivar resembles Mikawa Yatsubusa but is clearly different, as is the color on the new growth.

Nishiki Momiji 5/10/07

2007-06-28T20:11:00.001-07:00

I don't know a lot about this cultivar, it being new to my garden. However, it was very late in leafing out this year, and it leafed out spring green. I will post more when I know more about it.

Lovett (acer japonicum) 5/10/07

2007-06-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

This japonicum is fairly bushy with a pretty rounded top. The newest leaves are a lighter green than the older ones. It's green in spring and summer, with lots of color in the fall.

Twomley's Red Sentinel 5/10/07

2007-06-22T20:22:00.000-07:00

Here we have an upright-growing red maple, Twomley's Red Sentinel. It was introduced from Australia. It's new to my garden, so I don't have much to add, but so far it looks beautiful and quite promising.

Kurebe Yama 5/10/07

2007-06-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

This is a new addition to the garden and I don't really know what to expect from this large-leafed cultivar. The spring colors are not usual, so let's hope for fall.

Koto Maru 5/20/06

2007-06-10T21:24:00.001-07:00

Koto Maru is interesting because of its beautiful deep green color and the fact that each leaf is a slightly different shape from the others. I find it a finicky plant, good one year and not the next, even though it is well-taken care of.

Karaori Nishiki 5/10/07

2007-06-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

Though it doesn't exhibit wild color, Karaori Nishiki is rather more subtle, with soft variegation. This is an elegant upright tree, always interesting at close range.

Kagiri Nishiki 5/9/07

2007-06-10T21:13:00.001-07:00

Kagiri Nishiki has an interesting green base, almost a bluish-green, with pretty white or cream-colored variegation.

Jiro Shidare 5/16/07

2007-06-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

Jiro Shidare is mostly green, with new growth a lighter green, but the most interesting thing about it is its totally cascading habit. It's perfect for a large and high pot or a steep slope.

Hoshi Kuzu 5/10/97

2007-06-10T21:04:00.001-07:00

This is not a splashily-colored plant. It dwells in the subtle areas of the garden with light green spring foliage.

Emerald Lace 5/12/07

2007-06-09T16:03:00.000-07:00

A delicate-looking tree, gorgeous throughout the year, and one with a formal, tidy habit.

Elmwood Spreader 5/7/07

2007-06-08T20:30:00.001-07:00

Again, this is a new-comer to my garden, and I happen to have 2 of them. The one in most sun is exhibiting marvelous bronze and green colors, with the one in shade being more subdued. Neither show the "spreader" habit I had expected.

Eagles Claw 5/12/07

2007-06-08T20:21:00.001-07:00

This is a new addition to the garden, so I don't have much to offer on it. The only characteristic that is different about this cultivar is the bent tips of the lobes, which look something like an eagle's claw.

Calico 5/4/07

2007-06-08T20:15:00.001-07:00

Calico in the spring is one of the best: lovely yellow-green leaves tinged with red, the color holding for quite a long time. I have it paired with Katsura in my garden, to good effect.

Calico 11/21/05

2007-06-07T18:43:00.001-07:00

The fabulous fall color alone makes this a keeper for the garden.

In the Pink 4/29/07

2007-06-05T11:25:00.001-07:00

Although most cultivars with "pink" in the name fail to deliver, this is the real thing. It really does have pink coloring which lasts at least two months in springtime.

Iijima Sunago 5/20/07

2007-06-05T11:19:00.001-07:00

Iijima Sunago has splendid spring color which lasts more than two months. It's an unusual rusty red color and has real presence in the garden.

Kinran 4/29/07

2007-06-04T19:47:00.001-07:00

Kinran holds an unusual reddish/bronze color with bright green/yellow contrasting veins throughout the spring. Subtle changes in color occur weekly, all brilliant. In the autumn it turns gold with some red overtones. It's an outsanding cultivar.

