Nice brick red leaf color hold well into summer. Leaves can bronze in hot sun. Strong growth to about 12-15 feet here in N.W. CA. Fall color orange and red.
Re: A.p. Ogan sarasa Something strange about this cv is both Vertrees and Gelderen place it in Matsumurae group and I think it looks much more like an amoenum. It's even compared by Gelderen to Acer palmatum 'Shikage ori nishiki' which is Amoenum.
Re: Acer palmatum 'Ogan sarasa' This photo was taken July 11, 2007 and shows the bronzing that occurs when it's located in hot sunshine.
Re: Acer palmatum 'Ogan sarasa' I think Ogon Sarasa is most interesting in the spring. This photo was taken April 23, 2007, and I hope it shows the intense coloring this cultivar displays for weeks usually well into May. I have one in part shade which is doing well, but the other (this photo) is in full sun where few plants survive, and it seems to be thriving in this location for 3 years now.
Re: Acer palmatum 'Ogan sarasa' Books mentioned above use a Cor van Gelderen picture showing orange-looking leaves for this one. Vertrees (Gregory) starts off "The color combination and leaf shape identify this interesting plant, whose name means "gold calico cloth." Early leaves have a brick-red color which blends over the deep green base color. It is not as sharp marking as in variegated leaves, but appears as if the red has been brushed over the green. Each leaf varies in intensity. Also, the light green midveins are in sharp contrast to the darker lobe color. In midsummer the leaves become a bronze green. The fall colors are bright shades of orange and crimson blends." Maples for Gardens says it was introduced by the arboretum here, in 1958. The Woody Plant Collection in the Washington Park Arboretum, which came out in 1994 lists this cultivar so it was thought to be still present then - could easily be an original seedling, from which all propagations derive. Not impressive enough to catch attention of Van Pelt, Champion Trees of Washington State (1996) but nevertheless if well situated could be fairly large by now.
Re: Acer palmatum 'Ogan sarasa' I like this tree in late spring early summer and then it fades out until late summer when it gets the color it is names for.
