Acer palmatum 'RYUSEN' (syn. 'RYUSEI')

Ryusen (or Ryusei) is a unique Japanese maple of strictly weeping habit with typical palmte, not dissected leaves. It was found as a natural mutation of one whole plant in Japanese maple nursery in Kawaguchi City in 1990. Its founder Kahuzara Kobayashi named it Ryusen (flowing or falling water) whereas its former provisional name, in my view a little more accurate, was Ryusei (falling star). The patent was issued in 2008 as PP18501.

Leaves of Ryusen maple have 5 or 7 tips and really look like stars . They emerge bright green in spring and mature to medium green in summer. In autumn they turn rich shades of orange and fiery red. This maple variety is commonly grafted onto stems of various heights in order to achieve a tree-like appearance because once it reaches ground it creeps like a true groundcover which it is indeed.

Ryusen maple can take full sun all day long if sufficient irrigation is provided, and will also thrive in partial shade or in filterered sunlight. Grow it in semi-fertile, acidic to neutral, moist but well drained soil. Keep it mulched all year round and avoid growing grass above its roots. It will love a location with high air humidity, e.g. at a river bank or near a pond, but it is not a must. On the other hand it will definitely not be too happy in a small paved yard surrounded by dry air and hot concrete. Fully hardy to min. -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 08-11-2016