Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' - Purple Ghost Japanese Maple

Aptly named, this new variety features beautiful burgundy leaves with contrasting darker veins during summer, amazingly turning shades of fiery red and crimson in fall; an upright small tree, ideal as an accent in the home landscape; foliage is outstanding

Height: 10-12 feet. Spread: 6-8 feet. Sun: full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zone: 5b.

Ornamental features

Purple Ghost Japanese Maple is primarily valued in the landscape for its ornamental upright habit of growth. It has attractive burgundy foliage with deep purple veins and tinges of silver which emerges rose in spring. The small lobed palmate leaves are highly ornamental and turn outstanding shades of scarlet and crimson in the fall.

Landscape

Purple Ghost Japanese Maple is a deciduous tree with a narrow upright form, reaching about 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide in 10 years. 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.

Recommended for: Accent, Shade, Mass Planting.

Planting and growing

Purple Ghost Japanese Maple will grow to be about 10 to 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 to 8 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 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.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.