Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki'

This famous cultivar of Japanese Maple has probably the finest, fiery red autumn colours of all the many superb varieties available.

Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki' grows into a large shrub or eventually very small tree and, like all Japanese maples, prefers a situation sheltered from the most severe winds. Acer 'Osakazuki' is more sun tolerant than some maples but appreciates a little shade if possible.

The literal translation of 'Osakazuki' is “saki-cup-like”, referring to the way that the leaves of this cultivar sometimes “cup” at their base.

Although Acer palmatum is usually known as the Japanese maple, it actually also grows in Korea and right across China into Sichuan Province in the west.

The autumn colours of many maples, especially selections of Acer palmatum is very dependent on the pH (acidity / alkalinity) of the soil. They prefer lime free soil, so here, on our almost neutral ground, we are applying an annual dressing of sulphur granules round our maples at the rate of 1 or 2 oz per square yard, to make the soil more acid, and year by year the intensity of the autumn colour increases.

The  Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki' in our gardens is around 16 years old and has reached a height of around 3m (10 ft) to 4m (13 ft) with a spread of 3m (10 ft)