Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser pahl-MAY-tum
- Description
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'Osakazuki' Japanese maple is cultivar in the Sapindaceae (maple) family and has excellent fall color. Japanese maples are native to southeast Korea and central and south Japan. The genus name Acer is Latin for sharp and palmatum means shaped like a hand, referring to the shape of the leaves.
'Osakazuki' has a rounded form and grows 15 to 24 feet tall. It prefers rich, moist, acidic soil, but will adapt to clay and sandy soils. The plant resists leaf scorch in the sun but will showcase the best leaf color if it is planted in partial shade. Keep it watered during dry spells to keep it looking its best.
Use this small tree as a specimen or in a foundation planting or Asian garden. It does well as an understory tree in the dappled shade of a woodland garden and tolerates being planted with needled evergreens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and horse chestnut scale are occasional problems. It may be affected by verticillium wilt.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- palmatum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Leaf scorch, wind, and drought.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 24 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 3/4 inch long reddish samaras in fall
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant flowers, this tree is prized for its showy leaves.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-5 inches long bright green leaves with 7 deep lobes and serrated margins. Brilliant red to orange fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Green
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is green to gray and smooth.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Specimen
- Understory Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Wind
