Plant Database

Other Names:  Big Red Bamboo

Group/Class:  Linearilobum

Description:

A stunning small accent tree which features narrow bamboo-like foliage that emerges bright red turning darker in the summer, an extremely fine textural effect, also dazzling fall color, relatively open habit is graceful

Ornamental Features

Beni Otake Japanese Maple is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its ornamental globe-shaped form. It has attractive dark red deciduous foliage which emerges red in spring. The small deeply cut ferny palmate leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding crimson in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Beni Otake Japanese Maple is an open deciduous tree with a strong central leader and a more or less rounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

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 Otake Japanese Maple is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening

Planting & Growing

Beni Otake Japanese Maple will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, 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 full sun to partial shade. You may want to 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 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.