Beni Gasa 5/7/07

Beni Gasa is really interesting: deformed leaves, each of a different color, but all leaves having bright greenish-yellow veins. It's a very attractive cultivar and is robust.

Shin deshojo 5/4/07

This is an elegant tree, far brighter and more intense in color than the wonderful Deshojo. It also holds its color for many weeks, and even while greening for summer, it's still interesting.

Beni Kosade 5/5/07

My Beni Kosade is very late leafing out, takes a long time doing so, but the color is worth waiting for: Intense pink which lasts and lasts. It reminds me of Geisha in some ways, i.e., taking a long time to leaf out and then showing great color.

Toyama Nishiki 5/5/07

Certainly a favorite of mine. The leaves unfurl in normal fashion, and once the leaves are out the variegation begins. It's a fascinating process.

Hupp's Red Willow 5/5/07

I have a difficult time telling one red strap-leafed linearilobum from another. I wonder if "red willow" and "Hupp's red willow" are the same plant.

Aka Kawa Hime 5/5/07

Aka Kawa Hime is the smallest of the coral bark maples and is not easily found. It's a neat and tidy small tree and needs to be pruned so its bark will show well.

Beni Tsukasa 4/13/07

This is such a gorgeous cultivar that the only problem is that it doesn't hold its unusual color longer, as one would like. In the spring it leafs out pink/cream, later turning pale butter yellow, and it's a lovely tree.

Irish Lace 4/29/07

This cultivar leafs out with prominent pale green bud scales which fade in April, but by that time the leaves have unfurled and have become a greenish-bronze. It has a mounding habit.

Sunset 4/25/07

The spring color of "Sunset" is most unusual: a bright terra cotta which lasts many weeks. The plant has a tidy growth habit and is exceptional in every way.

Dr. Seuss 4/6/07

Dr. Seuss was named for its wild and strange growth habits. Buds make little fists before unfurling deformed-looking leaves.

Shikage ori Nishiki 4/6/07

The best trait of this cultivar is the subtle pastel coloring on the leaves in April. In May the coloring becomes more consistently red.

Hupp's Dwarf 4/5/07

My Hupp's Dwarf only grows an inch or so a year, but it doesn't matter. It's a dense and rather dignified dwarf, and the newest leaves emerge pink and red. It's a hardy and beautiful cultivar.

Purple Ghost 4/5/07

Purple Ghost is a dramatic plant from the Shigatatsu Sawa collection. It tends to hold its color well throughout the spring and provides an colorful anchor.

Red Pygmy 4/17/07

This is a not very outstanding cultivar, but shows well in the garden especially in spring when it's leafing out.

Okagami 4/13/07

Okagami is an elegant, refined and beautiful cultivar. It has a graceful form which is just a bit formal, and it's best if placed in a location where backlighting can show it off well.

Kurui Jishi 4/13/07

I find this a charming plant. It always leafs out as a normal maple, and then in mid-Spring the lobes curl, creating a tiny funnel.

Ueno Homare 4/8/07

Ueno Homare and Ueno Yama provide the truest light yellow colors to my spring garden. Both are splendid plants. The main difference in my garden is that Ueno Yama has larger leaves than Ueno Homare. When adjusted for scale, though, the leaves are practically identical.

Beni Shi En 4/25/07

This most unusual cultivar is a real star. It's receiving full sun in our orchard area and is doing exceedingly well, with lots of variegation on each leaf. It's growing nicely. This tree deserves far more attention because it's really special.

Koshibori Nishiki 4/29/07

Koshibori Nishiki has all the makings of a great bonzai. It's small, tidy, and has subtle leaf colorations. The mostly green leaves are tidy, but the newest leaves arrive pale yellow with red accents. A lovely cultivar.