The species 'Acer Palmatum' and its varieties have come to us almost entirely from Japan. These revered trees have been bred, selected, and propagated by Japanese horticulturists since at least the early 1600s. During the last 200 years, these cultivars have found their way into horticultural collections, and gardens around the world.
The number of varieties within this species is staggering. McDonald Garden Center offers over twenty cultivars (specific named varieties) in stock, depending on the season, in a variety of sizes. The cultivars listed here are available all year, and have shown themselves to be quite adaptable to the Hampton Roads landscape.
Set in partial shade Viridis holds it's bright green color through the summer. In the fall it is dominated by gold with splashes of crimson. This variety displays a dome-shape of drooping branches at maturity.
Emperor 1 is an outstanding red palmatum of exceptional vigor. It is comparable to 'Blood Good', but exceeds it in leaf color retention and growth rate. Emperor 1 comes into leaf later and therefore has a reduced risk of frost damage. It holds it's color well in the shade and displays superior versatility. Emperor 1’s leaves are a deep purple through out the growing season shifting to a beautiful dark crimson in the fall.
Beni Otake, an upright cultivar, has purple red strap-like leaves and distinctive layered bamboo-like shapes. The name translates to ‘Big Red Bamboo’. The red color holds through the summer changing to a vivid crimson in fall.
Red Dragon shows intense purple leaves that won't fade except in a dry, hot climate. It forms a large shrub or small tree, perfect for smaller, more intimate gardens.
Coral Bark, this beautiful small tree is sheathed in brilliant coral bark on young branches, with color intensifying in winter. The leaves are a light green, and turn golden in fall. A moderate grower to a size of fifteen to twenty feet tall and wide.
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The Seiryu, standing approx 25 feet tall and 12 feet wide, displays leaves of a fresh green. It turns a dark reddish purple in the fall, giving your landscape a whole new look as the season changes. Seiryu is an excellent specimen for larger gardens.
The foliage on Ruslyn in the Pink surprises you with constant color changes. The initial flush in spring is a bright red pink. As the leaves mature in summer they fade to a green purple. As the tree continues to grow the subsequent new leaves are the same bright red pink of spring! It gives the tree the appearance of blooming. This spectacular show is followed by a bright red fall display.
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