Oshu Shidare 5/4/07

2007-06-04T19:13:00.001-07:00

Oshu Shidare is an old, cascading cultivar with purple/red spring color turning greenish-red in summer, and bright red in autumn.

Sensu 4/29/07

2007-06-04T19:04:00.001-07:00

Each leaf seems committed to its own plane. The long and flexible petioles allow the leaves to twist and turn in the slightest breeze. An elegant plant.

Green Trompenburg 4/29/07

2007-06-04T14:36:00.001-07:00

As the name suggests, this is a green version of Trompenburg. The leaf shapes are identical. The only difference besides the color of the leaves is that my red trompenburg has a crazy growth habit and the green trompenburg is quite contained.

Spring Delight 4/27/07

2007-06-04T14:28:00.000-07:00

This fast-growing cultivar sports delicate-looking long lobes with red tips and the tree has a mounding habit. It also has good fall color.

Aratama 5/18/07

2007-06-04T14:21:00.001-07:00

Deep red glossy leaves contrasted with bright green contrasting veins typify this tree in spring-time. It is quite showy all spring.

First Ghost 5/21/07

2007-06-04T14:08:00.001-07:00

This photo of First Ghost, taken 5/21/07, represents what I like about this cultivar, one of the best of the ghost series. The tree has an umbrella-like shape, and the light-colored leaves with contrasting veining look good all year.

Hippy Fin Mo 5/16/07

2007-06-03T10:22:00.001-07:00

I admit to buying this cultivar solely on the basis of its name. It curls its lobes much like a larger version of Kurui Jishi.

Beni Gasa 5/7/07

2007-05-31T22:25:00.000-07:00

Beni Gasa is really interesting: deformed leaves, each of a different color, but all leaves having bright greenish-yellow veins. It's a very attractive cultivar and is robust.

Shin deshojo 5/4/07

2007-05-31T22:18:00.001-07:00

This is an elegant tree, far brighter and more intense in color than the wonderful Deshojo. It also holds its color for many weeks, and even while greening for summer, it's still interesting.

Beni Kosade 5/5/07

2007-05-31T21:59:00.001-07:00

My Beni Kosade is very late leafing out, takes a long time doing so, but the color is worth waiting for: Intense pink which lasts and lasts. It reminds me of Geisha in some ways, i.e., taking a long time to leaf out and then showing great color.

Toyama Nishiki 5/5/07

2007-05-20T11:10:00.001-07:00

Certainly a favorite of mine. The leaves unfurl in normal fashion, and once the leaves are out the variegation begins. It's a fascinating process.

Hupp's Red Willow 5/5/07

2007-05-20T11:03:00.001-07:00

I have a difficult time telling one red strap-leafed linearilobum from another. I wonder if "red willow" and "Hupp's red willow" are the same plant.

Aka Kawa Hime 5/5/07

2007-05-18T20:31:00.001-07:00

Aka Kawa Hime is the smallest of the coral bark maples and is not easily found. It's a neat and tidy small tree and needs to be pruned so its bark will show well.

Beni Tsukasa 4/13/07

2007-05-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

This is such a gorgeous cultivar that the only problem is that it doesn't hold its unusual color longer, as one would like. In the spring it leafs out pink/cream, later turning pale butter yellow, and it's a lovely tree.

Irish Lace 4/29/07

2007-05-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

This cultivar leafs out with prominent pale green bud scales which fade in April, but by that time the leaves have unfurled and have become a greenish-bronze. It has a mounding habit.

Sunset 4/25/07

2007-05-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

The spring color of "Sunset" is most unusual: a bright terra cotta which lasts many weeks. The plant has a tidy growth habit and is exceptional in every way.

Dr. Seuss 4/6/07

2007-05-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

Dr. Seuss was named for its wild and strange growth habits. Buds make little fists before unfurling deformed-looking leaves.

