Acer palmatum 'Okushimo'

Here are a couple of shots of Acer palmatum 'Okushimo'. It is a vigorous growing crinkle-leaved cultivar. It forms a narrow, vase shaped tree of 25' or more. It has dark green leaves with each leaf lobe rolled upward and inward. Almost forming a tube. Very similar to the cultivar 'Kurui jishi'. This cultivar grows well in full sun and seems to withstand the heat and humidity common here in the Southeatern U.S.. On a mature specimen the foliage is so thick that it resembles a dark green, living wall. Fall color is golden. Pictured here is a small plant at a friends nursery and a small, 1g plant of mine.

 

Hello All,

Attached are two pictures of my newest Maple, 'Okushimo'. I hope the leaf close up shows a clearer rendition of the curled, crinkled leaf. Though this is still a small twig of a tree, (barely 6"!!!) it's curled leaves are unique, beautiful and quite delicate. I can't wait for this one to start grow.. It was purchased through California Maple Nursery, via ebay.. a first for me.

 

It is worth mentioning that this cultivar is one of the sturdiest I have experienced. Mine is in a small (1.5 gal) pot in the strong southern France sun for 8 hours a day without showing any sign of leaf burn and withstanding an occasional watering lapse. The pictures were taken today.
If you happen to like the leaf form, it is definitely a good and safe choice.

Gomero

 

I am very happy with my tree. Does well in full sun zone 6. Here is a summer picture.

 

Very nice sized 'Okushimo'. Compared to my 6 inch twig, LOL.
Also like your rasied bed approach.

Mike
Acer palamtum 'Crazy'

 

I have found this tree's fall color disappointing relative to Vertree's description. Howerver, this fall a fraction of the leaves developed a nice yellow

 

We have 2 Okushimo in our collection- we love the narrow, vase shape and the great late fall color

 

Spring look

 

We had some good fall color this year on Okushimo. This tree is about 18 feet tall and was planted about 15 years ago. Okushimo is the tree in the middle of the second picture.

Ed

 

I've seen a few out here about that height also. Japanese Maples says it "often grows 8 m* or more" tall.

*26.2 ft.

 

Here is a photo of my Okushimo taken April 10, 2008, showing the defining curled lobes characteristic of this cultivar. Unlike the sunny locations all others have placed their Okushimos in, mine resides in a rather less sunny location under an umbrella of madrone trees where it receives filtered light a lots of summer heat. It is about 6 years old and is doing beautifully.

 

WOW great plant pics posted on this one. I grow a small one. The petioles are blazing!

 

I just got one of these in and it is already a favorite! The curled leaves are truly amazing. Tree is very stiff and upright, but has tons of 'personality'. I can't wait to see it in the fall!


K4

 

A young Okushimo, according to Vertrees they can grow by 1m or more in a season, so I don't think is will stay this small for long.

 

I love this cultivar. Mine seems sturdy, and growing in full sun. Put on about 6" of second spurt growth last year.

Here is some of the leaves, taken during a rainy evening.

 

I was able to nab two of these trees last fall when a nursery went out of business. Both are around 5 ft. tall and in 7 gallon containers. This pic is from March 2012. I'm not sure how well they survived the heat & drought this past summer, so I'm anxiously awaiting this spring. Anyone else in the Midwest/Plains have this tree?

Kevin in KC

 

11th November and my little Okushimo after a week of 'very' warm weather has leaves again. I will need to protect this one through the Winter!!!

 

17th November 2020 and the new growth I had a week ago has now turned. It's also showing the curling of the leaves that I like about this cultivar.

 

23rd May 2021 and my first posting this year of my Okushimo. Such wonderful leaves on this one.

 

I love seeing the larger specimens in this thread - those leaves are really something! Mine is still small, but starting to show off that curled look in miniature:

 

So many out there now that are hard to differentiate, but not this one. I bet your glad it's in your collection Xi.

 

Thanks D, I really am. It's not a huge attention-grabber (I think being so small doesn't help mine right now either) but if you take the time to look up-close, it's a cracking little tree!

 

Very well pu Xi, that's exactly what I do. The intricacies of each leaf is what this hobby is all about, alongside all of the amazing shapes and colours of course. OK it's everything !!!!! Lol.

 

My Okushimo is growing like it has somewhere it needs to be.... here are the new leaves for August:

 

Lots of early spring leaves: