Acer palmatum 'ORANGE DREAM'

Japanese maples are the „créme de la créme“ of every garden. A majestic looking tree needs no pruning at all and we recommend letting it form its own shape.

The less usual colour the more attractive it is for garden lovers. Orange Dream is a perfect example of Japanese maple to offer an almost exotic colour of spring foliage that is orange and salmon pink at margins with yellowish-green centres. This colouring decorates the plant until approximately mid June when it changes through yellow colour to light green and only top growths have a weak orange tint. The leaves are deeply lobed but not dissected.

It grows slowly, about 10-15 cm per year, forming a densely branched shrub with age. A 10-year old plant can reach a bit more than 1m. Japanese maples also have flowers, not as conspicuous as other flowering plants but nevertheless attractive. They are purple-red on Orange Dream, and appear in first half of spring along with leaves.

Orange Dream prefers dappled shade or partial sun with some shade during the hottest part of the day. Grow it in semi-fertile, acidic to neutral, moist but well drained soil. Keep it mulched all year round. It will love a location with high air humidity, e.g. at a river bank or near a pond. It will not be too happy in a front yard in a town centre surrounded by dry air and hot concrete, or will not love growing in a lawn without mulch above its roots. Fully hardy to min. -27°C (USDA zone 5b).

Last update 12-02-2010