Some people think that Japanese maples are tricky trees, slow-growing, and just meant as small specimens, or for specialized gardeners. It is true there are some that remain small, and might need some extra care, but many are relatively easy to grow. Some are of course easier than others, and some, like the Oshio Beni Japanese Maple, are beautiful small trees that can (and should) be grown in almost any garden, only needing the same care as just about any other small tree. That doesn’t mean this isn’t a special plant. It has remarkable fall colors – the name means ‘big red tide’ – and in spring and early summer its wonderful orange-red leaves are a joy to see. It is easy to grow and fast growing, with a young tree becoming full-size within 15 years, adding as much as 18 inches a year to its height and spread, especially when growing in warmer zones.

The Oshio Beni Japanese Maple is a beautiful, small, multi-stem tree which grows to be 15 or 20 feet tall and about 20 feet wide. Its elegant rounded crown of dense branches grows from graceful, spreading stems, creating the very picture of garden beauty. If left to grow naturally it will be quite bushy, with branches to the ground, especially if grown as a specimen and not surrounded by other plants. You can also gradually remove the lower and inner branches to create a smaller number of main stems, topped with slender leafy branches, in a more tree-like form. Young twigs are smooth and glossy, with a red bark, and older stems are smooth and soft gray, often with narrow vertical wavy lines along them. In winter the bark colors and the form of the tree makes a very attractive winter profile, and a good reason to remove inner twigs and expose the trunks.

The leaves of the Oshio Beni Japanese Maple are 3 inches long, and divided into 7 slender, pointed lobes, spread out like the fingers of a hand. They are graceful and delicate looking, but compared to the leaves of many varieties of Japanese maple they are relatively sturdy, with broader lobes. This means the tree is more resistant to the shriveling of the foliage that can be a problem with these trees in hot summers. The leaves open in spring delicately folded, before spreading out. They are a gorgeous orange-red then, a unique coloring that creates a wonderful and bright tree. As spring turns into summer they darken to a rich garnet-red, and in the hottest months they may become more bronzy-green. Then, when colder nights arrive, and fall comes, the tree explodes into that ‘big red tide’ of brilliant scarlet, sweeping away all competition for the most brilliant fall leaves.

One of the best things about Japanese maple trees is their ability to grow in partial shade, in open woodland beneath mature tall trees. This is the perfect place to grow the Oshio Beni Japanese Maple, where it will fill the spaces beneath the towering trunks of large trees. It also grows well in the shade from buildings, and with its tougher leaves it grows well in full sun too, especially in cooler zones. In hot zones afternoons shade is beneficial, and the soil should not be too dry. This is a beautiful tree to grow as a specimen on a lawn, or around your home, looking wonderful against light-colored walls. Grow it in beds, with smaller shrubs and plants beneath it. Plant it to add beauty to a courtyard in an urban setting, and of course it is perfect for any space with an Asian theme. It is also wonderful growing in pots, handsome containers, or planter boxes – just make sure they have drainage holes. It also makes a classic bonsai tree, of almost any size.

The Oshio Beni Japanese Maple grows well in all but the coldest and hottest zones, thriving everywhere from zone 5 to zone 8. It should be planted in rich, moist, well-drained soil, and mulched regularly to keep the soil cool and moist. This tree is not very drought resistant, and it should be watered regularly during dry spells, especially in summer, but in spring too if it should be dry. Prepare the soil well when planting, enriching it with organic materials, and allow enough room for the mature spread of this tree. Japanese maples almost never suffer from pests or diseases, and they are easy, low-maintenance trees if the light conditions and soil moisture are taken care of. It is also easy and fun to prune it and develop an attractive, more mature-looking tree. Remove small, twiggy branches from the inside parts of the tree, as it grows, to expose the trunks and main stems. Shorten long stems that grow from the crown – cutting back to just above a pair of buds – to develop the characteristic dome-shaped crown of these trees. Late winter is the best time to prune, or through the winter months in zones 7 and 8.

The Oshio Beni Japanese maples is a selected form of the Japanese maple, Acer palmatum. This tree grows in the forests of Japan, China and Korea, and unique forms have been collected for centuries by gardeners in those countries. ‘Oshio-beni’ is an older, reliable variety that first appeared in 1898 on a nursery list for Yokohama Nursery, in Japan. This reliable, fast-growing and tough tree is a great garden choice, whatever style of garden you have, and a great way to try growing Japanese maples – start with something easy. The demand for these trees is always high, and we have a large client-base who shop for them with us regularly. Order your tree now, because they will be gone very soon.