Acer Palmatum Fireglow

Adult Acer Palmatum Fireglow

Adult Acer Palmatum Fireglow

Acer Palmatum Fireglow was introduced by Fratelli Gilardelli, from Italy in the 1970's and is classed a relatively new Japanese Maple.

The Acer Palmatum Fireglow has a stand-up habit with a shallow spread.

The Fireglow is a medium sized Maple, it can reach to 4 meters tall with a 2 to 3 meter spread, it will take 15 years to reach its full maturity and 7 years to reach its potential.

The Acer Palmatum Fireglow has a stand up character, very branchy, with vertical trunk and virtual vertical branches which lead to a labyrinth of thinner soft wood branches and shoots which toss and turn in a breeze. They support hundreds of leaves making this a very dense tree. The bark and branches are a plain brown, fawn colour with slight green overtones, its shoots are thin and made of soft wood, they are a glossy deep purple colour which really add to the foliage.

What is really magical about this Japanese Maple is its leaves, truly remarkable.

Acer Palmatum Fireglow Spring Leaf

Acer Palmatum Fireglow Reverse Side Leaf

The soft wood shoots hang down and sway in the wind to give the Fireglow its "on fire" effect.

The leaves are largely dissected with 7 deeply cut lobes with slightly jagged edges which are about 10 cm long and 10 cm wide. In the spring the leaves emerge a deep red colour on the upper side and olive green with fire red edges on the reverse side. As a static picture, both sides look a solid colour, but in the direct sunlight the reverse side becomes transparent and the colours merge into a spectrum of red, orange, yellow and greens. In a breeze it dances and resembles a fire, really remarkable.

In the video you will see the right side, the colour remains the same whilst the left side, the leaves have changed colour, they are the same leaves, it is just the remarkable effect the sunlight has in a breeze. I may have shot the video too close but i think you get the idea.

Some of the under leaves remain green, not enough direct sunlight, but I think they add depth to the foliage.

The Fireglow is similar to most Acers in that it is slow to medium growing especially when potted, it enjoys full sun so you can plant it out to help it flourish better. It is a wonderful addition to any Japanese garden, i speak very highly of this specimen, it is equally happy to be left in its pot and can be ideal for any patio or courtyard.