Japanese Maples/ Acer palmatum Aka shigitatsu sawa

Acer palmatum 'Aka shigitatsu sawa'

The early spring variegation on this reticulated leaf form of japanese maple is amazing. Almost the entire leaf will be cream with undertones of red and dark green veins. Unfortunately these breath-taking colors are short lived in the south. The leaves will turn green by May but the veins will be slightly darker. 'Aka shigitatsu sawa' will not tolerate afternoon sun in hot climates but should be placed where it can get 3-4 hours of morning sun because light is required to get the red tones to show up. This plant is slow to mature but will turn into a small round topped tree that will be almost as wide as tall.

Synonymous with 'Beni shigitatsu sawa'

Height: 7-9 feet Width: 6-8 feet