Davidsans Favorite Japanese maples ( Dave’s faves)
Well after much thought I decided to post my favorite Japanese Maple(s).. And not just one .. Many of you know Yubae is my favorite but it is now totally unavailable in the trade and not everyone likes or needs that green/red upright form . So I have decided to list several faves in each category.. So here’s a list of faves in different types … for experienced collectors this will just seem like babble, but for newbies and inexperienced folks this can be of great help to get started or increase their just started collection, you can’t go wrong with any of these trees. And please use the sap app that goes above and beyond this personal list. The sap app is linked below for easy access.
http://www.davidsansjapanesemaples.com/japanese-maple-tree-selector/
Upright RED
red most of season)
if not all)
Moonfire ( this one has surprised me with its hardiness and all season red color … similar to Musashino but much lights up in late afternoon stunning )
Musashino ( My fav large red from 1710 in Japan .. there are two cultivars known as this both are super great best larger red tree period )
Yubae ( founded by the father of Jms J. D. Vertrees … easy to grow good red all season can take sun and -25 temps )
Okagami ( best chameleon like tree constantly changing colors )
Musa murasake ( Great color spring and fall and takes full sun without burn and does not seem to be bothered by wetness)
Fireglow ( Best all around easy to grow bright red JM )
Christy Anne ( This is a sleeper virtually unknown I absolutely love this tree pretty all season great curvy trunk just a stunner)
Uprights RED spring and fall
Shin deshojo (Absolutely the best spring and fall super bright red period … hardy and veruy nice a definite fav of mine)
Shishio Improved Similar to above just ditto it
Uprights RED fall color
Osakazuki ( super fall red nothing beats it the best fall red tree, one great tree gorgeous )
Uprights ORANGE fall color
Hogyoku ( Best for orange that is actually orange … larger beefy and super pretty)
Ichigyoji (planted opposite of Osakazuki for red and orange color although orange is never guaranteed. That’s how Vertrees saw them, (Planted near each other) but depending on soil ( he was from Oregon with volcanic soil…you are not ) Ichi may not be orange for everyone but a fab tree in it’s own right and similar in form to Osakazuki) )
Uprights GREEN
( will have fall color)
Shishigashira (want a weird tree… this one is for you it will always be in my heart the female lions head/mane larger but a slow grower and doesn’t get very tall a stunner that attracts attention)
Ukon (Also known as Aoyagi both one of the best light green non Aureum types for those that want that cool it. green color but want something VERY easy to grow)
Green Star (I truly love this little known tree it is super cool star shaped leaves very pretty)
Upright YELLOW GOLD
Moonrise .. ( da absolute best of this group hands down)
Orange Dream ( this one has surprised me i would recommend it to anyone with just a bit of shade VERY hardy very pretty )
Autumn Moon (very nice)
Aueum their is nothing else like it as far as its color very unique yellow green … needs mostly shade and allot of TLC but with bigger trees little problems. Much better to donate your money to a worthy cause than to throw it away buying a small one )
Upright VARIEGATED
Taiyo nishiki
Sagara Nishiki
Serles Variegated
( all three have great variegation )
UPRIGHT COLUMBAR
Twombly’s Red Sentinal ( Great all season red and tight upright Jm beautiful )
Tsukasa Silhouette ( Brand new and it is super vertically compact .. very pretty all season )
( Both outstanding and truly columnar now you have a choice of green or red columnar .. will work well planted together as a pair but different
Dwarf reds
Brants Dwarf ( Best all around red dwarf … very pretty)
Hime Shojo ( best new red dwarf hands down very cool!!)
Yama hime ( best red bigger dwarf)
Swat Margret (best dwarf with tree form and more horizontal tree type branching)
Elizabeth (My favorite red dwarf very very pretty!!)
Royale Great smaller red cool colors all season
Dwarf MULTI COLOR
Murasaki kiyo hime ( My favorite multi coloreds dwarf .. very hardy and takes full sun well )
Kyohime yatsubusa (same as above)
Yuri hime sport ( This JM looks nothing like Yuri hime but is a super dwarf fart growing and super easy to care for great for beginners
Kamagata ( great for bonsai or yard plantingf easy to keep small tiny leaves very pretty)
Kawaii (new almost a dissectum … so many fall colors I dare you to count them and pretty all year .. one of the best new cultivars out there)
( If you are looking for a nice hardy very pretty dwarf that stays small you have hit the jackpot with any of the above )
Dwarf GREEN
(will have fall color)
Ojishi (Super cool leaves it is the male dwarf shishigashira very compact place anywhere with a bit of shade or not) stays small!!
Sir Happy ( available next spring super rare super small and super cool Very limited quantities) the smallest dwarf I have ever seem 3 ft in 10 years
Ryuzu ( great for bonsai when young)
Ryusen ( THE BEST WEEPER i HAVE EVER SEEN!! Now also Available in spring grafted on VERY MATURE Pine Bark Jm super super cool pine bark bottom true heavy weeper up top ASTOUNDING LOOK !! ) not taky like those multiple grafted trees by folks with no taste this one is an eye opener
Dwarfs YELLOW/GOLD
Akane (Very nice yellow throught the season with a bit of shade my Galesan my wifes favorite tree )
Summer Gold (New last year .. I was VERY impressed with it’s color and took the heat a bit better than Akane maybe best for south in shady place)
Bashful (new very small dwarf shirasawanum … sold out in one week last year … I didn’t even have time to take a JPEG of it … will as soon as they come in this year and leaf out .
Mr. Sun a great dwarf shirasawanam)
(ALL OF THESE VERY COOL!! ALL VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE RUN OF THE MILL JM) If you want a truly differnt cultivar choose one of these
Dissectum RED
Brocade ( has red flashes of new growth all season very rare with Jms very very pretty)
Red Dragon ( the hardiest of the reds and a bit more upright .. this is a winner )
Stella Rosa (I have fallen for this tree a very hardy very fast grower with pizazz!! super cool)
Octopus ( I love this one it spreads out horizontally and stays small twisting limbs but compacrt everything you want in a smaller dissectum )
( ALL THREE ARE TREMENDOUS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT AND WORTH HAVING ALL HARDY AND CAN TAKE SOME SUN)
Dissectum ORANGE
Orangeola (AS LONG AS NOT TO WET AND COLD IT IS A GORGEOUS TREE)
Jeddeloh Orange ( is most upright and the closest yet to make the grade other than the two mentioned below … very pretty all season .. a keeper )
Dissectum Green
(red or multi color in fall)
Washi no o ( BEST ALL AROUND FOR RUGGED CONDITIONS )
Autumn Fire (NEW AND WORTH GETTING BEAUTIFUL IN FALL GREAT FORM)
Watnong ( I LOVE THIS ONE)
Dissectum YELLOW/ GREEN
Emerald Lace (THE BEST ALL AROUND HARDY SUN TAKING DISSCECUM HANDS DOWN!!)
Sunset (GREAT FOR SOUTH)
Ottos Dissectum (MY FAVE MORE UPRIGHT)
Dissectum VARIEGATED
Toyama nishiki
Hana Matoi
(BOTH TOP DRAWER)
DISSECTUM Upright
Seiryu
(THIS IS IN MY TOP FIVE FAVE TREE HARDY TAKES FULL SUN AND BEAUTIFUL JUST A GREAT TREE)
YEP… it’s the only current true upright … many pretenders but no other true upright dissectum. There is a red one in japan guarded by a 12 ft electrified fence … it will be many years til we get that one available but when it is it will be at Davidsans asap