Acer Palmatum Katsura

In Japanese, “katsura” means wig.The Katsura Japanese Maple tree is another Spirit Hill Nursery favorite. Getting us excited for spring, it is always the first tree to leaf out, bursting with stunning, almost indescribable colors. Becoming 10-12 feet high in 10 years, this tree grows in a vase-like fashion, gradually rounding its shape as it ages. The small leaves emerge as a pale yellow color in the spring, with dark orange to red margins or edges. In the summer the leaves change to a yellowish green color, and turn bright yellow and orange in the fall. The foliage is dense, and the leaves tend to turn downward, giving the tree a distinct appearance. As you may know, we grow all of our trees outside. We tested the Katsura to see if it would tolerate the summer heat here in Tennessee, and it failed our test so we moved it where it would get shade from 2-5pm. We only have a couple of these to sell this year, so visit the Memphis Botanic Garden this weekend to see our selection.