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You are here: Home / Business / Backyard Nursery / Rare, difficult to find, Japanese maple varieties.

Rare, difficult to find, Japanese maple varieties.

Updated : June 17, 2024

13 Comments

Purple Ghost Japanese maple.

I just spotted this ad in Our Members Area, and you will not believe the prices. These are true wholesale prices but in Our Members Area you don’t have to purchase large quantities of plants. You often buy just a couple of items.

I am posting this here just to give you an idea of what kind of plant deals you can get in our Members Area. There is a membership fee that is kind of steep, but we do allow You to Test Drive the Members Area for $7.00 and if don’t want to pay that steep fee just let Duston know.

You can reach him at [email protected], and he’ll cancel your membership before you get billed for the first monthly installment.

The Japanese Maple Ad.

This is the ad spotted in the members area, these plants are only available to members, they are not my plants, they are being sold by another member.

Acer palmatum ‘Alpine Sunrise’. A compact narrow dwarf selection. Purple-red summer foliage turns bright crimson in autumn. Does best in sun/partial shade in well-drained soil. 6′ tall x 3′ wide in 10 years. Hardy to -20 degrees. USDA (zones 5-9) $15.00 each (available 20)

Acer palmatum ‘Ariadne’ Rarer variety with large beautiful, deeply cut leaves show a remarkable show of seasonal colors. Springtime colors are light green veins contrasting with white and pink backgrounds. During summer leaves gradually change to red veins against purple and red backgrounds. Fall finishes with brilliant colors of orange and red. Hardy to -20 degrees. (Zones 5-8) $16.00 each (available 25)

Acer palmatum ‘Black Hole’ An upright deciduous variety with a broad crown. Leaves in spring and summer are dark purple, then change to scarlet red in autumn. Prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil. 10′ tall by 5′ wide in 10 years. Hardy to -20 degrees. USDA (zones 5-8/9) $16.00 each (available just 5)

Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’ Slower growing upright Yellow leaved with orange tones that hold their color well. Fall color is bright yellow, orange and Reds. Average size is 6′ tall and 3′ wide in 10 years, (zones 5-8/9) $15.00 each (available 28)

Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ A very popular yellow-leaved cultivar that is most noted for its showy bright yellow foliage (sometimes edged with red) in spring. Sometimes called Golden Full Moon. Grows to 8-10’ in 10yrs. (Zones 5-9) $15.00 each (available 25)

Acer palmatum ‘Iijima Sunago’ Has large chocolate/purple leaves with a dusting of yellow-brown spots. Fall color is a vibrant gold and orange. Name means “gold dust of Iijima” in Japanese. Prefers sun/partial shade. 8′ tall x 4′ wide in 10 years. (zone 5-8) $16.00 each (available just 5)

Acer palmatum ‘Kurui Jishi’ Name means Confused Lion, little star shaped leaves tend to curl more and more as temperatures increase into summer eventually each lobe becoming a tube. Another interesting trait is that the leaves tend to hang from the red petioles giving it a disheveled look that is unusual. Fall color is yellow to bright orange. 5-6 ‘ tall x 3’ wide in 10 years. (Zones 5-8) $16.00 each (available 10)

Acer palmatum ‘Purple Ghost’ brilliant purple /red foilage as the tree matures and depending upon what type of light they receive. Spring colors are bright purple leaves with bright definded dark veins. Fall color is normally intense Bright orange. 8′ tall and 4′ wide at 10 years. These were done in shade house so coloring is just limitedly coming out on these young trees. Beautiful tree and always one of my favorites and better sellers ( Zones 5-8) $16.00 each (available 38)

Acer palmatum ‘Sister Ghost’ Spring foliage is light yellow-green with prominently-veined leaves, at times enhanced by a subtle pink blush. One of the Hardier varieties of the Ghost series of Maples. Fall displays vibrant yellow, orange and red highlights. Prefers sun/partial shade. 6′ tall x 4′ wide in 10 years. These are a little smaller then most of my grafts. (zones 5-8) $16.00 each (available just 5)

Acer palmatum ‘Hubbs Red Willow’ beautiful red upright, a little more intense color then Bloodgood. Bright red that glows in summer and prefers full sun in all but the hotter zones. 8-10′ tall and 6′ wide at 10 years. (zones 5-8) $15.00 each (available 10)

Acer Palmatum ‘Manyo No Sato’ This one has dazzling green and purple variegated leaves. Certainly quite showy great as a focus pount for any planting. Moderate to slow growers reaching 6’ tall and 4’ wide over 10 years. (zones 5-8) $15.00 each (available 45)

