This 'Hagoromo' at Westonbirt Arboretum is listed as the British champion at 15m high and 42cm trunk diameter in 2009: The foliage in the interior of the tree displays the typical 'Hagoromo' type leaf form, as seen in the next picture (hagoromo 2), but the leaves all around the outside of the canopy are more like a normal palmatum shape, with some weird three lobed leaves also, see photo (hagoromo 3). I don't know how likely this is to be a transient phenomenon or some kind of permanent reversion.
Maf, That's kind of unusual for hagoromo and may indicate, as you say, some sort of 'reversion'. I have never seen that in mine which is 10 years old. I notice that nobody has posted fall colors for this cultivar, which are indeed beautiful, so I add a couple from las year since this year the trees have not yet started to change in my garden. Gomero
I have observed this as well, and after grafting this "reversion", the graft returned primarily to normal hagoromo leaf type. Perhaps it is due to some genetic un-stability or a juvenile/mature foliage situation.
I was wondering the same thing, or more specifically could it be the result of a growth spurt? Further investigation leads me to believe that (at least) two large trees have been removed from the area immediately to the south of the pictured 'Hagoromo', roughly in the area where the bench sits. Maybe the increased light levels and decreased competition for water has caused a growth spurt and production of juvenile foliage on the outer portions of the plant?
This is my Acer palmatum ' Hagoromo '. Showing the wonderful colours it produces in the Spring in my garden. This is listed as the Maple Society 'Sessilifolium Group 15'. It has a very distinct shape to its leaves with no petioles.
Hi Luke, no not at all. It was 6ft tall and doing well. But I think the harsh cold March and April did for it sadly.
6ft tall and just dies.... with all the love and protection you give them. Doesn’t sound right to me. For me, and with no disrespect intended, I think the Hagaromo’s are the least attractive of all cultivars hence I have never lusted after one. Still, this is a sad loss and must have been with you for a number of years to be of that size. I’m sorry for your loss Derek :-(
The same thing will probably happen with my Griseum. Not one that I’m overly keen on but when one came up at a decent price at a local garden centre I thought ‘what the hell’ I just hope it lasts long enough for me to see that exquisite brown curling flakey bark.
Thanks Luke for the kind words. You just never know with maples. Remember what Charlie said, " Sometimes trees die". Tbh you have to be very philosophical with this hobby. You win a lot, but there will be losses.
Ahhh Griseum, the tree that makes one worry every Spring when it's so late in leafing out. But I bet you have a good one and it will go on and on and on, lol. You wait until Autumn, you will fall in love with those fiery reds.
16th May 2021and here is my new replacement for my recently deceased Hagoromo. It looks healthy, so we will see how it goes.
8th April 2022 and a nice steady start for my Hagoromo. I'm quite happy about this, as the late Sring frosts we suffer these days can hit the leaves on this one.
25th May 2022 and I wanted to show that this can be quite an untidy looking maple going into Summer. But it has qualities that are often overlooked during this time up to Autumn.
'Hagoromo', or 'Beni Hagoromo' are definitely a must in a maple collection. Very few cultivars have this kind of feathery leaves. They're quite vigourous, I'll have to prune my two 'Beni Hagoromo' : I'll try air-layering the top parts I think, and see how they behave on their own roots if it's successful.
8th June 2022 and as this was talked about yesterday on the forum, here are two photos of my Hagoromo enjoying this early Summer weather.
20th May 2023 and keeping topical with others on the Spring 23 thread. Here is my Hagoromo this morning.
Here are some current photographs of the big old Hagoromo at Westonbirt Arboretum as of May 2024. Using a clinometer app on my phone I estimated the height to be between 18 and 19 metres (59-62 feet). The foliage looks beautiful when backlit, looking up from below. Some of the outside lower foliage are showing some palmate leaves and intermediate between palmate and sessifolium forms, but as far as I can tell the upper foliage is all sessifolium type. As discussed after the 2009 pics of the same tree above, this is likely due to some kind of juvenile vs mature foliage situation rather than any type of permanent reversion.