Shikage ori Nishiki 4/6/07

2007-05-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

The best trait of this cultivar is the subtle pastel coloring on the leaves in April. In May the coloring becomes more consistently red.

Hupp's Dwarf 4/5/07

2007-05-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

My Hupp's Dwarf only grows an inch or so a year, but it doesn't matter. It's a dense and rather dignified dwarf, and the newest leaves emerge pink and red. It's a hardy and beautiful cultivar.

Purple Ghost 4/5/07

2007-05-06T01:10:00.000-07:00

Purple Ghost is a dramatic plant from the Shigatatsu Sawa collection. It tends to hold its color well throughout the spring and provides an colorful anchor.

Red Pygmy 4/17/07

2007-05-06T01:02:00.000-07:00

This is a not very outstanding cultivar, but shows well in the garden especially in spring when it's leafing out.

Okagami 4/13/07

2007-05-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

Okagami is an elegant, refined and beautiful cultivar. It has a graceful form which is just a bit formal, and it's best if placed in a location where backlighting can show it off well.

Kurui Jishi 4/13/07

2007-05-03T20:14:00.000-07:00

I find this a charming plant. It always leafs out as a normal maple, and then in mid-Spring the lobes curl, creating a tiny funnel.

Ueno Homare 4/8/07

2007-05-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

Ueno Homare and Ueno Yama provide the truest light yellow colors to my spring garden. Both are splendid plants. The main difference in my garden is that Ueno Yama has larger leaves than Ueno Homare. When adjusted for scale, though, the leaves are practically identical.

Beni Shi En 4/25/07

2007-05-02T22:37:00.000-07:00

This most unusual cultivar is a real star. It's receiving full sun in our orchard area and is doing exceedingly well, with lots of variegation on each leaf. It's growing nicely. This tree deserves far more attention because it's really special.

Koshibori Nishiki 4/29/07

2007-05-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

Koshibori Nishiki has all the makings of a great bonzai. It's small, tidy, and has subtle leaf colorations. The mostly green leaves are tidy, but the newest leaves arrive pale yellow with red accents. A lovely cultivar.

Baldsmith 4/13/07

2007-04-30T21:45:00.000-07:00

This Baldsmith grows at an oblique angle and hangs over our seasonal stream. Usually during late May, some of the leaves will turn brilliant red, providing even more drama to a dramatic cultivar.

Rilas Red 4/10/07

2007-04-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

From ten feet away, Rilas Red looks something like dark red cotton candy on a tree's stem. The tiny filaments which make up the leaves' lobes are so tiny that they seem like spider webs or the tiny fibers used in optics. A wonderfully busy little tree.

Fairy Hair 4/8/07

2007-04-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

The leaves of Fairy Hair are exceedingly thin filaments, almost like corn silks. One has to get close to appreciate the plant, which is difficult to photograph.

Akaji Nishiki 4/6/07

2007-04-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

Akaji Nishiki (also known as Bonfire) is the source of some disagreement in the maple community. Some feel the tree does not exist as a separate plant, but here it is, different from all the rest.

Beni Komachi 4/10/07

2007-04-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

The name means "beautiful red-haired little girl" and this is a charming plant. This is the first maple I purchased, the one that got me obsessed with Japanese maples.

Corallinum 4/10/07

2007-04-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

It's almost impossible to describe the gorgeous spring colors of Corallinum.

Ueno Homare 4/8/07

2007-04-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

Ueno Homare provides the truest yellow in my spring garden, better than Ueno Yama, Katsura or Calico (which have orange tones). It's especially attractive with dark evergreens in the background.

Walley's #2 4/8/07

2007-04-09T23:34:00.000-07:00

Walley's #2 is a big purple tree, and it's just now leafing out.

Wilson's Pink Dwarf 4/8/07

2007-04-09T23:29:00.000-07:00

Wilson's Pink Dwarf never fails to satisfy. It's spring color is just the best, intense pink leaves with yellow veins, and the color lasts for at least a month.