Acer Palmatum Kiyohime

Adult Acer Palmatum Kiyohime

Adult Acer Palmatum Kiyohime

Acer Palmatum Kiyohime is a dwarf shrub type of Japanese Maple and is a fantastic choice for the small Japanese garden, courtyard or patio. This specimen variety is a favourite amongst Bonsai lovers for its habitat, it will spread wider than its height, bare that in mind when planting it out.

The Kiyohime is found growing wild in Japan, China and Korea, a relatively old cultivar, it was introduced into Europe and the USA in and around the 1850's.

Acer Palmatum Kiyohime is a dense dwarf type Acer Tree which is part of the Sapindaceae family. more info which has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

The Japanese Maple is a very shrub-like tree which will reach a height of a meter to a meter and a half, and a spread of 2 meters, ours is fully grown and it is about 20 years old. The Kiyohime will grow tall from young and once it reaches its optimum height it will start to spread out. It will take 20 years to reach its maturity and 10 years before it reaches its potential.

The Acer Palmatum Kiyohime has small-medium cut palmate leaves, each delicate leaf consists of 7 lobes which are smoothly jagged to a crisp point.

It has a very short and thick trunk, 6 to 12 inches in height with a wide girth which supports good solid verticle branches. The Kiyohime's lower branches are hardwood, lime green to olive green in colour with small faint off white coloured horizontal speckles throughout, these lead to a magnitude of softwood branches which gives the Kiyohime a very dense shrub-like appearance.

Acer Palmatum Kiyohime Spring Leaf

Acer Palmatum Kiyohime Autumn Leaf

In the spring the leaves emerge a deep dark green colour with red tips, like fingernails, the fingernails slowly fade in the summer to leave the plain leaf. In late September / October the leaves finally transform into a bright yellow and the red fingernails re-appear.

The medium cut leaves are 2 cm wide and deep and have a lime green vein with very thin lime green connecting shoots which helps the tree to sway in a breeze.

The Kiyohime is similar to most Acers in that it is slow growing especially when potted, in its infant years it will grow higher than wider and can be a patio or courtyard tree but as it reaches its potential it will start to spread out and would prefer to planted out in the ground. The Kiyohime is very hardly and can be left out or planted out in full sun.

The Kiyohime's habit would make it a fantastic addition to any Japanese Garden, patio tree or courtyard tree, it is happy in a large container, I would look to plant it out once it reaches 7 years old.