Colour in successive chapters
Clear summer green turns exceptionally bright orange-scarlet and crimson in autumn.
5
Acer 'Osakazuki'® premium 19cm
Normal price
€35,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’®
You say “it is green” and then look for sunglasses in autumn 🕶️
- Large substantial leaves
- Statuesque green presence
- Rounded mature crown
- RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit
Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’® saves its great surprise for autumn. Through the warm season, broad seven-lobed leaves weave a generous green crown, as calm as shade in a Japanese garden. Then that same canopy glows orange-scarlet and deep crimson, with colour that catches the eye from across the garden. Its strength lies in this transformation: an understated everyday presence with an autumn finale that is hard to forget.
An open view from a seating area, the curve of a path or the far end of a courtyard gives the whole tree room to be appreciated. Its gradually rounded crown suits low planting and a quiet background, making summer green and autumn red part of the everyday view.
The cultivar ‘Osakazuki’ holds the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit (1993), an internationally recognised distinction for dependable garden performance.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Osakazuki’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Large substantial palmate leaves create a unified surface that reads clearly even from a distance.
A silhouette with design value
The upright rounded form acts like a natural sculpture with a strong architectural presence.
Why you will love it: Calm green authority through the season, followed by a scarlet standing ovation.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A focal point in sheltered bright partial shade, with enough open space to appreciate its large upright crown with a rounded outline
Room for the crown
Give it a position at the far end of a courtyard or beside a bend in a path, where its large rounded crown can be seen in full. Surround it with low planting and leave clearance from roofs and narrow walkways so that its branches can spread without constant pruning.
Allow for the branches to extend over time and leave generous clearance from neighbouring trees. In a pot choose a stable base, free drainage and a position where the roots are protected from overheating.
Combinations that work
Its green summer crown and scarlet autumn colour work with soft grass curves, dark evergreen leaves and airy fern fronds. The following choices create different layers around it and suit bright partial shade with even moisture and good drainage.
- Hakonechloa macra ‘Beni-kaze’ — Green arches develop red tones late in the season, continuing the autumn colour at ground level.
- Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ — Red winter buds and dark evergreen foliage retain interest beneath the bare crown.
- Polystichum setiferum — Airy green rosettes fill the shaded base while leaving the woody framework visible.
Care at a glance
Light
Morning sun or bright partial shade, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun, reflected heat and drying winds.
Watering
Water thoroughly when the upper layer begins to dry, maintaining even moisture without waterlogging; check pots more frequently in hot weather.
Climate & hardiness
Deciduous and hardy in winter cold; fresh growth benefits from shelter against late frost, hot dry air and extreme summer exposure.
Safety
An ornamental plant, not food. It is not intended for consumption; place it away from children or animals that tend to chew plant material.
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, microclimate, ground planting, pots, growing medium, watering, feeding, pruning and the winter cycle
Light & microclimate
Morning sun or bright partial shade, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun, reflected heat and drying winds.
Planting in the ground
Plant in fertile, organic, acid to neutral soil that retains moisture yet drains freely. Keep the root collar level with the surrounding soil and allow the natural crown the space indicated by its mature habit.
Growing in a pot
Use a roomy, stable outdoor pot with unobstructed drainage holes and a structured growing medium that resists compaction. It can grow for years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. Check the available root space periodically and move to a larger pot when needed; pot-grown size depends on root space and care.
Watering & cool roots
Water thoroughly when the upper layer begins to dry, maintaining even moisture without waterlogging; check pots more frequently in hot weather. An organic mulch helps buffer sudden changes in moisture and temperature.
Feeding & clean foliage
A light application of balanced fertiliser in early spring is usually sufficient. Avoid excessive nitrogen and late feeding, which encourage soft new growth.
Pruning & the winter cycle
Pruning is rarely necessary. Remove only dead, damaged or awkwardly crossing branches after leaf fall and before midwinter. A bare crown in winter is entirely normal.
Development over timeFrom a young Acer to a broad rounded crownCareful establishment gradually gives way to characteristic natural branching and increasingly rich seasonal changes.
First establishment
After planting, new growth may be restrained while the root system settles. Even moisture and a sheltered microclimate matter more than rapid extension.
The natural habit becomes clear
As the main shoots branch, the plant gradually develops a large upright crown with a rounded outline. Its natural line is most attractive when it is not clipped into a rigid shape.
A mature seasonal rhythm
With maturity it repeats its distinctive colour cycle each year: rich green from spring through summer and brilliant crimson in autumn, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
Maturity 10–20 yearsHeight 2.5–4 mSpread 2.5–4 mLarge upright crown with a rounded outline
Strong branches open into a rounded crown with broad, deeply lobed leaves.
Form through time
Deciduous
Autumn crimsonThe large green blades turn crimson before falling.
WinterThe same branching after leaf fall
The leaves fall naturally in autumn. Winter reveals the woody framework that will support new growth the following spring.
What to expect after planting: As a garden guide, it can reach about 2.5–4 m in height and spread over 10–20 years. Older trees in favourable conditions can exceed this height, so allow room for the crown to continue developing.
History & origin Cultivar origin A name in cultivation before 1911
The name ‘Osakazuki’ had appeared in catalogues before the description by Japanese botanist Koidzumi in 1911. The cultivar belongs to the large-leaved forms of Acer palmatum, grouped horticulturally as Heptalobum. Its original breeder and precise parentage are unknown.
In 1993 it received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Seven lobes, one continuous blade
The large leaf of ‘Osakazuki’ usually divides into seven broad lobes with toothed edges. Its main veins radiate from the base, creating the hand-shaped structure reflected in the name palmatum.
How crimson develops
In autumn, green chlorophyll breaks down while anthocyanins give leaves red and purple tones. The balance of pigments, light and temperatures influences the result, so the crimson of ‘Osakazuki’ does not have exactly the same intensity every year.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers covering light, seasonal colour, pots, mature size, pruning and winter leaf fall.
01How much sun will it tolerate in Greece?
Morning sun or bright partial shade, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun, reflected heat and drying winds. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.
02Why is Osakazuki green in summer?
The cultivar naturally remains clear green for much of the season; its famous crimson develops as temperatures fall in autumn.
03Is Osakazuki suitable for a large pot?
It can grow for years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. Check the available root space periodically and move to a larger pot when needed; pot-grown size depends on root space and care.
04Will the crown of Osakazuki keep growing?
It develops into a small tree or large shrub with a broad crown. The indicative dimensions above help with initial planning, but older trees with ample root space can grow taller.
05Does it need pruning to hold its shape?
Usually not; its natural architecture is central to its beauty. If cleaning is needed, work after leaf fall and before midwinter, removing only what is necessary.
06Is it normal for the tree to be bare in winter?
Yes. It is deciduous and sheds its leaves in autumn after completing its colour cycle. Fresh growth returns in spring.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.