Maple
Osakazuki
Acer palmatum
One of the oldest and most celebrated Japanese maple cultivars, long regarded as producing some of the most brilliant, consistent scarlet-red fall color of any Acer palmatum selection. Summer foliage is a clean mid-green, providing a strong contrast that sets up the dramatic autumn transformation the cultivar has been prized for since its introduction to Western gardens over a century ago.
Growing Specifications
- Height
- Variable with age and site conditions
- Spread
- Variable with age and site conditions
- Watering
- Moderate; consistent moisture during establishment, adaptable once mature
- Light
- Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Heat Tolerance
- Good; a vigorous, well-established cultivar that handles a range of conditions
- Growth Rate
- Moderate to Fast
- Soil Requirement
- Rich, well-draining, slightly acidic soil preferred but adaptable
North Texas Micro-climate Notes
As a vigorous, well-established cultivar, this specimen is generally more forgiving of North Texas heat and sun than more delicate lace-leaf types, though a consistent mulch layer still benefits it through the hottest summer stretches.
Care Instructions
Plant in well-amended soil with good drainage. Water deeply and consistently during establishment. Prune minimally, removing only dead or crossing wood during dormancy.
Landscape Usage
An excellent large specimen tree for a prominent lawn position or focal fall-color anchor visible from a distance.
Fun Fact
Osakazuki is one of the oldest named Japanese maple cultivars still widely grown today, and is often cited by maple collectors as the benchmark for the best true scarlet fall color in the species.
