Plant Finder
Beni Tsukasa Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Beni Tsukasa'
Height: 12 feet
Spread: 12 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 5
Other Names: Calico Cloth
Description:
One of the most dazzling and dynamic of the Japanese Maples, this variety features small leaves that emerge peachy-pink and fade to complicated tones of green, pink and red over the summer, finally culminating in a brilliant fall display; a superb accent
Ornamental Features
Beni Tsukasa Japanese Maple is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its ornamental globe-shaped form. It has attractive pink-variegated light green foliage which emerges peach in spring. The small lobed palmate leaves are highly ornamental and turn outstanding shades of orange and red in the fall.
Landscape Attributes
Beni Tsukasa Japanese Maple is a dense deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned in summer after the leaves have fully developed, as it may 'bleed' sap if pruned in late winter or early spring. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Beni Tsukasa Japanese Maple is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Hedges/Screening
Planting & Growing
Beni Tsukasa Japanese Maple will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.
This tree does best in a location that gets morning sunlight but is shaded from the hot afternoon sun, although it will also grow in partial shade. Keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