Acer palmatum ‘Mizazuki’ This variety has probably the deepest divided and narrowest looking lobes of any of the network veined variegated maples. Name means Crescent Moon. The large mainly seven-lobed leaves are divided almost to the leaf base. Spring color is incredible bright pink fading to a lighter pinkish white in the summer with a bronze overtone. 8’ tall x 5’ in 10 years. (Zones 5-8) $17.50 each (available 5)

Acer palmatum ‘Ruslyn in the Pink’ Smaller tree with a dense compact form. One of the most spectacular ones for Spring colors. Two leaf colors present at the same timeone, dark purple/red and light orange/ pink. Fall color is Bright intense Red with Orange to Green veins. Prefers sun/partial shade. 6′ tall x 5′ wide in 10 years. (zones 5-8) $15.00 each (available 25)

Acer palmatum ‘Tiger Rose’ This is an upright variety but still somewhat pendulous, Light green leaves in spring with a beautiful roseto pink blush which slowly fades to a soft cream-white by midsummer. By fall yellow to orange dominates. 6’ tall x 4’ in 10 years. (Zones 5-8) $16.00 each (available 10)

Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Villa Taranto’ Leaves open orange-red then gradually turn green with an overtone of light purple to red bronzing in the summer. Shaded portions of the plant remain green giving rise to a distinct two-tone effect. Autumn colors change to brilliant yellow and orange. 6’ tall x 3’ in 10 years. (Zones 5-8) $16.00 (available 10)

Acer palmatum ‘Yezo Nishiki’ Leaves emerge in brilliant redish purple color then darken into summer. Fall color is vivid scarlet and crimson. 8’ tall x 4’ in 10 years. $16.00 each (available 5)

Acer shirasawanum ‘Bronze Age’ Newer variety, probably rarer then most of the Shirasawanum types. Leaves are green with bronze-purple lobed tips. Fall color is brilliant yellow to orange to purple. 8-10’ tall in 10 years. $17.50 each (available just 5)

Acer Palmatum ‘Peve Starfish’ Unique and somewhat rarer maple, most stunning bright deep colored purple/red downward curved leaves resemble a starfish. This is my favorite newer cultivator. Fall leaves are bright intense crimson. 10′ tall and 6′ wide in 10 years (zones 5-8) $22.50 each (available 9)

Acer Palmatum ‘Peve Multicolor’ Unique dwarf tree with thin branches and a bushy upright form. Small thin leaves have five serrated and pointed lobes. Foliage is green frosted with pink and white. Prefers sun/partial shade. Normally 5′ tall x 3′ wide in 10 years. (Zones 5-8) $16.00 each (available 4)

Acer palmatum ‘Pung Kil’ A bushy upright style with purple/red leaves with long slender lobes. The deep rich color holds thru the summer, then turns to brilliant red for fall. Introduced from Korea. Prefers sun/partial shade. 7′ tall x 4′ wide in 10 years. (Zones 5-8) $15.00 each (available 25)

Acer Palmatum ‘Red Emperor’ A deep Red variety similar to Bloodgood but may hold color better. Summer color is dark crimson, fall color is brighter more intense Crimson. 10’ tall x 6’ in 10 years (zones 5-8/9) $15.00 each (available 24)

Acer Palmatum ‘Geisha Gone Wild’ A dwarf, brilliant spectacular bright color variegated Japanese Maple. Leaves emerge with purple-pink, white and green coloration. Fall color is purple-orange. Incredibly colorful and unique. 6′ x 3’ in 10 years. These are a little smaller then most of my trees with this batch. (zones 5-8/9) $15.00 each (available 15)

Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Pink Lace’ A compact weeping type, Foliage is a bright green laceleaf with pinkish new growth. Fall color is briliant golden. Prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil. 3′ tall x 4′ wide in 10 years. (Zones 5-8) $15.00 each (available 12)

Acer palmatum ‘Mikawa yatsubusa’ Very popular unique variety. Leaves emerge light green in spring, changing to a darker green during summer. Fall colors range from yellow to bright red. Leaves are layered giving each branch a canopy look. This tightly, dense maple may grow to 6 feet in ten years, which makes it perfect for bonsai culture. (Zones 5-9) $15.00 each (available 25)

Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Tamuke yama’ Popular cascading weeping disectum type that holds its purple/burgundy color well thru summer. Fall color is intense bright scarlet. Prefers sun to partial shade. Size in 10 years is normally 4′ tall and 6′ wide. Some of these are a little smaller. (zones 5-8) $15.00 each (available 60)

Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Orangeola’ A deciduous, weeping, mounded dissectum. Spring foliage emerges bright orange-red then turning to reddish-green midsummer. Fall color is fiery orange to red. My favorite weeping type, always one of my best sellers. Average size at 10 years is 4′ tall and 3′ wide. This one does not overgrow its area like some other weeping types might long term. Most are decent sized 2 yr grafts (zone 5-8) $16.00 each (available 50)

You cannot order from here, these are not my plants. You have to be a member and I promise you, these will sell out quickly.

Questions, comments, or mean things to say? Please post them below.

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Comments

  1. Betty says

    June 3, 2023 at 12:03 pm

    Mike,
    I have a beautiful mature lace Japanese maple tree that is showing some brown on some of the tips. Is there anything I can do?
    Thank you,
    Betty

    Reply
    • Mike says

      June 4, 2023 at 7:32 am

      Betty,

      That’s kind of normal. Hot air, sun and wind will dry the tips. About the only thing that helps is shade. It’s not something that I worry about, shouldn’t harm the tree.

      Reply
  2. Larry Ricks says

    September 17, 2019 at 11:39 pm

    you sent a video on how to get limbs rooted by putting an attachment around the growing limb. Could you tell me how to look at the video again thanks Larry

    Reply
    • Mike says

      September 18, 2019 at 8:48 am

      Larry,

      See this site; http://airpropagator.com And this; https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2012/05/clam-shell-air-propagator/

      Reply
  3. Ken Blair says

    September 12, 2019 at 10:25 pm

    It is 9\12\2019. Is all right to take and set cuttings of lilacs? Way South East Indiana..

    Reply
    • Mike says

      September 14, 2019 at 8:04 am

      Ken,

      I’d consider it a really, really long shot for them to root. Softwood in the spring is usually how they are done.

      Reply
  4. Doug G says

    August 8, 2019 at 11:18 pm

    I’m a new member and I was wondering if anyone had a larger than 3 gallon healthy lilleannes jewel or lil Anne’s jewel ? I’ve had one for 3-4 months and it looks the exact same as when I got it if not slightly less healthy /has lost leaves . I’ve repotted . I know it’s not too deep , I just let it have some morning sun and afternoon shade but I’ve tried different combinations of lighting and it’s just there with 15 or so other JM’s that all have new growth . Mike please help , this tree has sentimental value and I want to see it thrive .

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 9, 2019 at 8:10 am

      Doug,

      Make sure the potting soil can breath, it needs to be a bit porous and you don’t mention a slow release fertilizer. Unless plants are to be sold, they are much happier in the ground. Best place to ask about buying Japanese maples is in the actual members area, http://backyardgrowers.com/join. Just log into http://backyardgrowers.com

      Reply
  5. Janis Woolbright says

    July 7, 2019 at 7:37 pm

    Seeing Japanese Maples mentioned made me wonder where they fall on the OPALS Scale. I have just recently become familiar with this interesting scale that ranks the allergic potential for many landscaping plants. The move toward using male plants for less messy landscaping seems to have contributed in a large degree to the spike in asthma and related plant pollen-allergy ailments. Some municipalities and even schools are investigating the possibility of using low-scoring landscaping when replacement plants are needed. It is hoped that plant suppliers will become aware of this concept and begin making available more and more of the less-allergenic plants ….perhaps.even using their score as a selling point.

    I am including some links. I would love to see you write an article about this, Mike!

    https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/botanical-sexism-cultivates-home-grown-allergies/
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPALS_%28Ogren_Plant_Allergy_Scale%29
    http://www.allergyfree-gardening.com/opals.html

    Thank you for the opportunity to share!

    Janis Woolbright

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 8, 2019 at 7:55 am

      Janis, not sure when I can get to it. Way behind on articles now.

      Reply
  6. Toni says

    June 28, 2019 at 8:28 am

    Not that rare if you know how to shop JM’s I have most of those.

    Reply
  7. Lynn says

    June 27, 2019 at 2:49 pm

    Are all of these grafts? Can they be reproduced from seeds or cuttings

    Reply
    • Mike says

      June 28, 2019 at 7:55 am

      Lynn,

      No they can’t. Named varieties cannot be reproduced from seed and Japanese maples don’t do well as rooted cuttings.

      Reply

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