Other Names:  Grandma's Ghost Japanese Maple

Group/Class:  Ghost Series

Description:

A beautiful and colorful feature tree for the landscape; creamy yellow emerging leaves with a hint of pink mature to light green with dark green veins; stunning red and gold color in fall; needs protection from hot sun; some color variation possible

Ornamental Features

Grandma Ghost Japanese Maple is primarily valued in the landscape for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. It has attractive light green foliage with dark green veins and tinges of creamy white which emerges buttery yellow in spring. The lobed palmate leaves are highly ornamental and turn outstanding shades of red and gold in the fall. The rough gray bark and cherry red branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Grandma Ghost Japanese Maple is a deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. 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.

Grandma Ghost Japanese Maple is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Grandma Ghost Japanese Maple will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 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 a location that gets morning sunlight but is shaded from the hot afternoon sun, although it will also grow in partial shade. 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 may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. 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.