ACER PALMATUM TSUMA-GAKI / RED FINGERNAILS JAPANESE MAPLE

ACER PALMATUM TSUMA-GAKI / RED FINGERNAILS JAPANESE MAPLE

Striking Foliage with a Unique Shape
Acer palmatum Tsuma-gaki, also known as the Red Fingernails Japanese Maple, is renowned for its distinctive, finger-like leaves that emerge red and later transition to a rich green with red tips as the seasons progress. The unique leaf shape and vibrant color changes make it a stand-out in any landscape.

Why Choose Red Fingernails Japanese Maple?

• Comparison: Tsuma-gaki differs from other Japanese maples with its unique leaf shape resembling elongated fingers, which add an intriguing texture and visual appeal to the landscape. Its striking red foliage provides an early-season burst of color, fading to green with red accents.
• Companions: The Red Fingernails Maple pairs wonderfully with other Japanese maples, conifers, or flowering plants. It offers contrast and visual interest alongside more traditional, rounded-leaved trees.

Key Features:

• Unique Leaf Shape: The leaves of the Red Fingernails Maple are long, narrow, and lobed, resembling elongated fingers. These distinctive leaves are red when they first emerge in spring, adding a pop of color to the landscape.
• Seasonal Color Changes: The foliage transitions to green with red-tipped leaves as the summer progresses, and in fall, it turns shades of red and orange, offering vibrant autumn color.
• Compact Growth Habit: This cultivar is slow-growing, maintaining a relatively small size. It typically reaches about 6–8 feet in height and width, making it ideal for small spaces or as an ornamental accent tree.
• Hardiness: Tsuma-gaki thrives in USDA zones 5–8. It prefers partial shade, though it can tolerate full sun with adequate moisture, and it does best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
• Attractive Structure: Even in winter, the Red Fingernails Maple’s unique branching structure and the remaining red-tipped leaves give it year-round appeal.

Specifications:

• Plant Size: Typically grows 6–8 feet tall and wide, with a rounded or slightly upright form.
• Hardiness: Zones 5–8.
• Sunlight: Prefers partial shade but can tolerate full sun with sufficient water.
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil is ideal.

Ideal Uses:

• Small Gardens: The compact size makes it perfect for small gardens or as a specimen plant in containers.
• Ornamental Tree: Its striking, finger-like leaves and vibrant seasonal colors make it an ideal choice for ornamental gardens, offering visual interest throughout the year.
• Focal Point: The unique shape and vivid red foliage at the start of the season make it an excellent focal point in the landscape.

The Tsuma-gaki Japanese Maple, with its unique red fingernail-like leaves and stunning seasonal color transitions, is a captivating addition to any garden or landscape. Its compact size and year-round beauty make it an exceptional choice for those looking for a standout tree in a small or medium-sized garden.