Plant: Emperor One - Japanese Maple
Japanese Maple · Acer palmatum 'Emperor One'
Size: 7 gal
Light
Bloom
Mature size
More about this plant
Emperor 1 is an upright red Japanese maple maturing at roughly 12 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide, with black red bark veiled in dark red foliage. The large leaves carry a hint of blue pigment that gives them a translucent glow in sunlight, and they turn brilliant scarlet crimson in fall. It is more vigorous than Bloodgood and leafs out about two weeks later, which reduces damage from late spring frosts, and it shows its most intense colour in full sun. Hardy in zones 5 to 9, it makes a specimen or small shade tree for a lawn, patio or border.
- Full Sun
- Grows to 20 ft tall and 15 ft wide
- Blooms in spring
- Hardy in USDA zones 5-9
- Deciduous foliage
Plant description
Emperor 1 is an upright red Japanese maple maturing at roughly 12 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide, with black red bark veiled in dark red foliage. The large leaves carry a hint of blue pigment that gives them a translucent glow in sunlight, and they turn brilliant scarlet crimson in fall. It is more vigorous than Bloodgood and leafs out about two weeks later, which reduces damage from late spring frosts, and it shows its most intense colour in full sun. Hardy in zones 5 to 9, it makes a specimen or small shade tree for a lawn, patio or border.
- Flowers
- Small red to purple flowers appear in spring; attractive viewed closely but insignificant from a distance.
- Foliage
- Large dark red leaves with a hint of blue pigment that gives them a translucent glow in sunlight, turning brilliant scarlet crimson in fall.
- Fruit
- A schizocarp of two samaras with incurved wings forming an arch, becoming reddish in fall.
- Bark & stems
- Young stems vary from green to polished reddish brown; older branches assume a gray cast.
- Light
- Morning Sun, Afternoon Sun
- Native range
- Japan, China, Korea, eastern Mongolia and southeastern Russia
