Acer palmatum 'SEIRYU'

Seiryu is a Japanese maple variety from the dissectum group. Its delicate leaves are deeply cut like a lace, deciduous, they emerge yellow to lime green with red tips in spring, mature to soft green in summer, and turn fantastic shades of gold, orange and red in autumn. It grows rather fast into a wide-open vase shape with dense branching in full sun. In partial shade it exhibits slightly less dense branching.

Seiryu is the Japanese name for one of the four constellation symbols of Chinese astronomy and translates as Azure Dragon (Qīnglóng – 青龍). It is one of the five dragon gods who represent earth power, where the Azure Dragon symbolizes the east and the spring. It is widely used in the media, in feng shui as well as in popular culture. It is a recognized symbol in the cultures of Japan, Korea, Vietnam and especially China where it was featured on their national flag during the Quing dynasty from 1889 till 1912. Many of its depictions match in complexity and detail in the spread paws with claws, in which the breeder of this maple variety may have seen such a resemblance to its leaves that he named his variety after this symbol.

Japanese maples need constantly moist soil that has to be well-drained, acidic to neutral, and medium fertile. Keep it mulched all year round. It loves a location with high air humidity, e.g. at a river bank or near a pond but it is not a must. Seiryu withstands full sun in constantly moist soil, and naturally grows in partial shade, too. Full shade is not recommended. It is hardy to at least -29 °C (USDA zone 5), and is suitable for large outdoor planters, too, if kept moist but without a saucer.

Last update 02-01-2023